WHITMAN – What to do with the Park Avenue School building?
The Select Board on Tuesday, May 20 discussed whether the town wants to keep the property or is interested in selling it.
Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter said a discussion had been held several months ago, but was unsure whether or not to keep it, but needed to determine that in order for the attorney’s office to move forward.
“I think the consensus was … that the town wanted to keep that [property]” Carter said. “It’s a beautiful piece of land – there are rare trees there, and it’s just a beautiful park area, so I think we just want to talk about it again. What could we do with that land, and how could we fund it?”
She mentioned Community Preservation funds as a possible source.
“I asked for this to be added back to the agenda for tonight,” Select Board member Justin Evans said, noting that the consensus was to keep it for some time municipal use so that the lawyers could get the town released from the deed restriction that the land only be used for a school.
“I believe if we could come to a consensus as to what that municipal purpose was, they could move forward and attempt to release it so we could attempt to do something with the land,” he said. “My suggestion would be anything that we could fund with Community Preservation funds because that’s a separate pot of money from the budget, because money is tight.”
Looking into what other towns have done with CPC funds, Evans found that they had been able to fund demolition projects that helped further a recreation or open space project.
“If we had something that met those criteria, we could even borrow against those future CPC funds and start something sooner and get that old school out of the way,” Evans said.
“I love the idea,” said Select Board member Shawn Kain, suggesting that something along the lines of an amphitheater could be used for town recreation entertainment programs. Evans also mentioned potential uses as a dog park, which has been mentioned in town, or park land.
“From what I understand, the building does need to be razed because of the condition that it’s in,” Carter said.
Where ideas for use of the land is concerned, Evans said, “the more specific we can get for counsel, probably the better,” Evans said about potential uses. The historic trees on the site are a plus.
Noting that the property is a beautiful place where she and a lot of residents had gone to school, Select Board member Laura Howe put forward her support for a dog park, but in conjunction with a shelter, “Only because we need one,” she said.
She also noted that police departments and the public are losing touch with each other, so a K-9 or comfort dog unit headquartered on the site, but separate from a shelter wouldbring the police and community together.
Adding the dog park as an extra in that case, would provide some oversight against damage to the property, she said.
Previously conducted survey results will be available at the board’s next meeting to permit more detailed discussion.