A Plan for Re-Use of Whalom Park

Aerial Photo by Arthur Beaudoin, between 1933 and 1938; bumper sticker from 1978

Updated July 7, 2006

A plan for the re-use of the Whalom Park property for the Public Interest

It has been done successfully in another community, with tremendous results. See www.nps.gov/glec and www.glenechopark.org and read on below!

Attention Massachusetts Residents!!

Say “NO” to Emerald Place!

This is Massachusetts – not OZ!

Say “YES” to eminent domain!

Contact your state legislators and urge the state to take Whalom Park by eminent domain!

Push for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to take the property and create a new, public recreational-educational-cultural use of Whalom Park!

You have before you an important opportunity concerning the fate of the Whalom Park property.

Can we afford to take the property by eminent domain?

The REAL question is:

can we afford NOT to?

This proposal is not about looking backward and trying to recapture the Whalom Park of the past. This is about taking charge of the situation and looking forward - creating for present and future generations a new type of Whalom Park. The amusement park is closed; only vestiges remain. But the land – which has been a public recreation ground perhaps since the days of Native American occupancy, remains and awaits the opportunity to serve future generations. That middle-class recreational use of this prime location is now threatened by a profit-seeking developer planning to make millions of dollars at the expense of the taxpayers of Lunenburg, to put in his exclusive “gated community” which he calls “Emerald Place” – an apparently idyllic name which more strongly suggests the metropolitan setting of a popular 1939 classic movie based on L. Frank Baum’s series of children’s books - a glittering, towering community surrounded by a wall, carefully guarded to keep commoners out; home to a great wizard (in truth a great humbug) who lords over the land. But this Emerald Place comes without a wizard, or any hope for the future use of the property by the average citizen it has served for centuries.

1918 waltz song

The best option for the region would be to acquire the property for use as a public recreational, cultural, educational and historic facility such as has been done with an abandoned amusement park in the town of Glen Echo, Maryland. Since this facility would have a regional impact, it would seem appropriate to seek state or federal dollars to assist with the development.

This option would provide the folks of the region with a public recreation facility which would be the envy of other communities. It would enhance the quality of life of residents and taxpayers, rather than detract from it.

I am not suggesting bringing the rides back. I’d love to see that, but I don’t think it is feasible at this time. However, over time, some rides could be returned and integrated into the facility, either by concessionaires (as was originally the case when the park first added rides) or in conjunction with the National Amusement Park Historical Association and the Historic Amusement Foundation, both nonprofit groups with collections of historic rides, looking for places to set them up.

However, the roller coaster remains and could be integrated into this proposal. In addition, the carousel building remains and I have it on good authority that the owner of the carousel would be willing to consider returning it to Whalom Park if the park is preserved as a public facility along the lines of the Glen Echo Park model. (I am the owner of the carousel, so it’s firsthand information.) In fact, the first two rides at Whalom were a carousel and a roller coaster. Glen Echo still has its carousel, but that is the only ride left.

Whalom Park Looff Carousel, 1898 vintage, 1990 photograph

Assuming that the park is taken, exactly what benefits does the Commonwealth receive for the price paid?

First and foremost, the residents of the Commonwealth will receive the quality of life benefits provided by a public recreational/cultural/arts facility perhaps like none other in New England.

Second, something Emerald Place or other housing use of the property does not provide – JOBS.

Third, Lunenburg is relieved of the affordable housing dilemma created by the Emerald Place development.

Fourth, property values in the Whalom area should rise appreciably, and this rise in value will translate into tax revenues to help offset the acquisition and maintenance costs. But a large portion of these costs would be paid in lieu of the costs otherwise borne by the taxpayers if Emerald Place is built, of increased municipal and school burdens created by Emerald Place, which unlike the park proposal, provides no benefits to the town – or region. In fact, Emerald Place will impose burdens on Leominster roads in particular.

Last, a unique piece of the region’s heritage is preserved in a new form for the benefit of future generations – providing the region once again with economic and life-quality benefits.

This can really work – this is not a crackpot scheme to bring back the past. This is about putting historic resources to economically beneficial use. But the journey will not be a brief one – even a journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step. The first step is to take the property by eminent domain. Only you, a Massachusetts resident and voter – can take that first step – and write, email, or call your state representative and senator.

Find their contact information here.

from 1909 Map of Whalom District

Please feel free to email me with feedback, questions and concerns.

Who am I?

More background on this idea from Letters I wrote to the editor of the Sentinel and Enterprise

Here is a letter we received from someone in San Francisco, regretting the loss of their amusement park, "Playland-on-the-Beach." This does not have to happen in Lunenburg.

My Whalom Park Blog at Lunenblog.com (use whalompark.com link on that page or back button on your browser to navigate back here)

My Whalom Park page at Lunenblog.com (use whalompark.com link on that page or back button on your browser to navigate back here)

GOOD NEWS! Four abutters have filed an appeal, which may tie the developer up for years! Read about it here.

Whalom Park History – Coming Soon

circa 1895-97 souvenir booklet