Salisbury Parks Master Plan

Hey Friends & Neighbors!

We attended the Salisbury Parks & Recreation Master Plan Update Meeting last night. You will recall that there was a public meeting back in March where we got to brainstorm our parks "wish-list" to the consultants that Salisbury has hired to update the master plan and to the City Parks & Recreation folks. Last night's meeting was to present the preliminary proposals to the public. It's a long-term plan, as master plans are, that covers about 10 years out. Here's some of what we learned:

The Lincoln Park Pool will undergo a phased improvement plan that should take about 3 years. The existing pool will change to splash pools - very fun for kids mostly. A new pool for swimmers is planned at the Civic Center! There are plans to add more neighborhood parks - but unfortunately there are none slated for the North Main area. Although our landscape architect drawings for the North Main Small Area Improvement Plan show several pocket parks in the area, when we ask the City, we are told that our proximity to City Park will not allow us to have new parks. What can we do about this?

We were told that we should watch for foreclosing properties that could be perhaps purchased inexpensively to be used as park or green-space area. Also, if you know someone who perhaps was left a property as an inheritance, but is not interested in the upkeep they can donate it as a tax write-off. This is largely how the Fulton Heights neighborhood got their park. It is important to note however, that Fulton Heights raised about $40,ooo to get their park by holding fundraisers, etc. and that the neighbors there do much of the everyday maintenance.

It is very interesting to see the Parks plan unfold. The hard part once the plans are in place is funding the changes - as always. It will be even more interesting to see how far we get in the phyisical changes once the new Parks Master Plan is in place.