Final Touches Placed on Sacred Heart Reuse Proposal

With the warrant for November’s special town meeting set to be signed, the final touches have been placed on a proposal to turn the former Sacred Heart property into a park.

Recently speaking with selectmen, Town Engineer Peter O’Cain explained some of the minor changes that were made to the plans. 

The picnic tables which were on the south side of the area have been moved to the area bordering the pond side to avoid bordering a neighborhood on Cedar Street.

Only nine parking spaces will be paved for $16,998 at the edge of the park instead of the entire parking lot. In previous meetings, there were some concern about redoing the entire lot due to potential damage from events and carnivals that use the lot every year.

New picnic tables in the table are in the budget but O’Cain said he is going to see if the Boy Scouts would be willing to assist with the tables. According to chairman Joe Roach, there have already been inquires about cleaning up the pond next to the area for an Eagle Scouts project.

A sprinkler system will also be part of the plan and is expected to run just under $20,000. The water will come from Cedar Street but an outside group will be brought in to install the system.

“I think it’s going to be worth it in the long run just to maintain the grass,” O’Cain said.

A motion to recommend to the reuse committee to budget $70,245 to be requested by the Community Preservation Committee for the field, nine parking spots, and sprinklers was approved 3-0.