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Date: 10/4/2023
AGAWAM — Work is progressing on building a park at the Tuckahoe property in Feeding Hills.
Originally a farm and owned by the town since the 1990s, the 292-acre property is being improved with hiking trails as well as facilities for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. Part of the project will also focus on repairing Nine Lot Dam, which impounds a pond on the property.
Construction of the park began in July of this year, said Agawam Procurement Officer Jennifer Bonfiglio. Currently, construction crews are excavating the property, clearing overgrowth, stripping soil, bringing new materials in, and preparing it for trails. Work on the dam has also started, with contractors preparing to rehabilitate it.
“It’s progressing nicely on time,” she said.
The work has not had any impact on traffic thus far, as most of it is done off-road. However, Bonfiglio is anticipating a section of Pine Street may be closed off this November, due to a need to use a crane on the road.
“We will let the residents know well in advance,” she said.
The project is set to be completed in the spring of 2024. The total cost of this project is $6.2 million, according to Bonfiglio. Funding will come from a $400,000 Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities grant, a $50,000 MassTrails grant, $2 million in Community Preservation Act funding, $400,000 in Tennessee Gas mitigation funds, and the rest through borrowing.
Fifty-five acres of the property has been leased for 20 years to Consolidated Edison to host an array of solar panels. The solar lease payments will help Agawam pay off the borrowed funds.
No major changes to the plans have taken place. However, Bonfiglio said that as the project progresses, the town may be able to add amenities like picnic tables and benches sometime in 2024. As well, Mayor William Sapelli said that there’s potential for more active forms of recreation, such as sports fields, to be installed years from now as a separate project.
In July, the mayor’s office released a statement saying the Tuckahoe property will be closed during construction and advised people not to trespass onto the site.
“By adhering to the closure, you will not only keep yourself safe but also contribute to the smooth execution of the project,” it said. “We understand the enthusiasm surrounding this project, and we promise that your patience will be rewarded.”
Sapelli said the statement was issued due to reports from construction workers of other people on the property. However, since the release of the statement, there have been no reports of trespassing.
“Everyone’s cooperating and things are getting done,” said the mayor. “Right now, it’s not a problem.”
The Tuckahoe property is the largest undeveloped parcel in town, other than Robinson State Park, and stretches from Pine Street to South West Street in southwestern Feeding Hills.