Town Moves Closer to Owning Chestnut Street Fields

The Chestnut Street property, which the town to purchase with $2.37 million of Community Preservation Act Funds is environmentally safe, officials say.

And, by the time it is in possession of the town this fall, the complex may have a name.

Meredith Keach,president of the Edwin A. Keach Memorial Foundation, and Nick Ventresco, a member of the foundation's board, appeared before the selectmen Monday night to ask for the town's support in naming the fields after Meredith's brother, Edwin, who was tragically killed in a car accident on Chestnut Street in 2003.

"Edwin met an untimely fate directly across from where the fields are being built," Keach said. "Part of our organization is giving back to the community in Edwin’s name."

She said naming the fields after Edwin would be fitting not only because it is where he died, but also because he grew up in the neighborhood. She said a plum tree is already planted in her brother's name directly across from the complex's location.

While still in early stages, Keach said that the foundation would be willing to help with funding for the complex, such as signage.

Selectmen supported naming the fields in Keach's name, pending input from the recreation department.

"It’s the perfect location, it’s the perfect legacy for him, and its something I would fully support," Selectmen Chair said.

Discussion involving the complex's name came after Easton Land Use's Stephanie Danielson and Planning Director Brad Washburn presented an environmental report that revealed no negative environmental impacts on the property.

"No staining or odors indicative of hazardous materials having been dumped or released at the site," Danielson said.

The environmental report came after concerned residents said the site may contain environmental contaminants, such as foundry slag. Town Administrator David Colton investigated with the residents.

"I went out to the site and met with a couple of the people who were making that assertion," he said. "Come to find out, the area they were looking at was not on this property."

Danielson said some trash was dumped in a small corner of the property, including wood debris, concrete debris, scrap metal, plastic bags and plastic milik containers. However, after testing soil samples, no contaminants were found.

The land's current owner, Al Endriunas, is expected to finish developing the land by Oct. 3. If the land is not up to the town's standards by Nov. 1, however, the town may terminate the agreement, Washburn said.

"We have the ability to walk away if they don’t close Nov. 1," he said.

More information on the Edwin A Keach Memorial Foundation can be found here.