Page 14 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Wednesday, November 25, 2020 Neighbors concerned about bike path reducing property values Councillors reassure: Trail must have support of private land owners to continue By Tara Vocino A pproximately 12 homeowners met on Saturday afternoon to advocate against building an approximately eight to 15-foot-wide bike/walking path, called the Spot Pond Brook Greenway, that they say would take and demolish a section of private land. Forming an informal group called “No Way to the Greenway,” they’re fighting against the project in its proposed location. “We’re not against it per se, but we’re against it affecting our property,” said resident Pamela West-Turco, who would consider moving with her family if it passes. In its feasibility study stage, the path is a 1-mile cut-through from Oak Grove Station to downtown Malden. Councillor-at-Large Stephen Winslow, who is an avid bicyclist, said that from his years of work on regional bike trails, including the Northern Strand in Malden, he knows that trails can only be built on public land with agency support and/or with the cooperation of private land owners. “My understanding is that research on the land ownership issue of Spot Pond Brook routes has not been completed, so I cannot really comment on those issues at this time,” Winslow said in a separate interview on Sunday night. “The purpose of a feasibility study, such as the one being done on the Spot Pond Greenway, is to look at potential routes, review plans and deeds that help establish ownership and to also determine which routes have public support.” Agreeing, Ward 4 Councillor Ryan O’Malley, who is spearheading the project, said in another interview Sunday night that various routes are being investigated, including the Main Street corridor, the Washington Street corridor and on public property or drainage easements along the original course of the Spot Pond Brook. As part of this process, the city has conducted the first of three community engagement meetings to solicit community input as part of this study. O’Malley invited residents to register for the Wednesday, Dec. 9 public hearing at 6 p.m. via Zoom at cityofmalden. zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ micxs5icTh-FnDOj6kh5gA. However, resident Margaret Geiren said that since she and Where they feel the Greenway should be built along Winter Street across from Oak Grove – in the bottom row: Georgina Oduro and Pamela West-Turco. Top row: Kennix Wong, Kevin Tang, Joanne Silva, John Anderson, Robert Casaletto, Matthew Burns, Margaret Geiren, Kathy MacDonald, William DeFranzo and Paul Buckley. Georgina Oduro said she will lose her parking spot in her driveway if the Spot Pond Brook Greenway becomes reality. At right, neighbor Mathew Burns show his support for her. Kennix Wong and Kevin Tang feel they would lose this backyard garden if the Spot Pond Brook Greenway goes through. Margaret Geiren shows where her and her partner Kathy MacDonald’s porch will be reportedly affected. other elderly residents don’t own a computer, that isn’t convenient for her and that population. Understanding COVID-19 regulations, she feels their voices fell on deaf ears as a result. “The whole point of this feasibility study is to engage landscape architects and civil engineers to determine the feasibility of these routes and research property ownership records,” O’Malley said. “The final route hasn’t been selected.” However, bicyclist Joanne Silva, who is an abutter, said it’s too close for comfort, citing a noise disturbance and invasion of privacy when cyclists cut through her yard along the pathway. Winslow went on to say that he and his wife had poor experiences bicycling on the streets of the Oak Grove area when they An aerial view of six properties that would be affected. first moved to Malden. The trail will separate motor vehicle traffic from walkers, joggers and bicyclists. Winslow added that the 1996 Bike to the Sea feasibility study process went through a similar controversy with one neighborhood in Revere. “The route of the Bike to the Sea trail shifted from the original vision to go directly towards Revere Beach along the southern edge of the Rumney Marsh – which was owned by numerous private landowners – to a longer route to Lynn that followed the Saugus Branch railbed that was owned by the MBTA,” Winslow said. “Great to say that by the end of 2021, that route will be paved from Malden through Revere and Saugus to Western Avenue in Lynn and beyond.” According to O’Malley, the project has been funded in part by the MassTrails Grants program and the Malden Community Preservation Committee, which allowed Malden to hire Shadley Associates, landscape architects, who designed the rehabilitated Waitt’s Mount Park, River’s Edge and upgraded Coytemore Lea Park. The firm is currently working on the revitalization of Trafton and Devir Parks in the Maplewood and Edgeworth neighborhoods, respectively. For information, visit cityofmalden.org/spotpondbrookgreenway, or youtube.com/ watch?v=fkEn08oZMeM. —Tara Vocino may be reached at printjournalist1@gmail.com. Joanne Silva said she will lose 12 feet of her front yard. Landlord Robert Casaletto said 15 feet of his four-car driveway would be removed. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino)
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