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Keene council votes to retain city parcel on Hundred Church Street, asks staff to work with neighbors
Summary
After multiple committee reviews, the council approved a recommendation to keep the small city‑owned parcel on Hundred Church Street and directed staff to coordinate with neighbors and volunteer groups on safety and activation plans, with a report back expected in a few months.
The Keene City Council voted last night to accept a committee recommendation to retain the city‑owned parcel at Hundred Church Street, City Manager Elizabeth Furland said on the City of Keene in Focus podcast.
Furland said the council’s committees had reviewed the property several times and that the recommendation adopted by the full council was essentially to keep the property and explore options with neighbors and local volunteers. "We're not gonna make any permanent changes, like change ordinances and things of that nature to make it a park until we know that we're going to be able to address some of the safety concerns at this location," Furland said.
What happens next: Furland said she planned to organize a meeting with volunteers, the parks and recreation director and relevant staff so neighbors and interested volunteers can propose staged, safety‑focused improvements. The council asked for a report back in a few months; Furland said activity at the site will likely slow over winter and that a spring timeline is reasonable for further action.
Why this matters: The decision preserves city control of a small parcel that neighbors and volunteers have expressed interest in activating, while giving the city time to address safety and management questions before making any permanent policy changes or creating a park.
