By Richard Conn/Daily News Staff
Daily News Tribune
GHS
Posted May 21, 2008 @ 12:00 AM
WALTHAM —

The Community Preservation Committee last night approved money for a study to see whether a boardwalk and walking trails can be built on a roughly 16-acre parcel near Smith Street and Trapelo Road.

Ward 3 Councilor George A. Darcy III applied for $10,000 for the feasibility study. If the plan comes to fruition, Darcy said the stretch of city-owned land in Waltham would tie in to another section in Lexington.

"There's potential for a 45-acre parcel of open space that the residents of Waltham and Lexington can use at any time," Darcy said.

The money comes from the city's Community Preservation Act fund, which has accumulated through property tax surcharges and matching grants since it was approved by voters in 2005.

The committee also approved funding for designing and installing fire suppression systems at both historic Gore Place and Stonehurst, the Robert Treat Paine Estate.

William Durkee, the city's CPA fund manager, said money from the fund can be used to bring historic buildings up to code.

The committee's funding recommendations still have to be approved by the City Council.

Meanwhile, City Councilor Sarafina "Sally" Collura asked that the committee table her request for $500,000 from the CPA fund to purchase an old railroad spur on Elm Street. Collura said she first wanted to determine how much of an environmental cleanup the property would require.

She had asked for the CPA cash to purchase the property so the city could build a small park there.

Richard Conn can be contacted at 781-398-8004 or rconn@cnc.com.

Copyright © 2008 GateHouse Media, Inc. Some Rights Reserved.
Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.