On July 12, sixty Gorham residents came together at the Municipal Center to share their views on the future of Robie Park. The event was organized by the Robie Park Master Plan Steering Committee, and Aceto Landscape Architects, the firm hired by the town to help develop a new master plan. The gathering was a charrette, defined as a meeting in which all stakeholders in a project attempt to resolve differences and map solutions.
Photo credit: Kathy CorbettParticipants gathered in small groups at tables with a map of the park and notepaper. After the discussion, a spokesperson from each group briefly summarized their ideas. All the notes were collected to be used in developing three draft master plans, the next step in the process
This first charrette was an opportunity for community members to share their ideas with the planning team about the future of the twelve-acre park located off Morrill Avenue between Gorham High School and the Municipal Center. Divided into small groups, participants were asked what they believed to be the site’s best assets, what could be improved, what additional amenities they wanted, and what upgrades or amenities they did NOT want to see at Robie Park.
As expected, and encouraged, ideas ranged from upgrading the basketball court to relocating it; from building a pavilion in the open space to leaving it as is, to converting it into a meadow. Participants wanted more benches, more trees, more paths, and more maintenance. They did not want paving, parking, more lighting, or more noise. Historical signage, fitness stations, programming space, and blueberries replacing non-native plants were among the many suggestions reported by the discussion groups.
Every small group wrote down their ideas and left them for the team to use in the next stage of planning. According to Caitlin Aceto, who chaired the charrette, the Steering Committee and the landscape architects will use this guidance as they develop three draft plans for the park. After inviting the public to review and provide feedback on the drafts, they will prepare a new Master Plan to present to the Town Council.
In March the eight-member Steering Committee chaired by Philip Gagnon and Michael Chabot adopted a mission statement calling for Robie Park to be a “vibrant and inclusive community space.” Chabot was very pleased with the turn-out for the charrette which he said was evidence that the community is involved and wants to save the park. “We had to set up more tables. Every voice was heard, and we got feedback about what kind of a park people want. There is still work to be done, but we really knocked it out of the park with this one.”