Results of a recent digital survey show that Greenfield residents support planned upgrades to Oak Park, which is Greenfield’s primary public recreation space and includes a playground, walking track, baseball and soccer fields, an events pavilion and a commercial kitchen. 

Architect Paul Simon of Hanover-based Park Architecture, which has been engaged by the town to create a master plan for Oak Park, presented the results of a digital survey to the Select Board at a special meeting Tuesday night.

“We have the results. Now the question is, ‘Which elements do we want to move forward with?’” Simon said.

Over 50% of survey respondents said they visit Oak Park weekly. About 40% of respondents said they were “satisfied” with the condition and amenities at Oak Park, while approximately 45% said they were “neutral.”

“We will take ‘neutral’ as a positive,” said Select Board member Mason Parker. “It means they are not complaining.” 

In September, the Select Board hosted a feedback session at the Greenfield Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market, which takes place every Sunday at Oak Park in the summer months. Simon noted that the results from the market and the survey varied slightly due to the respondents. 

“At the farmers’ market event, obviously we had a lot of vendors and customers from the farmers’ market who are there every week and had some specific concerns such as upgrading the Wifi at Oak Park  so they can run their businesses,” Simon said. “People responding the digital survey came represented a good sample of the town with varying priorities.”

Select Board member Mason Parker said the Wi-Fi at the park was recently upgraded. 

The Oak Park Master Plan digital survey drew 109 responses. It went out to town residents on Sept. 9.  According to the results, a majority of respondents would like to see new playground  equipment and increased and improved seating around the walking track. Simon noted that several people requested the town not get rid of the old mini-merry-go-round, sometimes referred to as the “wheel of death.”

“Apparently, that piece of equipment is a perennial favorite with the kids. A lot of people specifically asked that we not get rid of it,” Simon said.

Simon said that upgrades to the playground would include Americans With Disabilities Act-accessible swings and possibly paved paths for wheelchairs ringing a rubber surface. Other amenities which received strong support included upgrades and repairs to the basketball court, baseball diamond and soccer fields. 

Simon noted that some amenities might be eligible for grant and other funding. 

Repairs to the town tennis courts, which are in disrepair and cannot currently be used, were a priority for a slightly smaller percentage of respondents. Parker said that whenever the issue of the tennis courts comes up, “it kills the conversation right there, because it would be an $80,000 project.” 

The board discussed the possibility of combining pickleball and tennis courts, or of moving the tennis courts closer to the parking lot. Other suggestions from residents included a disc golf course, a zipline and a golf bunker. 

“What we need now is ballpark figures on all this stuff,”  said Select Board member Tom Bascom. “We need to know the costs of every item on the list, and we need to know the amount of effort for each thing.” 

Parker said the board also needed to start thinking about how many features will fit in the park. 

“We can’t fit everything. There may be some conflicting spaces,” Parker said. 

Simon confirmed that he will come up with general cost estimates for each item after incorporating feedback from the surveys and input from the board, members of the Recreation Committee and the Oak Park Committee into the plan. The Select Board and Simon will meet again on Thursday, Dec. 19, to review the conceptual draft of the master plan.