Park Spirit asks Parks Commission to seek city solicitor’s opinion on parkland protections; commission requests legal review

Park Spirit asked the Worcester City Parks Commission to request a formal legal opinion from the city solicitor clarifying the statutory and constitutional protections applicable to Worcester’s public parkland and to supply documentary proof for several historical land actions.

Rick Miller, president of Park Spirit, said the group "respectfully request[ed] that the Parks Commission in coordination with the office of the city solicitor provide a formal legal opinion regarding the status and protections of public parkland in the city of Worcester," and listed several items he requested the solicitor review, including Act of 1882 (chapter 154), Article 97 (status of Elm Park and related acreage), Act of 1960 (chapter 121) and documentation of land transfers and surplus designations under G.L. c. 40 §15A; Park Spirit also asked for information on the William A. Richardson Park Fund and its permitted uses.

Commissioners and attendees discussed whether the question is legal in nature and should be handled by the law department; commissioners agreed and moved to request a formal legal interpretation and supporting documents. The commission voted to refer the matter to the city solicitor with a requested response or timeline within three months, and also separately voted to request verification of the status and terms of the William A. Richardson Park Fund (probate index number 36369), including permitted uses and authorized parties for disbursement.

Assistant commissioners and staff said they would forward the request to the law department for review and suggested placing the matter on old business so the commission could receive and discuss the legal opinion when it is available.

Ending: The commission moved the item to old business and asked staff to seek the city solicitor’s response; commissioners said they expect a timeline and documentation from the law department to clarify the legal status of historical parkland protections and the Richardson fund.