HomeMy Public PortalAbout01-08-2013 Resolution preserving Whitney HillELECTED OFFICIALS:
Mark S. Sideris,
Council President
Stephen P. Corbett,
Vice President
John A. Donohue,
Councilor At Large
Susan G. Falkoff,
Councilor At Large
Anthony Palomba,
Councilor At Large
Angeline B. Kounelis,
District A Councilor
Cecilia Lenk,
District B Councilor
Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr.,
District C Councilor
Kenneth M. Woodland
District D Councilor
Watertown Town Council
Administration Building
149 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Phone: 617-972-6470
RESOLUTION # R -2013-
A RESOLUTION PRESERVING THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS
WHITNEY HILL PARK
WHEREAS, the citizens of the City known as the Town of Watertown have long
enjoyed the forested area that is commonly known as Whitney Hill as parkland; and
WHEREAS, the Town desires to protect the Whitney Hill property and ensure its
preservation as one of the last untouched parcels of open space in Watertown; and
WHEREAS, Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution provides that "the people
shall have the right to clean air and water, freedom from excessive and unnecessary
noise, and the natural, scenic, historic, and esthetic qualities of their environment" and
WHEREAS, legal protection is provided to parkland under the provisions of General
Law Chapter 45 Section 3 "Acquisition of property for parks"; and
WHEREAS, for more than a century the residents of Watertown have used the entire
forested area that is commonly known as Whitney Hill for passive recreation purposes,
despite the fact that a portion of this land is not deeded as parkland and does not have
the protection of Article 97.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Council of the City known
as the Town of Watertown hereby establishes that Whitney Hill Park shall be
preserved and maintained as natural wooded parkland for passive recreation and
education purposes, and that Whitney Hill Park shall be defined as consisting of three
parcel of land owned by the Town of Watertown as shown on the attached plan and
described as follows:
1. Parcel 1: The original 6.07 acre parcel acquired by the Town in 1895 by and through
its Park Commission (parcel 327-23A-0)
2. Parcel 2: The 0.23 acre parcel formerly under the care, custody, and control of the
Board of Water Commissioners and transferred to the Park Commission in 1899
(parcel 327-23-0)
3. Parcel 3: The approximately four acre rear wooded portion of the 13.75 acre parcel of
land acquired by the Town in 1825 by and through its Overseers of the Poor and
currently held for public works purposes (portion of parcel 328-2-0 to be surveyed and
subdivided);and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Parcel 3 as shown on the attached plan,
currently under the care, custody, and control of the Town Manager for the benefit of
the poor and for public works purposes, being deemed by the Town Manager to no
longer be needed for the benefit of the poor and for public works purposes, shall be
transferred to the Town Manager for park purposes; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Conservation Commission, through the
Conservation Agent, shall submit to the Town Manager, each year prior to December
31st, a recommended plan for maintenance and educational activities for Whitney Hill
Park.
Council Member
I hereby certify at a regular meeting of the Town Council for which a quorum was
present, the above resolution was adopted by a vote of for, against and
present on , 2012.
Valerie Papas, Council Clerk Mark S. Sideris, Council President