Mayor Lists Reasons for Ward Park Senior Center Location
The mayor has released a list of reasons for having Ward Park serve as the location for a new Senior Center.
The mayor is saying that locating a $7 million Senior Center at Ward Park is a win-win in a statement released yesterday along with answers to frequently asked questions about the project.
“This project is a win-win for all involved," said Mayor Arthur Vigeant in the release. "The existing field space will gain much needed enhancements and improvements and our seniors will benefit from a downtown location with easy access to more recreational space.”
A list of answers to many of the questions that have been brought up during neighborhood meetings on the subject are addressed in the FAQ — which is available on the city's website and we have uploaded along with this story.
Many of the questions in the FAQ are similar to those brought up in a petition to have a new location for the senior center located. The petition was delivered to the City Council with 500 signatures — and forwarded to the mayor — on Monday.
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Among the issues addressed in the FAQ are the size of the center and how it will affect the functioning of the park as a place for recreation. The answers detail that the size, although smaller than a 2002 study called for, is in line with other area centers. The parking and access to the location will work and not disrupt activities at the park, according to the FAQ.
Many of the answers coincide with those given during a public meeting about locating the center in the park late last year. In that meeting, both the mayor and Public Works Commissioner Ronald LaFreniere said that the senior center will provide an opportunity to improve the park. That is a position the mayor reinforced in the FAQ and statement attached with its release.
“Ward Park will be a great new place for our seniors to enjoy,” said Mayor Vigeant. “It has the potential to be a true community park that all families, young and old, can utilize. Ward Park has a lot of unrealized potential and I’m confident the investments we would make through a new senior center is something we will all be proud of at the end of the day.”
Mrs. C.
7:25 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
GREEN SPACE! Leave the park alone, Mayor! Use the Bigelow School for the senior center.
mac64
1:00 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Vote YES for Green Space.
Save Marlboro
8:52 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
Does it matter at all that the CITIZENS of Marlboro DO NOT want this??? Leave Ward Park alone so that we may enjoy it the way it was intended to be when the land was given to the city. I thought the Mayor represented what WE want??? Between this and Brookview Village, I am beyond disgusted with what has been going on. List all the reasons YOU want Mayor....what matters is what the CITIZENS want.
arnold
10:51 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
Reading the FAQ only further diminishes the rationale for proceeding with this albatross. To wit, first it claims to be open "during normal business hours,". or put another way during the same hours that youth sports would be active. Next, a proposal for 63-70 parking spaces - building a $7 million dollar building for 70 seniors huh?????
It would 'allow seniors to be more physically active using the track" - what's stopping them from doing that right now - doesn't require a building to use the track.
Where's that 2002 study and what "functions" did it outline. And then there's the claim that having a senior center there will reduce the vandalism that occurs at night. How so, when it will be in operation "during normal business hours" or if in fact it will be open at night the seniors will be subject to harm from these same thugs.
This is a bad idea, being supported by a small vocal voting block. And so long as they are not burdened with the on going expense there is no limit to what they may WANT. Time to listen to the folks who will have to pay for it.
If the city can really afford $7million why not build a community swimming pool that ALL residents could use - reserve a couple of hours during 'normal business hours' for the seniors. Put it in the Concord rd rec facility.
resident
11:17 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
>“Ward Park will be a great new place for our seniors to enjoy,” said Mayor Vigeant. “It has the potential to be a true community park that all families, young and old, can utilize<
This Mayor continues to ignore the rich history of Ward Park. It is not a great NEW place, it's been here for 88 years. It doesn't have potential, it currently IS a true community park. Leave it alone! Don't take land from the children. And what happens when the center needs to expand when it becomes too small? Is it goodbye to the rest of the park?
Join over 600 signers (online and hand written) and please sign the petition at www.savewardpark.com and leave a comment!
sliver2006
2:20 pm on Thursday, January 31, 2013
hopefully someone will run against mayor and matt elder