Walpole’s Town Meeting members have been handed a promising option given by the Department of Corrections: should Walpole purchase 64.5 acres of fields across the street from our notorious Cedar Junction or not? The land would cost the town a total of $25,800, which is 400 dollars an acre. A football field is approximately a little less than an acre, so that can offer a scope of just how much land this purchase could supply for the town. As for the issue staring us all in the face — the proximity to the prison is expected not to be a problem, for it is an infamously secure prison, and the benefits of this purchase far outweigh this small drawback.
The State Executive Office for Environmental Affairs and the DOC created this proposal to purchase this land for a “conservation preservation plan.” At this time, Walpole’s Senator Timilty has filed draft legislation for the state to sell this land to the town.
Since state-owned land can only be purchased by towns for the purpose of recreation, all of this land would be undoubtedly used for things such as sports fields, trails, leisure, and more. With Walpole being a highly sports-involved town, all those fields could offer sports teams more space to practice, and lead to even more success in our athletics. Teams already butt heads in order for field time as it is, so this purchase shows promise for student athletes who normally have practices late in the afternoon because of conflict in scheduling. This means these athletes will have more time after sports activities to do homework and other errands if they can get field time earlier on in the day.
The idea that having recreational fields outside the prison is a danger is not actually very true. The prison has a 20 foot wall, 9 observation towers, and 5 levels of barbed wire keeping inmates inside, along with numerous guards and other means of security. Its one of two “supermax” high security prisons in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Also, if this is any sort of ease of mind for anyone, on the rare occasion there is an escape, one can possibly expect the runaway to get as far away from that area as quickly as possible, hence the term “escape.”
Walpole has had hopes of attaining more playing fields in the past as well, specifically with the purchase of Adam’s Farm back in 1997. The town voted to buy Adam’s Farm in order to halt the development of houses on the land, and that mission was accomplished once the override passed. Many Walpolians strived for things such as golf courses or volleyball fields to make out of the land; however, others argued that its original purpose was preservation of nature and to be a place of tranquility. Adam’s Farm has hosted some volleyball tournaments and other events, however locals still clash on what should be allowed on the farm. Purchasing this land by the prison is worth the effort to give athletes more playing opportunities. The eye sore of a prison across the street would hopefully lessen the chances of these fields being kept as “nature preservation” and locals would not have to argue over what can and can’t be done on the land. Also there is simply so much space up for grabs that it makes the likelihood of using it for recreational fields even better.
Since Walpole has recently built a new library over a portion of fields that fellow cheerleaders and volleyball players once utilized, we owe it to those activities to offer new space for future use. The colossal amount of ground would offer plenty of space for numerous teams or even locals looking to get some exercise.
Keeping in mind the raise in taxes that buying any property will lead to, the land shows communal prospects worth the extra cent. The town experienced a raise in taxes with the addition of the new library, but despite many people’s hesitance with the costly project, the library has become an aspect of the town that we can be proud of and a great tool for students, teachers, and others that far exceeds our old library. So, why not spend money on something that would be just as beneficial for the community, especially in such a large quantity? The fields would make sports activities so much more opportune, and be a community bonus that this athletic-crazed town can all appreciate.
