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Council confirms receipt of petition to incorporate Wakefield School property into park; no action yet
Summary
Members of the public urged the council to convert Wakefield School property to parkland; the town manager confirmed at least one petition was received and said staff will report back next meeting.
Multiple members of the public during the June 16 public comment period urged the Town Council to preserve the Wakefield School property as parkland and asked the council to consider incorporating the site into Saugatucket River Park.
A member of the public asked whether a petition had been presented; the town manager confirmed a petition had been received but said the council had not acted on it. The town manager said staff would look into the petition’s status and report back at the next meeting.
Speakers urged the council to consider environmental and recreational value of the town‑owned parcel alongside potential housing uses, noting the property provides rare riverfront open space within the town and warning about community opposition if redevelopment proceeds without broad input. Other public commenters said they support affordable housing but want the town to weigh park preservation, open‑space legacy and environmental factors when deciding next steps.
Council members said the petition should be placed on an agenda so the public can speak and the council can consider the matter alongside any RFP or redevelopment proposals connected to Wakefield School.
