The Community Preservation Committee met virtually Thursday night to discuss a proposal from the town titled the “Flash Road Recreation Master Plan.”
The application aims to develop a recreation master plan for Flash Road Park. The potential project’s scope extends from the park’s playground to the baseball field behind Johnson Elementary School. At Nahant’s Town Meeting in 2022, an $11,000 grant was approved to improve the Heritage Trail in that part of town. The Heritage Trail is owned by the town and connects Short Beach to Bailey’s Hill. Town Administrator Tony Barletta joined the committee to propose the complementary request of $20,000.
In an overhead visual presented by Barletta, some of the featured additions to the recreation master plan include the addition of a splash pad, soccer field, and new fire lane in the park’s borders. Some of the additions, such as the splash pad, have their own separate proposals but are all components of the master plan overall. In addition, the plan also includes improving the parking lot that is adjacent to both the fire department and the Department of Public Works.
Barletta received a quote from Nesra Engineering of $18,750 to complete the project. The fees were broken down into four categories. The existing condition evaluation assessment was valued at $4,250, the schematic design alternatives for proposed investments totaled $7,500, construction cost estimates came in at $4,500, and public outreach and public presentation meetings were estimated at $2,500.
The committee expressed an overall sentiment that this proposal was significant and suggested Barletta work with the open space committee moving forward as well as continue to receive quotes on the project.
Before the Jan. 23 deadline, the committee received a total of 12 applications. The Commonwealth’s Community Preservation Act allows the Town of Nahant to invest in projects related to open space, historic preservation, affordable housing, and recreation. The town’s 3% property tax surcharge is matched annually with state funding to finance potential projects. The CPC will be the first to review all applications before going to the Financial Committee and, ultimately, Town Meeting in May. They will continue to discuss the proposals at their next meeting on Monday, Feb. 12.
