Editorial: The Kendrick question

Published on September 05, 2008

On Page A13 in last week's Bulletin, a large ad appeared that beckoned Amherst residents to share their preferences for the future uses of Kendrick Park, the recently acquired triangular parcel formed by Triangle, North and East Pleasant streets. The call-out was offered up by the Kendrick Park Committee, a group tapped by Town Manager Laurence Shaffer to help chart the course of the now-publicly-held land.

The park has been home to the local Boy Scout troop's annual Christmas tree sale and, more recently, to a makeshift ice rink modeled after one that Shaffer saw in Italy.

The committee is looking into other uses, including a farmers market, a skating pond, a place for band concerts and a bocce court. Some of the latter are Shaffer's ideas.

He has stated, however, that it will be up to the committee to decide the future of the park.

In the interest of encouraging the public's participation, the committee is taking comments. Residents can fill in a simple form found in the ad, they can email to kendrickpark@amherstma.gov, or they can write to the KPC, c/o Town Manager's Office, 4 Boltwood Ave., Amherst, MA 01002.

Those interested in further participation should take note of four park-related meetings:

* The business community is on the agenda Sept. 4, 8:30 a.m. at the park, or The Pub if it rains.

* Adjacent residential neighborhood, Sept. 14, 2 p.m. at the park.

* General community, Sept. 30, 7 p.m., Town Room at Town Hall.

* A school community meeting is still to be announced.

Townspeople care deeply about the park, as evidenced by the controversy last year when, in the name of fairness, the town manager sought to ban the Boy Scouts and their annual Christmas tree sale, a 50-plus-year tradition in Amherst. After a public outcry, the town manager relented and decided to let the tradition continue until a new public-use policy is written.

The public has voiced its concerns about the park in the past. Now residents have a real opportunity to help decide how this important town asset will be used by the community for years to come.