ATHOL — Athol officials are seeking the public’s input regarding the future of Lord Pond Plaza. Residents are being asked to complete a survey developed as part of the town’s participation in the state’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program, which is designed to help cities and towns respond to climate extremes and emergencies.
“We had a site walk (at Lord Pond) in December and we had 25 or 30 people show up,” said Athol Director of Planning and Development Eric Smith, “and different concepts were discussed.
“Obviously, one is to try to green up that location, which is just a sea of concrete right now. There have been discussions for a number of years about trying to improve traffic flow — to make it safer — so pedestrians can leave the senior center and the Chamber (of Commerce) and businesses there and not feel like they’re going to get run over by traffic that zooms through there at high speed at different times. It’s like a free for all in that whole area there.”
Another possible project is the removal of a substantial amount of the concrete that blankets the area.
“There have also been discussions over the years of daylighting the stream that runs under the plaza,” Smith explained, “It actually was a mill pond at one time, that’s why it’s called Lord Pond Plaza.
“Under the state’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program we are able to use funding to undertake a feasibility study project for the redevelopment of the Lord Pond Plaza parking lot area, in particular.”
Smith said the survey is being undertaken to expand local opinions beyond those expressed by the residents and town officials who were able to attend December’s site walk.
“So,” he continued, “we basically want to get some more community input as we continue to move forward with this planning. Later this winter, BSC Group — the consulting firm we’ve been working with — plans to develop some redevelopment concept plans. Before they do that, we want to get some more input, so this survey is designed to assess how often people are using Lord Pond Plaza, as well as what they’re going there for — shopping, the senior center, things like that — and then asking what uses people would like to see there.
“For example, there’s been talk about maybe trying to make some kind of community activity or gathering space there. Maybe the farmers market could be held there, as well as other community events.”
Development of greenways and walking paths have also been discussed, according to Smith.
“But we want to get as much public input as possible, have as many people as possible fill out these surveys. Then later in the winter or early spring, there would be some kind of public presentation regarding the concepts that BSC comes up with.”
Initial ideas regarding those concepts are available on the Planning Dept. website.
“It shows what maybe could be done, with the stream daylighted and more green area, and parking with trees in between. So, there is a kind of a concept plan that shows up there. In fact it says ‘concept plan in progress.’”
Asked what redevelopment of Lord Pond Plaza has to do with preparing for or responding to climate emergencies, Smith was quick to answer.
“Well, number one, this area is defined as a ‘heat island.’ So, by greening it up, by putting in more trees, you’re going to cool down the temperature in the area. So, that would be in response to dealing with extreme heat emergencies.
“Number two, it’s all a sea of concrete right now and, of course, it filled over a naturally occurring stream and then a mill pond. And if can have more green space and have some water ways — whether they’re storm water ways or more scenic water way, or some combination thereof — you’ll be able to treat storm water at a much greater level than we are today.
“And if you can treat the storm water, that’s going to help prevent storm water runoff ultimately going into the Millers River.”
Anyone interested in completing the Lord Pond Plaza survey can go to https://lordpondplaza.wordpress.com/survey/.
Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com