Wednesday, April 10, 2013
City Councilor Matt Elder is exploring where his constituents stand on a senior center in Ward Park.
Editor's Note: The following information was submitted by City Councilor Matt Elder. Starting today, Ward 3 City Councilor Matt Elder is canvassing his entire Ward and setting up a neighborhood meeting at the over 55 residential community in his ward to reach his constituents to see where they stand on the Senior Center being built on Ward Park. This is the second attempt Elder has put forth to get input from his constituents. A few weeks ago, Elder canvassed over half his ward to solicit his constituents’ thoughts on the project. “A few weeks ago I dropped off some neighborhood letters to various parts of the Ward, and I also asked for where they stood on the senior center being built on Ward Park, and the back side of the letter was a …
Friday, April 5, 2013
Legal concerns have been raised over a senior center at Ward Park.
An attorney representing the Ward Park Neighborhood Association (WPNA) has challenged the city's legal authority to build a new senior center on Ward Park land. At the heart of Land-Use Attorney Julie McNeill's letter are a number of procedural steps that have not been taken in setting aside the land for a senior center and that leave this use of the land at odds with the law. “These laws and policies are in place to protect our Park and Recreation land,” said Faith Nickolas of the WPNA in a press release. “The city needs to honor them and leave Ward Park intact for future generations.” At the core of McNeill's opinion is that Ward Park — which was set aside as playground space — is afforded protections by Article 97 of the Amendments to …
Monday, April 1, 2013
With recent developments increasingly pointing to Ward Park as the location for a new Senior Center, we are wondering how you feel about the location.
Ward Park appears to be city official's choice for where to locate a new Senior Center despite some vocal opposition to the location. The intentions of city officials, and committment to the location at Ward Park, has been driven home with a recent statement that there is currently no alternative location for the senior center. This, despite work by a group of residents who have petitioned City Council to seek an alternate location, stating the site is not suitable for a senior center. Mayor Arthur Vigeant has given his reasons for the location at Ward Park and work is proceeding to evaluate it for eventual construction of a new senior center. What are your feelings on the senior center being located at Ward Park? Do you agree with its …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
From a $50 million budget to holes in the ground; we have the information you need today.
1. The over $50 million school budget will be discussed tonight at a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. With the potential for deep cuts that could affect English Language Learner and Special Education programs into the future, now is the time to have your voice heard. 2. Interested in the outcome of your input? The School Committee will be discussing their options at 8:30 p.m. With a number of items required due to contractual obligations, few of the cuts will be painless according to school officials. 3. Looking for additional college scholarships? The City of Marlborough is offering three $1,000 scholarships that are open to residents of the city regardless of what school they attend. 4. Want to know what it takes to be a correctional officer…
Monday, March 25, 2013
Test pits are being dug today to check the water table at Ward Park.
Test pits are being dug today as the first steps are taken to putting a new Senior Center into Ward Park. "The hole will be dug and filled," said Joseph Rizza from Courtstreet Architects of eight test holes that are five feet in diameter which will be dug in the park today. “We will learn where the water table is and what the actual soil conditions are." The test pits will allow engineers to measure the water table at the park. Puddling in the park is a known issue with the area, said Rizza, and these tests will be the first measures to see what is causing those issues and what work will need to be done at the site. Future tests will be done at the current proposed location for the senior center, along the northern edge of the park. Those …
Friday, March 22, 2013
Construction of a new Senior Center at Ward Park is slated to begin by October.
Construction of the proposed Senior Center at Ward Park could begin by October. “We’re hoping to have a contract signed in late September with construction starting in late October," said Joseph Rizza from Courtstreet Architects that will be leading the design. Construction of a building of this size, proposed at 14,000 square feet, will take roughly a year, he said at the first meeting of the New Senior Center Advisory Committee Thursday. Work is slated to begin next week at the site. There are known issues with ponding on the fields, said Rizza, so the first steps will be investigating those issues and looking at the water table. This will mean digging in Ward Park to better understand the water table and conditions below the surface. “…
With a new $7 million senior center slated to go into Ward Park, officials revealed there are no alternate locations at this time and that expansion space will be built into the design.
With no alternative site, designers of a new senior center will be working with what they have at Ward Park and building expansion into the proposed 14,000 square foot center. “There is not an alternative site at this point," said Public Facilities Director John Ghiloni, who will be chairing the Senior Center Building Committee. “There is nothing to say it couldn’t end up at another location at the park.” The current location picked for the center at Ward Park on the edge of the park is tight, said Joseph Rizza from Courtstreet Architects that will be leading the design at the New Senior Center Advisory Committee Thursday. There is no room for expansion around the proposed 14,000 square foot senior center so an additional 7,000 or more …
Monday, March 11, 2013
In a letter to the editor, Lynne Warren is concerned that a Senior Center will be one of many projects to take land away from Ward Park.
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Monday, March 11
Editor's Note: The following is a letter written by Lynne Warren. It is addressing the proposal by Mayor Arthur Vigeant to place a new Senior Center at Ward Park. (When this article first appeared, it referenced the Marlborough Historical Society in the third paragraph. That has been changed to the correct reference of the Marlborough Historical Commission.) Born and raised in Marlborough, I became a homeowner in the Ward Park neighborhood a little over 16 years ago. A neighborhood my husband and I chose to live and raise our three children. I find that I cannot allow myself to sit back in regards to the current issue regarding Ward Park. I am frustrated and upset that our city officials plan to use land, which is currently located within …
Friday, March 8, 2013
The Ward Park Neighborhood Association is saying that up to 15 percent of field space could be lost with the installation of a Senior Center at Ward Park
Editor's Note: The following is a letter written by members of the Ward Park Neighborhood Association. It is addressing the proposal by Mayor Arthur Vigeant to place a new Senior Center at Ward Park. Marlborough Ma – In response to the growing opposition against his plan to take away public park land for a 13,000 square foot municipal building, Mayor Vigeant recently sent letters via US mail to residents in the Ward Park neighborhood. A map specially prepared by the City DPW Engineering division on February 20, 2013 was included. The map shows the 7.6 acres that constitute Ward Park (parcel 69-394), but also includes a grove of trees, the Bigelow School parcel, and other city owned parcels in an attempt to convey there are 12 acres of city…
Monday, March 4, 2013
In a letter to the editor, a Marlborough resident says the need for a new senior center is clouding the issue of losing land at Ward Park.
Editor's Note: This letter was sent to city officials as well as Marlborough Patch and was written by Resident Karen Maiocchi about the issue of a Senior Center at Ward Park. This issue continues to be clouded by the overriding desire for a new senior center. The issue isn't whether the city could benefit from a new senior center, the issue is location, location, location. Any property owner knows that the value of any property either benefits or suffers based on location. The Ward Park Neighborhood Association is simply requesting that a new senior center be located in an appropriate location. The addition of a large two story building in Ward Park will directly effect property value in this area. There are several possible locations …
concerned neighbor
10:26 pm on Thursday, May 9, 2013
They need to hold a community Ward 3 meeting at City Hall. People have so much to say with many concerns. When will an appropriate meeting be held? more ›