Overview:
Residents of Athol have expressed both support and concerns regarding a proposed ADA-accessible playground at Fish Park. Supporters believe the playground would promote inclusion and bring economic benefits to the downtown area, while opponents are worried about the impact on existing park uses and the lack of public input in the decision-making process. The proposal has been forwarded to the Selectboard for consideration, with a positive recommendation for the playground.
ATHOL – Residents voiced support and concerns about a proposed ADA-accessible playground at Fish Park during the Jan. 27 meeting of the Open Space and Recreation Review Committee.
The proposal has drawn both support and opposition, with speakers largely agreeing on the need for accessible playground equipment but differing on whether Fish Park is the appropriate site.
Selectboard member and Open Space and Recreation Committee member Mitch Grosky opened public comment with a prepared statement outlining why he supports placing an ADA-accessible playground at Fish Park.
“First, and most importantly, this is about inclusion,” Grosky said.
He said Fish Park’s central, walkable location aligns with downtown revitalization efforts and allows children with disabilities to play alongside their peers, rather than separately.
“In other words, accessibility helps everyone,” said Grosky.
Several residents spoke in support of the proposal, including Dan Eaton, who said proximity matters for families with limited mobility.
“I have a mobility-impaired grandchild, so accessibility is very important to me,” Eaton said. “We can wheel down to this playground very, very easily.”
Supporters also pointed to potential economic benefits tied to downtown activity. Melissa Eaton, president of the North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce, said accessible playgrounds often draw families from outside the immediate area, encouraging longer visits downtown.
“When there is an accessible playground, it becomes a destination for families,” Melissa Eaton said. “When families make it a destination, they start spending money.”
Opponents focused on how the project moved forward and how it could affect existing park uses. Joel Shaughnessy, speaking on behalf of the Friends of Fish Park, criticized the process used.
“The grant should not have been written before getting public input,” he said.
Shaughnessy also raised concerns about the scale and placement of the proposed playground, which he said would have a footprint of approximately 96 feet by 32 feet and would be located near the tennis courts. He said the size of the structure would reduce open space currently used for informal recreation and community events.
Rebecca David, owner of the Pre-K-Kidz preschool in Athol, said she supports accessible playground equipment, but does not believe Fish Park is the right location.
“Fish Park is the only open green space that my children can run [around] that’s far enough away from the road,” David said.
She said her preschool frequently uses the park for unstructured play, including running, flying kites and group games, and that placing a playground there would change how the space is used.
“Nobody is saying no to a playground that needs to be ADA-accessible,” David said. “We are saying that Fish Park is not the place for that playground.”
Another resident suggested the town explore whether the grant funding could be redirected to improve existing playgrounds in town, such as Lake Park.
Heidi Murphy, assistant town planner, said the grant funding cannot be transferred to another site once awarded.
To wrap up public comment, Director of Planning and Community Development Eric Smith shared preliminary results from a public survey on the redesign of Fish Park. So far, 97 responses have been received, including 67 online submissions and 30 paper surveys. He said public input will remain open while staff continue to collect responses.
According to Smith, responses most often mentioned the sledding hill as a favorite feature of Fish Park, followed by open space and the tennis courts. Regarding potential improvements, additional playground or play equipment came up most frequently, along with more shade, seating and picnic areas. He said repairing the existing gazebo or bandstand appeared more often than building a new one.
As the discussion concluded, Town Manager Shaun Suhoski suggested the issue be sent to the Selectboard, which has final authority over town parks.
The committee voted to do so, forwarding the matter with a positive recommendation for an ADA-accessible playground at Fish Park. The Selectboard is expected to consider the proposal, along with the survey results and any additional public input, at a future meeting.