New Open Space In Framingham: Council Votes To Pursue Belknap

FRAMINGHAM, MA — The Framingham City Council took a step toward acquiring the former Belknap Pool and Tennis club to either keep as open space or for recreation.

The Council unanimously voted to ask Mayor Yvonne Spicer to exercise the city's option to buy the 6 acre property and appropriate $315,000 for the purchase. A Natick developer has offered to buy the property, but because the club is classified under state law as recreational land, Framingham has the right of first refusal to buy it.

If the city moves ahead with the purchase, the property could have several potential uses. The pool on the property could be renovated and used as a city facility. The Framingham Youth Council supports that idea because of a lack of an in-city pool for high school swimming teams.

Framingham Public Schools may also be able to use the tennis and basketball courts. School Committee Chair Adam Freudberg spoke in favor of the purchase on Tuesday because of the potential uses for student-athletes.

Even without a pool — estimates say it could cost up to $2 million to renovate — the property could be used as a summer camp in partnership with a private company, officials said. Sudbury, for example, contracts with a company to run a camp at the recently acquired Camp Sewataro.

Related: Framingham Councilors Mull Purchase Of Belknap Pool, Tennis Club

District 6 City Councilor Philip Ottaviani, who is a real estate agent, said the purchase would be a win either way because Framingham could probably sell the property to a developer if for up to $400,000 if the city can't find a use for it.

"That's based on 25 years of doing what I do," he said.

The facility opened in the late 1950s and was operated by the Framingham Swimming Pool Association. Belknap closed in 2018, however, after declining membership.