Residents urge Selectboard not to sell town ballfield; board says no decision yet

At the Sept. 7 Walden Selectboard meeting, dozens of residents pressed the board to keep the town ballfield off the market and to revive local use of the space. Jon Augeri told attendees the board "had made no decisions at this time on the property," and meeting notes record "there was consensus that the field will not be developed in the near future."

Multiple residents made direct appeals during public comment. Dave Brown said the parcel "belongs to the kids" and opposed any sale; Perley Greaves, Harry Gammell and others said "Don’t sell it." Victoria Atwood suggested restarting a Recreation Committee to organize sports and community events, while Dan Greaves offered to donate time and equipment for maintenance. Several neighbors, including Eric Kittredge and Harry Gammell, asked that abutting property owners be given first right of refusal if the town ever decided to sell.

Selectboard members who addressed the issue emphasized that no final action had been taken. Carolyn Greaves asked whether the board would notify Habitat for Humanity that the property was "off the table"; the minutes note that residents asked the Selectboard to do so. The board encouraged residents who want the field preserved to organize and use the site, citing Cole's Pond as an example of other green space the town holds.

The meeting record does not show a motion, vote, or formal commitment to a management plan; it only records community sentiment, offers of volunteer support, and the board's statement that no sale decision had been made. The board did not set a timeline for any future decision about the parcel.