Pam Wolfe: Seaside Gateway Park
PLEASE NOTE:
The posting of citizen submissions does not reflect the HRA’s approval of a suggestion. Items are posted as submitted, without editing by the HRA.
There is one attachment linked at the bottom of this submission.
[First submission. Received prior to publication of HRA submission guidelines.]
Please adopt a new mission and goal for the HRA: To maintain the HRA parcels as open space/passive recreation.
This would allow the HRA to develop a new plan that would preserve the land with no permanent structures, but would facilitate access to the bay front, the ocean front and the land in between.
The plan should have pathways (paved and gravel) and seating areas designed by a landscape architect who is expert in seaside environments. The land could have pockets of plantings with appropriate seaside vegetation and could become an example of this type of planting for people planning no-maintenance, no-watering-required gardens of their own.
In addition, the plan should provide for space and facilities for temporary pop-up shops in the summer and food trucks (as weather permits) to cater to town residents and guests, tourists, beach-goers, sunrise and sunset lovers, swimmers, bikers and surfers.
The plan should also set aside a field for people wishing to fly kites, play frisbee and other informal, family-style games and sports.
The land would be kept largely in its natural state and would be open for people seeking ocean and bayside experiences, informal sports activities, peaceful and restorative moments and astronomical viewing experiences.
Thank you for accepting these comments and suggestions. I greatly appreciate your openness to residents' views and ideas.
Sincerely,
Pam Wolfe
[Second submission. Received following publication of HRA submission guidelines.]
Dear Dennis and Other Members of the HRA,
Thank you for providing the opportunity to share ideas and views on the future of the HRA site.
Attached, please find some ideas (both mine and those of others that I agree with and would like to amplify) that I hope you'll consider and support.
Thank you for listening!
Pam Wolfe
[Third submission. Received following publication of HRA submission guidelines.]
The only additional things I would want to add would be:
1. The HRA should modify its goals in response to all these comments and should redefine what "development" means to the HRA: Development for the site means protecting the site's natural beauty and the intrinsic qualities of an open, seaside environment. Using the land for the benefit of the town means keeping it under town control and free of large scale, permanent buildings. It means understanding that the HRA land's true value (community and economic) is as open space.
2. I don't believe that the HRA is required to build large scale development projects, or that the town will be forced to build projects the people don't want, or projects that are not compatible with community and regional plans to prepare for sea level rise. From the majority of the presentations so far, the people want the site to be managed and maintained following open space principles. The HRA should find a way to accomplish this.
3. The HRA should use its authority and resources to construct new low income and senior housing on non-flood prone sites elsewhere in town, focusing on rehabilitating or enlarging existing properties.
(Please consider these three points as additional comments to the HRA.)