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Date: 12/21/2021
SOUTHAMPTON – During a Special Town Meeting on Dec. 14, Southampton voted to approve $192,500 from the Community Preservation Act undesignated fund account for costs associated with the design and implementation of a walking path and splash pad at Conant Park.
Prior to the meeting, Southampton was awarded $100,000 through a state Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities grant (PARC) to design and install an accessible walking path and low-flow splash pad in Conant Park. The path would connect Route 10 to the north side of the park, and improve equitable access to certain features of the park.
In a recent Open Space & Recreation survey sent out to Southampton residents, the most popular amenity requested for Conant was the splash pad that will help to provide a cooling station on increasingly hot days. Eighty-six thousand five hundred dollars came from Preservation Committee funds and $6,000 is coming from Park Commission fundraising events. Currently, Southampton does not have a cooling pad or community pool.
“For the handicapped and for those who are mobile impaired, it can be a challenge to get around,” said Dan LaValley, a member of the town’s Park Commission. “[The walking path] will help with that.” According to LaValley, the installation of walking path is part of a larger phased approach to make Conant Park more accessible to differently-abled visitors.
The first six months of funding involve the planning phase, according to LaValley, to make sure the land is suitable for the path and pad. The town will then determine where to implement the walking path between College Highway and the Conant Park East Street parking lot. The feasibility and design of the splash pad is also determined with the help of the grant.
Southampton resident and former Selectboard candidate Dylan Mawdsley argued in favor of the path and pad, saying that it is important to extend the multi-generational use of Conant Park. “We have tennis courts, basketball courts, and sports fields,” said Mawdsley. “The walking path will allow continued access for those with disabilities, as well as connecting East Street to the Edwards Library.”
The town has been working on a multi-phased improvement plan for Conant Park, and earlier this summer, both LaValley and Kait Swistak-Rooks, who is a member of the Board of Health and Ad Hoc Committee, spearheaded a survey sent out to surrounding Southampton communities to achieve an understanding of what people may want to see more of in the park. During his testimony, Mawdsley argued that the pad and path would be beneficial additions to a park that feature “dilapidated playground equipment.” Swistak-Rooks also mentioned the park’s lack of playable equipment during her own testimony.
“I think this is a benefit to our town because it doesn’t actually incur any additional tax debt to the town,” said Mawdsley. “This is all money that’s currently appropriated for this specific use.”
Despite receiving a two-thirds majority vote, 22 registered voters elected not to approve of the funds. Many wondered how water would be utilized, especially since Southampton had experienced some water restrictions over the past few years. Swistak-Rooks, however, confirmed that water utilization will be determined during the design phase of this project. The other concern involved the possibility that a splash pad, if put at the Conant Pavilion, would infringe upon the yearly events that occur at that particular spot.
“It’ll only be utilized or running when there’s people that are pushing buttons to activate the splash pad,” said Swistak-Rooks, adding that it will be safe, age and ability-friendly. “We hope that the popularity of an aquatic feature would draw more visitors to the park, which could foster more revenue.” Swistak-Rooks, who has been heavily involved with the improvement plan at Conant, also advocated for the walking path, and mentioned that 20 percent of Southampton residents are 65 and older. Through the Open Space and Recreation survey, 85 percent of people said they walk in town, too.
Fifteen out of the other 16 articles presented during the meeting also passed with very little discussion. The only article that did not pass was for a replacement of recycling containers at the town dump because the retained earnings have not been certified yet.
Among the other articles that passed were a transfer for an additional voting machine in the town’s second precinct, as well as a transfer of money for Edwards Public Library to meet their state accreditation so residents can borrow library materials from other libraries. The passing of this article also allows the library to expand their hours of operation from 29 hours a week to 38 hours a week.
In a 148-13 vote, the town also approved an article that allows the town to appropriate $294,000 to purchase a new single axle dump truck with plow and sander body for the Highway Department. The new truck will replace a truck from 1999. A typical dump truck lasts 10 to 15 years.