Date: 9/15/2021
I applaud civic engagement, a barometer of a community’s vibrance. However, community developed plans exist to tether that engagement by checking exuberance, ensuring shared majority purpose and promoting wise investment. Development should be evaluated through an environmental impact lens, especially on legislatively conserved spaces. A skatepark sited on Bliss Park land meets none of these criteria.
A “feasibility study” to assess the practicality of a skatepark was never undertaken. A $15,000 site assessment is not such a study. Request for site assessment funding was declined at the Nov. 5, 2019 Town Meeting. Notwithstanding this negative vote, the Community Preservation Committee approved a grant in December 2019 giving tacit “town” approval to the request. The grant approval was bundled with other warrants under a Consent Agenda and approved at the June 23, 2020 “COVID” Town Meeting.
There was no consideration given to either the 2021-2028 Open Space and Recreation Plan, then under active development
(See: www.longmeadow.org/1194/Open-Space-and-Recreation-Plan), or the 2020 Enhancing Ecology in the Heart of Longmeadow: Two Visions for Bliss and Laurel Parks, another project funded by town approval of a $12,000 Community Preservation Grant in June of 2019.
(See: www.longmeadow.org/restoreblissandlaurel).
These two plans were both community generated for the purpose of providing guidelines for development of open spaces and recreation areas as well as setting priorities for advancing restoration of Bliss and Laurel Parklands. Neither supports skatepark development.
No public forum for community engagement was offered by skatepark consultants for the purpose of seeking input for potential sites prior to site selection. No cost impact assessment has been done for construction, maintenance, lighting, usage, traffic, parking, sanitary facilities or police oversight. Whether this will be a town “only” or a “destination” facility is undecided and any associated extra costs are unknown. Site assessment did not consider the environmental impact on Article 97 land. “Elevated site good for drainage” was the “pro” for Bliss Park. It ignored the impact of drainage into Cooley Brook.
Cooley Brook is unhealthy and is in violation of state and federal standards and should not have more stormwater runoff. In partnership with the Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC), water quality is monitored. An engineer’s estimate of the cost to remove derelict former water supply infrastructure is expected mid-November. The Army Corp of Engineers/National Fish and Wildlife and State Fish and Game have affirmed intent to fund/execute removal of derelict infrastructure (approximately $140,000) pending completion of a Hydrology and Hydraulic study ($10,000 to $15,000.) Citizens are seeking funds for H&H Study.
Erosion, 15 feet in height below Bliss Pool, was missed by consultants in their six site visits. Additional stormwater funnelled into Cooley Brook will further impair the waterway. Updated water quality results will be available shortly. If further degradation of water quality presents, any development within the Cooley Brook watershed could be curtailed.
Bottom line, a 15,000-square-foot impervious structure is inappropriate for this site.
Fran Cress
Longmeadow
