Those who frequent Salisbury Park weighed in on the upcoming public hearing for the new Sturgeon Heights reservoir and pump station.
Margaret DeCorby, who has lived near the park for the past 12 years, said she's concerned about the possibility of losing the wide-open space that makes the park special.
"This park is the heart of this area," DeCorby said. "It's organic; people are always coming into the park and interacting. You have little kids' soccer, baseball, people walking their dogs and flying kites, parents teaching their children how to ride a bike, everything."
She noted that preserving aspects of the park might not be enough to maintain the park's character.
"It's the space that's important," DeCorby said. "It's beyond soccer."
DeCorby said she had noticed a petition had been placed on the sign outside the park detailing the city's plans for development. The petition has since been taken down, but DeCorby said it outlined concerns from those on Sonora Drive. These residents said if the new reservoir is at 53 Salisbury Ave. — one of the two lots the city is looking to rezone — after construction, they will be looking out at a building instead of a field.
"I could see why they're upset," DeCorby said.
The hearing will take place virtually on July 5. Individuals wanting to address council will have the opportunity to speak on a motion to remove the reserve designation of the two lots that span across Salisbury Park to build the new facility. Though the precise location has not yet been selected, city administration has said re-designating both lots would give the design team some leeway in choosing the best location.
The current reservoir is located along Sunset Boulevard and Vital Grandin school. Built in 1957, the city has said the reservoir is at the end of its usable lifespan. The new design — which is expected to cost $720,000 — must be constructed on an adjacent plot of land to meet demand requirements and maintain water pressure.
Construction is expected to begin in 2022, with removal and remediation of the old reservoir set for Spring 2023. The city has said the reservoir itself could be underground, meaning the land adjacent to the facility could be left open for another use, such as a soccer field.
Dan Lesniak said that he goes to the park almost every day with his dog and his family. He said he also noticed the petition, but was dubious of whether it could bring about any action.
"You get the impression that no matter how many petitions go out, these projects will still happen," Lesniak said.
Like DeCorby, he expressed concern for the changes that construction could bring to the park, which he said fosters "a lot of community cohesion."
"My wife and I have a group we meet up with there. It's a place for camaraderie," he said.
After taking a look at the city's concept drawings and hearing the case for the reservoir replacement, Lesniak said he understands why the project "needs to happen now." Currently, he said his major concern is whether construction will be efficient.
"The construction will take a lot away from people, and now that this project might be moving ahead, people need to be reassured that the schedule is important," Lesniak said.
He said he is unsure whether he will attend the public hearing.
"I've just accepted the fate of the park right now," Lesniak said. "It all has a reason, but now people have to live through it, and that's the tough part."
