ERVING — A long-term vision for parks in Erving is being developed by the Recreation Commission, and is open to community input.
The soonest project to come to fruition will be a new playground at the Park Street park, which will be designed this fall and likely installed in the spring. The plans will be informed by community input over the next few weeks.
The idea to establish long-term goals came earlier this year, when the Recreation Commission was considering options for updating the Park Street playground, according to town Planning Assistant Mariah Kurtz. In their discussions, she said, members found they did not know how residents would use that park differently from the nearby Veterans Memorial Field.
“We were about to step into designing that playground when we realized we needed to look at the bigger picture,” Kurtz explained.
To that end, the Recreation Commission is seeking community input over the next few weeks.
In an online Recreation Commission meeting on Sunday, Aug. 30, at 4 p.m., residents can speak to town officials about the long-term vision for the town parks. Registration for the meeting will be available at erving-ma.gov.
In an online survey, which can be found on the homepage for erving-ma.gov, residents can indicate long-term priorities for potential park development, and offer feedback on three short-term options for updating the Park Street park, Veterans Memorial Field (near the Fire Station) and Zilinski Field (off Prospect Street Extension).
The three short-term options present different plans for putting playgrounds, sports fields, gardens and other amenities in the parks.
In regards to more long-term planning and redesign efforts, Erving is working with the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG). The park design work is funded with money Erving receives every year from FRCOG, Kurtz said.
The options for long-term priorities in the survey include several options that may not be financially feasible right now, but the survey is intended to inform the town’s goals, Kurtz said. The list of ideas for long-term goals includes bike paths, cross-country skiing trails, a skate park, a community garden, a dog park and outdoor art installations.
Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.