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Board flags Perry Field limits, recommends coordination with EPA planning and Parks master plan
Summary
Members discussed Perry Field’s status as a capped Superfund site where deep planting and structures are restricted; they suggested pausing major interventions until EPA-funded planning, CTUB pipeline work and Parks master planning clarify opportunities.
The Chair reminded the board Perry Field was once a coal gasification site that required capping and federal remediation, and she urged caution about structural work or deep plantings there. "Essentially, it is capped, so you can't sink poles in it. You can't really do much in the way of constructing anything, buildings, that could permeate the cap," the Chair said.
Members described Perry Field as a potential site for pollinator gardens or meadows rather than structures or trees requiring deep roots. Carlo and Elizabeth said the site is attractive in summer but lacks signage and connections to other parks; Elizabeth recommended holding the project until recent EPA grant-funded planning, CTUB pipeline work, and the parks master plan clarify what is feasible.
The board agreed to 'put a pin' in the project for now and to coordinate future planning with the parks board and municipal planning staff so any design respects the remediation cap and avoids harming the site. A member noted the city had a separate $350,000 grant to study the broader area and that Perry Field could be incorporated into that planning.
What’s next: the board will monitor EPA/planning developments, coordinate with Parks & Rec and consultants, and revisit Perry Field once outcomes of the broader planning efforts are available.
