What Waltham Residents Think Should Be Done With Fernald

Waltham, MA – On Friday, we asked our readers what they think should be done with the Fernald land.

The property was acquired by the City of Waltham in 2014, and work has begun on either demolishing or documenting the more than 75 buildings on the land as officials mull over how to best utilize it.

Here's how Waltham Patch readers said they would like to see it used:

• "It should be a place for kids to go and enjoy. It would be nice if they kept some of the land unused. I would also love for the focus to be on people with disabilities to honor the roots. We have enough housing and definitely don't need more traffic."

• "I believe the city should make a large recreation facility for children, parents and families to go and enjoy! Pool, walking track, tennis, baseball, basketball, a place for picnics, a function area for birthday parties, baby showers, with a park. Maybe a hot dog stand, ice cream stand. A place to go after dinner or on the weekends to enjoy being outside! I do think there should be open space for the deer, animal population as well."

• "Bring back the walex roller skating bowling anything for the kids to enjoy"

• "A new Regional Career Technical High School that supports Waltham and surrounding community students."

• "A parking lot with park and ride. We need major help with the ridiculous traffic situation."

• "Homeless shelter"

• "Low income housing!"

• "animal sanctuary. oh, and a starbucks."

• "Treatment facility"

• "Park and area for fireworks"

•"Something or some place the kids can go and have fun"

• "The best idea that I have heard kicked around is to build a new Waltham High School ( with a new Regional Vocational High School ) and a Central Junior High that would replace the aging John F Kennedy Jr. HS on Lexington St, which is located in front of the current Waltham High School that was built back in 1970, and The former Waltham HS on School St. now used as South Jr HS. My second idea would involve recruiting a rock promoter/investor or two (like Don Law of Cambridge for instance) and turning the Fernald School property and it's existing buildings into a world-class concert venue. The existing buildings could be re-furbished into housing & practicing locations for bands that would be performing there and into hotels for concert goers coming in from out of town."

• "NO CONDOS/BANKS: We have enough of those. They should use the land to build a new school"

Photo via Wikimedia Commons