Longmeadow residents have the chance to give ideas on the next step in Bliss Park’s renovations.
Reminder Publishing file photo
LONGMEADOW — The town of Longmeadow and Town Manager Lyn Simmons announced the launch of a community survey on Oct. 1, seeking resident input on the future of clay tennis courts at the newly renovated Bliss Park at 252 Bliss Road.
Longmeadow celebrated the renovated Bliss Park’s opening on July 21, showcasing new accessible options, open-play features and sensory rich elements for all ages and abilities.
In addition to the new play zone, the park is also a centralized hub in town for walking trails, swimming in the summer, baseball and basketball. The tennis courts are currently closed.
The anonymous survey is a part of a broader study, led by Capital Strategic solutions, BETA Group, Inc. and Tech Environmental, Inc., to hear what residents want for the space alongside environmental assessments of the site.
The study will evaluate alternative recreational uses, associated sites, access, parking, lighting, noise, infrastructure, maintenance and cost considerations. The survey will help the town balance use, unmet community needs and community priorities.
“Because of its central location, any future changes to this area have the potential to affect residents throughout the community,” a press release stated. “The study is designed to be an objective, data-driven process that reflects community priorities alongside operational, financial, environmental and neighborhood considerations.”
Retaining and restoring the clay tennis courts has been considered but no outcome has been predetermined.
Other evaluated options include converting the area into pickleball courts, a dog park, passive recreation or other community-generated ideas “taking into account the green space surrounding the courts as well,” according to the release.
“This study is an important opportunity to thoughtfully consider the future of the Bliss Park clay courts,” Simmons said in the release. “Community input will be essential in helping us determine how this space can best serve Longmeadow for years to come.”
Assistant Town Manager Michael Barbieri told Reminder Publishing community input is important because residents are the biggest stakeholders in this process.
“This study is funded through the Community Preservation Act, it goes to public hearing and gets funded at Town Meeting,” Barbieri said. “A lot of people hold value in those projects and one of the most important parts of doing a study like this is engaging with the community to get the best idea as to what future use may look like. That gives the town and the Parks and Recreation Department a better sense of what people are looking for at that space.”
Barbieri said the town is also actively pursuing a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program grant for Cooley Brook, which runs alongside Bliss Park.
The grant helps communities build resilience to climate impacts, such as extreme weather, flooding or droughts. He said the town plans on submitting an application once again next year.
“Nothing is currently scheduled beyond, you know, the playground obviously is complete,” Barbieri said. “The pools have amenities improvements that are happening right now, so a lot of great work is happening over there. The Bliss court study is one next step in the right direction.”
The project team will also be conducting in-park intercept surveys, hosting two to three facilitated focus groups and meeting with the Parks and Recreation Commission, Conservation Commission, neighborhood groups and the Select Board over the next few months.
Following community engagement and technical assessment phases, the team will prepare a draft report and hold a public presentation for residents to discuss findings before ranking recommendations and presenting a final report to town officials.
Residents can fill out the survey at surveymonkey.com/r/KHJYYYG or by visiting longmeadowma.gov/563/Bliss-Park.
