By Lisa Carolin
Members of the Chelsea Parks Commission learned about a proposal for the old Federal Screw Works property, located at 500 S. Main St. and 425 Congdon St., to become a park in the city of Chelsea.
The presentation was made by local developer Joe Ziolkowski at the commission’s Feb. 8 meeting. Ziolkowski previously made the presentation to Chelsea City Council on Dec. 13, 2021.
The proposed area is a 2-and-a-half acre parcel that includes an 8,000-square-foot building on the property. Ziolkowski shared a conceptual drawing with commissioners and talked about such possibilities as a walking path, pickle ball courts, and a splash pad. He also suggested that the proposed park space could serve a variety of age groups, in particular 10-18 year olds, whom he feels are underserved in the Chelsea community.
To learn more, go to www.MainStreetPark.org. That is the website for the nonprofit group that plans to put together partnerships to fund the project that would eventually be given to the City of Chelsea to maintain through a development agreement.
City council will address the topic at a 6 p.m. work session on Feb. 22, prior to its next meeting.
Also discussed at the Parks Commission meeting was “The Pathway to Renewal”, a mosaic art project which was created in 2003, and is located in Timbertown. The new bike pathway passes the spiral mosaic, which commissioners said had been neglected.
It is a community public art project created by Chelsea artist and therapist Lorin Kummer and consists of more than 45,000 pieces of glass and tile forming an 18 by 20 foot mosaic. Commission members talked about the possibility of a maintenance fund for the project.
They also discussed Chelsea’s dog park and making some improvements such as adding more signage as well as a shelter in the park and a section for small dogs.
Parks Commission members looked ahead to upcoming meetings with the plan to elect officers as well as to come up with ideas for sponsoring Rec-it Tuesdays, summer evening park activities that are free and open to the public.
The Parks Commission meets next on March 1 at 9 a.m.
