Smithfield council accepts Camp Sheppard comprehensive master plan

The Smithfield Town Council voted to accept the Camp Sheppard comprehensive master plan on April 1, 2025, after a presentation by the plan’s authors and a short round of questions from council members.

The plan, developed by the Camp Sheppard subcommittee and presented by Gregory Guertin, recommends preserving the site’s historic structures and natural character, renovating priority buildings to meet accessibility standards, upgrading utilities and safety-related infrastructure, expanding trail and low‑impact waterfront amenities, and phasing improvements to match funding availability.

The plan covers the town-owned 114-acre property the committee describes as Smithfield’s largest park. Guertin said community engagement informed the recommendations: “feedback from over 500 Smithfield residents helped to guide the decisions made for the plan,” and the survey results showed strong support for passive recreation, trails, wildlife observation and modest waterfront access rather than large event facilities.

The master plan identifies 14 structures on the property and summarizes a prior structural assessment from 2020. According to the presentation, roughly half the buildings were listed in poor condition and in need of significant repairs, about 29% were described as in fair condition and approximately 14% as good; one building had already been demolished for safety. The committee recommended prioritizing renovation of existing buildings (including the dining hall, recreation hall and restroom facilities) over new construction to preserve historic character and allow adaptive reuse.

Committee members and councilors repeatedly emphasized the need to update cost and structural information before committing to reconstruction versus demolition. The presentation noted that a 2020 Wright‑Pierce report had recommended demolishing buildings 5, 7 and 10, but the subcommittee opted to pursue rehabilitation for historic value; the committee asked the council to authorize detailed structural engineering analyses and environmental assessments to clarify unknown costs. Council members asked for an updated cost estimate (a 2024 or later update to the Wright‑Pierce figures) before any major funding commitments.

Guertin outlined an implementation approach that starts with establishing a leadership or oversight committee, conducting baseline studies, developing detailed cost estimates and pursuing diversified funding (grants, user fees, sponsorships and program revenues). The committee also proposed performance metrics and regular reports back to the council to track visitor use, facility condition and ecological indicators.

Frank Ciminelli, a committee member, recounted the subcommittee’s review of the Wright‑Pierce recommendations and described local historic‑preservation input supporting repair where feasible. Councilwoman Taube thanked members by name and praised the professional presentation and the committee’s outreach.

On a motion to accept the Camp Sheppard comprehensive master plan, the council approved the document and the acceptance was recorded in the meeting minutes. The plan was described by the subcommittee as a flexible framework rather than a fixed construction schedule; the committee said it stands ready to assist the council and staff with next steps, including grant applications and the structural and environmental assessments the committee requested.

The council’s acceptance signals the town will now move from planning to the next administrative steps, including updating engineering estimates and pursuing funding and permitting as appropriate. No specific capital appropriation was authorized at the acceptance vote.