Parks Study Committee nears master plan completion
June 1, 2023 | By Buffy Burroughs | Community News Service CORRECTION: This post was updated to delete a quotation incorrectly attributed to Monica Callan.
The Waterbury Parks Study Steering Committee meets tonight at 6:30 p.m. both in person and via Zoom to hear from the public once again regarding the draft master plan for Hope Davey Park and the Ice Center part area.
This is the final meeting as the committee prepares to present the completed report to the Select Board in the near future.
The draft plan and tonight’s agenda that contains the Zoom link for tonight are on the town website in the Zoning and Planning Department section. The meeting will be held in the Steele Community Room at the municipal offices.
The Steering Committee will discuss the plan and it will take comments from the public. Comments may also be submitted to the committee via email to Steve Lotspeich at slotspeich@waterburyvt.com. Lotspeich, who retired as town Planning and Zoning Director this spring, is continuing to work with the committee and the consultants as they complete the park study.
Since last fall, the committee has worked on the parks study with consultants from the SE Group to look at both park areas in town to make recommendations on future uses and development at the two large recreational areas in the community.
In early March, the Steering Committee held a meeting to invite public comment. The group received input that included concerns about accessibility and safety, environmental protections, and the desire to see the parks incorporate public artwork.
The draft plan contains proposed upgrades including new trail systems, improved playground equipment and expanded recreational facilities at Hope Davey; the Ice Center recreational area would expand offerings such as a new soccer field, a skatepark and more seating options for visitors.
Some members of the community said they worry that the dirt paths in some areas of the parks could be challenging to navigate for people with mobility issues. Youth safety at the skateparks was also a concern.
Steering committee members have tried to assure residents that the upgrades would include paths that make the parks more accessible, but some attendees raised questions about the materials the town proposes to use. Town crews have already begun to make some improvements along these lines just this week.
Monica Callan, co-founder of the Waterbury Grange Cultural Center, spoke about the importance of integrating public art into the park facilities. In an interview after the meeting, she noted that art can increase the functionality of a space and enhance it. For example, features such as art trails can appeal to all ages, attracting a range of age demographics, she said.
Lotspeich said the master plan will address art as an element. “It’s definitely something that the town supports,” he told those gathered in March. “It's definitely part of the master plan for these areas to have places to accommodate [the arts], whether it's visual arts or performing arts.”
The committee heard public comments with additional suggestions for park features. One resident suggested adding a volleyball court to Hope Davey Park. Another asked for a full-size basketball court, instead of the current half-court – a suggestion met with murmurs of agreement from some in the audience.
The disc golf course at Hope Davey was another topic of concern among some members of the public. Its proximity to natural wetlands was one issue. Others voiced concern about safety risks on a public footpath around the northwest perimeter of the course and the potential for wayward discs to strike a pedestrian on the path.
“You can make little straight lines on a map ... but disc golf is not a game that's played in a straight line,” said Meg Baldor, a resident near the park. “People do not walk from the basket to the tee to the next basket to the tee.”
Community News Service is a collaboration with the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program. Waterbury Roundabout editor Lisa Scagliotti contributed to this report.