The Economic Development Committee plan moved one step closer to building a playground, splash pad, amphitheater and pavilion in Town Center after a 5-0 vote on August 28. A memo to the Select Board requesting authorization to begin cross-board coordination and public outreach was approved, with a target installation date of 2027 for a Town Center family amenities project.
Select Board liaison Tom Fay, in preliminary comments relayed by Stanizzi, expressed support for a playground but cautioned that a splash pad raises added complexity around water systems and long-term maintenance.
Member Karen Kelly noted a playground would primarily serve local families and lower costs, while a splash pad would be a larger regional draw; she and member Jeff Vecchio both emphasized shaded seating and a pavilion with amphitheater-style steps as year-round amenities that could anchor events and support nearby food businesses.
Chair Rebecca Stanizzi said she will coordinate with member David Villari on a cover email asking to place the item on the Select Board’s next agenda, citing the timing of the Oct. 5 Wayland Festival and a pending ownership change of the property at the Town Center as reasons to proceed this month.
Villari summarized updates to the nine-page memo, including a strengthened executive summary and a clearer sequence of milestones. The committee’s immediate request is not funding, but direction to begin coordinated due diligence with affected departments and boards — Board of Health, Recreation, Department of Public Works and Facilities—and with abutters, River’s Edge residents and the Town Center owner, to define scope, feasibility and budget. Stanizzi said narrowing the Select Board’s decision to an authorization “to go forth and do” the exploratory work should make the vote straightforward.
Villari reported he consulted with Health Department staff and environmental consultant Ben Gould, who flagged that both a playground and a splash pad on the former Raytheon site fall under the property’s activity and use limitation. Under that AUL, any new recreational improvements must be reviewed by Raytheon’s licensed site professional of record, identified during the meeting as John Drabinsky.
“If an LSP determines a playground or splash pad is a no-go under the AUL, we’ll pivot,” Villari said, adding that alternatives like a pavilion, amphitheater seating and shade structures could still deliver value.
The committee discussed using the Wayland Festival described by staff as the town center’s highest foot-traffic event to gather email sign-ups and structured feedback on design priorities. Kelly recommended focusing on email capture by QR code and running the detailed poll online the following week through the committee’s mailing list and social media to maximize participation. Villari said the poll framework will be ready to present alongside the memo so that data collection can begin immediately if the Select Board authorizes outreach.
In referencing case studies, the committee will acknowledge Waltham’s “Field Station” complex as a successful example while clarifying that its scale and commercial base are not directly comparable. Stanizzi said this framing should preempt concerns about traffic or cost escalation while preserving the point that similar public-space investments have revitalized retail areas in other communities.
