By Lisa Carolin
The Chelsea Parks Commission unanimously (Andrew Thomson, Dan Kaminsky absent) passed a motion to adopt the green space on Park Street as an official park.
That occurred at the Parks Commission’s Dec. 3 meeting. Committee member Sam Angus read from the City’s Master Plan that Park Street is the only undeveloped land in Chelsea used as a sledding park. In addition, it is one of the few attractions in the city’s commercial district geared toward children, and that it is recommended it be maintained as green space.
Although commission members agree that there is a need for more affordable housing in Chelsea, Parks Commission Chair Shawn Personke summed it up by saying that she agrees with much of the public feedback that there is better space for affordable housing.
In other action, the Parks Commission supported the recommendation made by Chelsea Police Chief Kevin Kazyak to keep the current hours of dawn to dusk at city parks and only to extend hours by special permit with the option to re-evaluate the recommendations for future parks.
Updates regarding TimberTown included funding received for the Pathway to Renewal. Chelsea District Library will be hosting workshops to create a clay tile that will be placed at the Pathway to Renewal. There will also be pennant making and fused glass tile sessions. You can sign up via the library website- Chelsea District Library. You can also order a picket for Christmas and receive a certificate to wrap. Visit www.TimberTownChelsea.org for more info.
Chelsea City Manager Marty Colburn said that a significant amount of contaminants have been hauled away from Main Street Park as well as some underground storage tanks. He said construction at the park will remain dormant for the winter.
Colburn also reported that the city received a tree grant for $7,000.
The newly formed Community Education and Recreation Collaborative (CERC) task force will begin meeting on the second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. in City Chambers in 2025.
The Parks Commission approved its 2025 calendar and will meet the first Tuesday of every month at 9 a.m.
Its next meeting will be a budget work session on Dec. 17 at 9 a.m. in the basement meeting room.
