Paddleball, disc golf and an RC crawler course could be coming to Greenfield if voters approve the master plan for Oak Park.

Paul Simon of Park Architecture presented to the updated draft of the master plan to the Greenfield Select Board and representatives of the Oak Park Committee and the Recreation Department Thursday. 

“This is our first stab at laying everything out and seeing where everything could go,” Simon said. 

The new plan includes space for dozens of possible amenities, including a volleyball court, exercise equipment, a new bandstand, more walking trails and upgraded soccer and baseball fields. The project, which would take a phased approach over many years, would be funded by a combination of town funds, fundraising and grants. The Select Board plans to bring forward a warrant article for renovations to the park in March.

“The great thing with this plan is you can take it one thing at a time while you identify funding and raise money,” Simon said. “You can use this plan as a tool for your grant funding. There are some funds for specific requirements, such as ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) funding.” 

According to the results of the town survey and a feedback charrette in August, town residents would most like to see improvements to the walking track and new playground equipment, including accessible equipment. 

The updated plan was created after an October meeting at which Simon shared the results of a town survey gauging resident’s priorities for the park. Currently, the tennis courts are unusable and the playground equipment needs upgrades for safety and accessibility.

In reviewing the draft master plan, members of the Select Board expressed concerns about overflow parking for large events such as the Fire Department’s Fire and Ice event, the Friends of the Meetinghouse Oktoberfest fundraiser and Oak Park Committee’s Trunk or Treat Halloween event. The current master plan has 62 parking spots. 

“We get several hundred people some events,” said Select Board member Tom Bascom. “Even if there are two people in every car, that’s at least 100 more spots that we need.”

Simon agreed to make some adjustments to allow easier access to the area used for overflow parking and said he would tweak some elements to regain some spots.

Select Board member Mike Borden suggested the town pursue getting permission to use the land at the east end of the park, an area known as the “triangle,” between the east end parking lot and State Route 136, for parking.

“The state no longer uses it for anything, and it is just scrub,” Borden said. “What if we cleared it ourselves and rented it from the state for a dollar?” 

The state previously maintained a cut-through road between Oak Park and Route 136, but the road has since been closed by mutual agreement between the town and the state. 

Oak Park Committee member Adele Hale said there is “strong support” for establishing a weekly flea market in Greenfield, and that the flea market could raise funds for the park.

“This summer, we had the flea market during the farmers’ market, and it probably brought in $1,000 each time. It would be nice to put those funds into the park,” Hale said. “Over the course of a summer, we could raise $10,000.” 

Hale asked if the tennis courts were beyond  repair, to which Simon said yes. 

“The surface is cracked, water has gotten in there, it has heaved, the fencing is gone. It would cost almost as much to build a new one,” Simon said.

On the draft master plan, new tennis courts are located closer to the kitchen and restroom. 

The board will meet with Simon again after the holidays to review updates to the plan.

“It’s great. I love all of it,” Select Board member Mason Parker said. “We would really like to bring this plan to the voters in March.”

For  information, go to greenfield-nh.gov/oak-park.