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Residents urge council not to sell Joseph Park as town considers ordinance
Summary
Residents and non-residents urged the Kensington Town Council not to sell Joseph Park at 3420 Plyers Mill Road, citing historical value, loss of mature trees and greenspace, and proposing alternatives; the council noted a public hearing would be required before any sale ordinance proceeds.
Town Manager Hoffman presented information about 3420 Plyers Mill Road (Joseph Park) and the town’s approach to future land acquisitions during the Nov. 13 Kensington Town Council meeting. Following the presentation, multiple residents and non-residents spoke in opposition to selling the park, urging the council to preserve the parcel and consider activating it with community-oriented uses.
The public-comment speakers included Joe Campbell (resident), Zacharey Carmichael (non-resident), Jamie Keller, Sienna Lyon (non-resident), Beth Meyer, Leslie Olson, Alicia Shekter, Lee Shekter, and Andrea Stumpf (non-resident). They cited the park’s historical and sentimental value to the block, concern about the potential loss of mature trees and greenspace if the lot were developed, and a lack of clarity about how sale proceeds would be used. Several suggested alternatives such as creating a community or pollinator garden, adding benches, or installing a splash pad.
One participant, Jody Kreiger, spoke in favor of selling the property, saying the park is underused, noting its proximity to St. Paul Park, and arguing a sale could avoid raising local taxes.
The record includes two clarifications made during the meeting: a speaker’s assertion that Joseph Park was "the last undeveloped parcel in Joseph Park" was recorded as incorrect, and the presentation itself stated that any proceeds from a sale would be allocated to the Property Acquisition fund within the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to acquire additional land. Residents asked follow-up questions about traffic near Wheatley Street and Plyers Mill Road, CIP funding priorities and timing, potential property acquisitions, and the town’s tax implications.
Mayor Furman thanked speakers for their comments and noted that, if the council decides to move forward with an ordinance to sell the property, a future public hearing will be held before any decision is made. The audio and presentation materials are available on the Town website and the meeting’s public archive.
Next steps: the council has not introduced or adopted an ordinance at this meeting; any formal proposal would require further council consideration and a public hearing.
