GREENFIELD — Though winter is technically over, the possibility of making Highland Pond a winter ice skating location will be discussed next week.
The Greenfield Community Relations and Education Committee will be holding a public meeting Monday to discuss the potential for preparing Highland Pond for ice skating and ice hockey play during the winter months. The meeting will seek public comment, as well as city officials discussing the feasibility of preparing Highland Pond for ice skating.
“It’s really a matter of how much demand there is for skating on Highland Pond,” City Councilor Isaac Mass said.
The meeting will be taking place next Monday at 20 Sanderson St., beginning at 6 p.m.
According to Mass, the discussion will include the potential costs and measures needed to make Highland Pond ready for ice skating.
“The issue is, essentially, the pond needs to be dredged in order to allow it to freeze over,” Mass said.
And with dredging the pond comes a disruption of wetlands, according to Mass, which would require permits from both local conservation agents, as well as the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
According to Mass, Department of Public Works Director Don Ouellette is expected to be at the meeting to discuss the potential issues the city could face attempting to make Highland Pond into an ice skating area. Mass said that Christy Moore, the city’s recreation director and representative from conservation have also been invited to attend.
Regarding cost, Mass said that he was uncertain how much it would take to make Highland Pond a skating area and that determining the source of funding is also part of the meeting’s intent. These sources could include grant money though, he said.
Residents who are interested in seeing ice skating being allowed at Highland Pond are also invited to the meeting to comment. If this is not possible however, written comments can be emailed to towncouncil@greenfield-ma.gov.
You can reach
Dan Desrochers at:
ddesrochers@recorder.com
413-772-0261, ext. 257