Saugus looks to act on park safety issues

SAUGUS – After his daughter was recently injured using outdated equipment at a town park, resident Mark Magliozzi decided to bring the safety issues at Anna Parker Playground and Bristow Park before the Board of Selectmen.He also requested an update on how the town plans to remedy the situation moving forward, adding that families with young children have continued to move to Saugus.”What kind of plan is actually in place?” he asked at Wednesday’s meeting. “I want to see some traction.”Magliozzi pointed out that he has been taking his family to the parks in Melrose until the safety issues in Saugus have been rectified.Vice Chairman Maureen Dever explained that ample park funding has been a problem with few answers since the current board took office a year ago.”This entire board talked about additional funding for our parks, and it didn’t happen,” she said.However, Selectman Debra Panetta assured Magliozzi that the board has not lost sight of the need for park improvements.”All five of us made that commitment when we ran,” she said.Dever explained that within the town’s budget, only $18,000 was allocated for field maintenance.”That’s less than one percent,” said Magliozzi.”$18,000 is inadequate and we recognize that,” Dever said in response.Selectman Stephen Castinetti said the town had received $12,500 from Columbia Pictures when Adam Sandler filmed part of “Grown Ups 2” at Stackpole Field in 2012.Castinetti believed that the money had been put into a gift account. He asked Clerk Wendy Reed to make sure the money is still there, adding that those funds could certainly be used at this point.Public Works Director Brendan O’Regan said his department receives approximately 50 requests each week on park-related matters, a number he said is “very conservative.”O’Regan explained that he currently has two employees available for park maintenance. He added that the DPW only has from September through November to make improvements.”We are far behind where we should be,” he said.However, O’Regan plans to assess the conditions at all the parks by the end of November to develop a Needs Survey.”I think that’s a great start,” said Magliozzi.However, O’Regan reminded the board that the Needs Survey will be a project of “a much larger scope,” although it is certainly the means to a possible solution.