Kennedy Park entrance improvements approved

LENOX – The board of selectmen and conservation commission have approved another project at Kennedy Park.

The project, described in a presentation by Town Manager Gregory Federspiel at the select board’s Sept. 19 meeting, involves renovating the front entrance of Kennedy Park. The renovations include replacing the old chain link fence with a wooden guard rail, putting in ornamental plantings, installing two benches and replacing some of the asphalt with granite pavers left over from the Belvedere.

The project will also include a plaque dedicating the entrance to the late Kennedy Park volunteer and committee member Sam Greenfield. Three parking spaces for handicapped and mobility-impaired residents will be constructed alongside the entrance.

Voters approved funding for the project in 2010, but its implementation was delayed by the installation of the new water tank adjacent to the entrance.

The plan was well-received by the select board.

“Simple, straightforward, that’s all we need,” said Selectman Ed Lane, voicing his approval for the project.

One caveat was expressed by Selectman Channing Gibson, who voiced the opinion that the plantings shouldn’t include trees, as they did in the prospective drawing.

“That’s my personal feeling, that we don’t need to add more trees to Kennedy Park,” said Selectman Gibson.

During the public comment period, Lenox resident Sonya Bykofsky questioned whether or not it was known if Sam Greenfield would have wanted a memorial plaque erected.

“It’s possible maybe he might prefer to have a donation made in his name to…a natural resource council or some place that protects the environment,” said Ms. Bykofsky. “I was just wondering if anyone had checked into that.”

“It’s not an unusual thing to honor someone who did…years and years of service,” said Select Board Chairman Kenneth Fowler. “I really think that the plaque and the wording of the plaque is in…excellent taste.”

Ms. Bykofsky also questioned the use of granite pavers in the entrance and the necessity of the plantings, although she praised the proposed benches and wooden guardrail. She also said that she would like a sign on Main Street to show people where the entrance was.

“To put something near the road like this I think would be wonderful, and would draw attention to something many people are missing,” said Ms. Bykofsky.

Another noteworthy comment came from Suzanne Pelton, who asked whether efforts would be made to make the park more accessible to those with wheelchairs.

“You made a great place for handicapped people to park, but you can’t go very far in a wheelchair,” she said.

Mrs. Pelton also made a later suggestion that the memorial be changed to something showing how long a person had volunteered at the park so more names could be added as more members of the Kennedy Park Committee retired or passed on.

After public comment, the selectmen unanimously approved the design as presented, although Chairman Fowler made an aside that he would like the landscapers to work with Village Improvement Chairwoman Lynn Sutton, both for aesthetic and financial purposes.

The selectmen then approved entering into a contract with Tom Farley Land Design Inc., the lowest of the three bidders for the contract.

Entrance gets Scenic Mountain Act approval

The final go-ahead for the entrance was given the next day, at the Lenox Conservation Commission’s Sept. 20 meeting.

The conservation commission was consulted for a request for determination of applicability (RDA) of the Scenic Mountain Act to the project.

Robert Akroyd of Greylock Design, the entrance’s designer, presented the project to the committee. He also produced elevation data from the renovation of the adjacent water tower that appeared to show that much of the project fell just below the 1,400-foot elevation, where the Scenic Mountain Act would begin to apply.

Conservation Committee Member Tim Flanagan pointed out, however, that the marker used to determine the elevation of the water tower may have shifted, as might have the tower itself in the time since the data was collected, especially since instrumentation had improved. Conservation Committee Chairman Neal Carpenter also wanted to stay on the safe side, considering how close the margins were, and say the Scenic Mountain Act applied.

“We’re going to say its jurisdictional I think and just get it over with,” said Chairman Carpenter.

This was readily agreed to by the commission and received no objections from Mr. Akroyd.

The conservation commission then ruled, “The activity described in your request is within an area subject to protection under the act but will not remove, fill, excavate or alter the area, therefore work does not require a notice of intent.”

This motion was passed unanimously, and served as the final approval required for the project.

Construction is expected to begin in October.

Posted by Bera B. Dunau on September 27, 2012. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry