The City of Salem’s Parks and Recreation Board held a meeting Monday, April 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the Salem Community Center @ the Armory to discuss a trade of land with alderwoman Kala Sisco and alderman John Whelan.
Present at the meeting was city administrator Sally Burbridge and the following members of the parks board: Carlos Lopez, president; Caleb Shephard, vice president; Angie Curley, secretary; Crystal Pilkington; Tiffin Felkerson; Stacy Jones; Kristy Rushing; and Luke Heithold.
Although not formally on the agenda, Sherman Odom and Melissa Shaw of the Salem Housing Authority (SHA) were also present.
Ultimately, the parks board tabled the decisive vote on the trade for a later meeting – deciding it was prudent for more information, plans, and data to be brought to the board in order for it to make a more well-informed decision. It also requested more time to process. A meeting was scheduled for Monday, April 22 to discuss.
The properties being considered for trade is a 5.6 acre parcel of property known as the old fairgrounds on Franklin Street, while the other is a 5 acre parcel of property known as the old middle school property on 10th street. Aldermen Sisco and Whelan requested the trade.
The old fairgrounds was previously acquired by parks and recreation during the board of aldermen meeting on June 17, 2019, for the original purpose of developing a soccer complex.
In the current budget year, the parks and recreation department will be making the final $25,000 payment to complete a loan from the Capital Improvement Fund to the Parks and Recreation Fund for purchase of the property.
Further clarification regarding the delay on the development of a soccer complex was provided by Sisco, who stated COVID-19 escalated the cost for materials and supplies and made the project financially infeasible. Now, it could potentially happen – Lopez stated a parks meeting would be held in May to discuss a three or five-year plan for what the old fairgrounds could be developed into, budget in mind.
Resolution No. 8-2024 was brought before the board of alderman on March 12, but it was ultimately tabled. Approval of the resolution would authorize donation of the old middle school grounds by the City of Salem to the Salem Housing Authority (SHA). The donation would allow SHA to be eligible for a three-million dollar grant for a low-income housing development.
Due to public concerns for location, water and sewer infrastructure, among other concerns, the aldermen tabled the resolution during the March 12 meeting, and it has not been on the agenda for an alderman meeting since.
“Our sole purpose of wanting to swap the properties is just because it’s closer to civilization for the apartment complexes that the Salem Housing Authority is wanting to put in,” explained Sisco.
Sisco explained that the old fairground’s property is located closer to Walmart, among other amenities for potential residents without vehicles. The old fairground’s property, if the parks board agrees to the trade, would be donated to SHA in lieu of the old middle school property and still allow SHA to be eligible for the three-million dollar grant.
The swap would meet the previously discussed need for a park on the east side of town and could potentially provide a connection between the city park and the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History.
Burbridge also mentioned that although the old fairgrounds seems level, the bulk of the cost for putting in the soccer field was leveling. It’s not terraced like the old middle school property, but there is a significant slope.
“This isn’t to say, oh, we’re taking it off 10th Street because people complain louder over there – or we’re putting it over here on the old fairgrounds because nobody’s complaining. That’s not what we’re trying to do at all,” clarified Sisco. “The reason that it wasn't taken to the citizens in the beginning is because everything that was discussed with the Salem Housing Authority was in closed session.”
Sisco explained further that if the parks board votes in favor of swapping properties, the city will be notifying the people in that neighborhood and open the door to further discussion. The only reason the aldermen and parks board are able to host an open session meeting regarding the trade currently, despite property trades needing to occur during closed session, is because both properties belong to the same entity – the City of Salem, according to Sisco.
“If I was voting as a citizen of Salem, I may be more in favor with the idea of being able to get housing at an affordable rate in town,” said Heithold. “However, whenever I was asked to be a part of the board, I need to have the mindset that parks and rec is the important topic that we're chasing after.”
Lopez echoed that opinion.
“I think I can speak for all of our board members, if you were to ask us: is affordable housing more important than a ball field? Absolutely,” said Lopez. “But like Luke said, from the standpoint of board members for the parks and rec department, we kind of got to take that into consideration, as well.
More information regarding the old fairgrounds property, old middle school property, Resolution No. 8-2024, and Salem Housing Authority can be found at thesalemnewsonline.com.
