NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton Community Preservation Committee will deliberate on eight project proposals seeking CPA funds at its next meeting, but before that, the public was given the opportunity to share their comments.
Nearly 40 participants gathered on Zoom to hear public comment during the April 2 CPC meeting.
The eight project proposals and its applicants being considered for funding are Maines Field Flood Resilience Phase 2 — Northampton Recreation; Clapp House Accessibility — Betty Allen DAR; Leeds School Playground — Leeds Elementary School; Cemetery Stone Preservation — DPW and Historical Commission; Boggy Meadow Accessible Trail — Planning & Sustainability; Laurel Park Historic Resources — Planning & Sustainability; Clothing Collection Preservation — Historic Northampton and Ruggles Center Accessibility — David Ruggles Center.
CPC Chair Brian Adams began by explaining that all the proposals the committee received for this round total a little over $1.5 million, with only $1.1 million available to use.
He noted that the CPC does have the option to bond certain projects — or borrow — money and then pay it back with CPC monies over the course of the next few years.
Adams asked folks to remember that the committee does not have an infinite amount of resources and while all the projects are worthy, it does not mean that the committee will be able to fund them all or to fund them in their entirety.
“We have the option to totally fund the project, to fund a portion of it and to not fund it at all,” he said. “We are the recommending body. Our recommendations from this committee go to City Council and City Council’s the one that approves the funding.”
He shared that for the most part, trust is given to the CPC and the City Council is good about honoring that trust.
Prior to the public comment on April 2, Adams said the committee had the chance to review written proposals that all the applicants had submitted.
Those applicants also had the chance to attend Zoom meetings and present the proposals to the CPC, along with the committee having the chance to conduct some site visits and get answers to their questions.
He noted that the job of the committee members during the public comment was simply to listen — not to respond or engage in discussion about the proposals.
The proposal that received the most public comment was the playground at Leeds Elementary School.
Katie Heimer led the discussion, expressing her support for the accessible playground.
Heimer shared that she is the parent of a child at Leeds Elementary that has multiple disabilities, including cerebral palsy and visual impairment.
She noted that she and her husband chose Northampton a couple of years ago as a community to raise their child due to its values and opportunities. “The lack of a community accessible playground anywhere in Northampton has been an unfortunate sort of blip within that,” she said.
Heimer went on to say that there is not a place where her son can interact with peers in a play setting — at school or otherwise.
She said the closest accessible playground is about 40 minutes away, which they cannot visit regularly. Because of this, Heimer said not only does her son miss out, but his classmates and friends do as well, as they cannot play with him in a 1:1 peer level setting.
Heimer shared that her son’s class ends the day on the playground and everyday, when she goes to pick him up, she sees him standing with the teachers while his classmates are up on the structures playing.
“I think all of them deserve better,” she stated. “I think every child deserves the opportunity to learn and play together in all aspects of their school day.”
Kira Henninger, a school psychologist at Leeds, said, “I’m in full support of the Leeds playground project that will serve our youngest students, particularly those who are most vulnerable, due to sensory, physical or developmental disabilities.”
She continued, “The current playground structure is in need of replacement due to safety concerns as well, as it is not currently accessible for all of our students. Building a safe and accessible ADA compliant playground will benefit all of our students and all families in the Leeds and Florence communities.”
Henninger described neighborhood playgrounds as “hubs” for families within the communities, where they can come together, socialize and spend quality time, while children develop cognitive and social skills.
“An inclusive playground is necessary for disabled and non-disabled peers to have the same access to build these skills together,” she added.
Leeds teacher Jen Busone agreed with previous points that the playground is in “desperate need” of an upgrade.
She noted that after school, she often sees younger siblings and parents visiting and utilizing the playground, and said she can only imagine the weekend draws in community members as well.
Busone explained that an “amazing” part of the playground is that it is fenced in, allowing families with small children to feel more confident and safer while there.
“I feel that the current space could be used in such a better way that would help the community and our schools because play is such an important part” that is often lost, she said. “[And] the community needs to be given a space to do this with their children.”
Kim Gerould, a volunteer at the David Ruggles Center, spoke in favor of updating the center’s accessibility.
She shared that one of her favorite roles at the Ruggles Center is giving tours. Over the past two years, she said the center has welcomed over 1,000 visitors, including students and community members of all ages.
When leading those tours, Gerould said it has become more “apparent” to her that the center has to be accessible for everyone.
Resident Christa Douaihy shared that these projects give her “hope” during a “very dark time” in the world.
To that point, she talked about the work of Historic Northampton and their “investment” in persevering clothing of a certain time, including investigations into race, culture, gender norms and more — all from clothing — that will benefit all.
While many expressed that they do not envy the CPC for having to make these funding decisions, Adams said he was “honored” to be in the position to do so.
“We get to hear from and meet remarkable people, doing remarkable things, in our remarkable community,” he added.
The next CPC meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 16 at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Adams noted that the CPC will deliberate on the eight projects, along with some funding issues to work around.
For those who were unable to attend the April 2 meeting, written comments may be sent to Sarah LaValley at slavalley@northamptonma.gov, and she will post them to the city’s Planning & Sustainability site for the committee and others to view.
