Residents split over proposed Peacock Hill children's park at oxen pasture; concerns over parking, historic buffer and cost

A broad set of public comments at the March 13 Williamsburg City Council meeting focused on a proposed children's park and splash pad at the oxen pasture on North Henry Street (often referred to in public comments as the 'peacock hill' or oxen field). Dozens of residents used open forum to register both opposition and support for locating the playground on that parcel.

Opponents described the oxen pasture as a "quiet and bucolic" buffer that preserves the historic Colonial Williamsburg experience and offers unique sight lines to historic buildings. Several speakers, including Lori Weil (412 Harriet Tubman Drive), Chuck Keating (321 North Henry Street), Dave Artis (333 Scotland Street) and Nancy Bolash (327 Burnslane), urged the council to reconsider the site and suggested other downtown locations. Common concerns included parking constraints near the site, potential traffic and safety issues for children crossing busy streets, the park's visual and aural impact on the Colonial Williamsburg experience, and limited publicly disclosed project details and costs. Keating said he reviewed 10 comparable historic districts and did not find an example of a similar children's park placed on a main thoroughfare into a historic district.

Multiple speakers raised a cost figure for the project between $6 million and $6.5 million. Mary Cottrell, a retired Colonial Williamsburg employee, said she opposed borrowing $6,000,000 to build a splash park on land the city does not own and urged fiscal caution. Others asked for clearer information about the proposed financing, the park's final design and potential insurance/liability implications if the facility is a splash pad with water features.

Supporters said a downtown playground would increase family-friendly options, connect library visits and retail, and help recruit and retain families. Speakers in favor included Megan Stinemann (515 Newport Avenue), David Trichler (324 Indian Springs) and Natalie Miller Moore. Trichler said the park could make downtown more attractive to families and employees relocating to the city and emphasized that only a portion of the oxen field would be used, noting that "the oxen will still be there." Stinemann, who identified herself as a mother and scholar, cited research that public playgrounds can build social infrastructure and benefit local businesses.

Several speakers asked for a slower, more transparent process and better public notification of projects and alternatives. Sabrina Fairbanks (property owner, 105 Wythe Avenue) said many residents learned about the proposal informally and urged expanded notification beyond adjacent-property notice. Multiple speakers suggested the library parcel or other downtown sites might be more appropriate.

The meeting record shows public comment only; no council vote or formal action on the park location was taken at this meeting. Councilmembers acknowledged the public concern and said more information and public engagement would be needed before any formal decision.

Ending: Public comment closed after a lengthy open forum focused on the proposed children's park; councilmembers signaled they expect further community engagement and clearer financial and design information before pursuing any commitment.