Special Board of Aldermen 12-07-2021 Page 9
asking for approval of a bond. It doesn't mean we have to spend the money. We've heard from the developer that
they want some expression — well they don't want it but they would back away with some expression of interest. Why
wouldn't we express the interest? Just why not? We've heard about the potential for all of us to leave a legacy for the
generations that follow. Why wouldn't we just do this even if it seems like it's not going to go anywhere and it's
hopeless? It's not. There's action we can take. Please, please pass this resolution.
Chairman Dowd
Is there anyone else who would like to speak in favor of this legislation?
Mark Berrigan
Thank you for listening to the citizens of the city. My name is Mark Berrigan. | live at 52 Webster Street in Nashua.
This urban development over development plan is both destructive and dangerous for the quiet and narrow streets of
our neighborhood in which we live. It's totally out of character of what the neighborhood is and as we know it as the
north end. You can't blame citizens from Nashua for choosing a nice place to live. The schools are important - good
schools, city government, city parks, narrow streets, well-groomed houses all add up to an experience that
generations dream of attaining and work so hard to achieve. Along with the surrounding neighborhoods, Greeley Park
is one such place. | can remember exactly the moment | fell in love with Greeley Park. | fell in love with the
indestructible metal slide that no one in their right mind would ever think of today. It seemed 100 feet tall when | was
younger and the swings so long are the chains one can kick tree branches 20 feet in the air. That indestructible slide,
those monkey bars, and swings are still here today for children to enjoy at Greeley Park. Over 50 years that I've
known it, maybe more I'm sure.
The paved path that connects Concord to Manchester streets is the absolute best place to walk, jog, bike uphill both
ways. It's out of sight of any traffic noise or urban overdevelopment pollution. | ran along that path every day when
the city had exercise stations along throughout the woods and that would be the beginning of my training as the
United States Marine Corps Captain and war veteran. | made it through OCS because of that park running along the
Barker property hidden just out of sight. Some of those workout stations are still there too. Along that road is
surrounded by sweet smelling forestry. A little getaway right in our park. Right in our very own town.
For a few years, | lived in a city that had so much urban sprawl it would make your head spin - Los Angeles,
California. When my two daughters were born, | decided right then in there, | wanted a better place for them to grow
up, a place where they could run and play...
Alderman O’Brien
30 second.
Mark Berrigan
... ride their bikes without fear of city traffic. This is why | came back from Los Angeles to live in the very neighborhood
| grew up in Nashua, New Hampshire, to raise my two daughters in the same park that | had the privilege of growing
up in and pushing them on the very same swings and slides. Let's keep the best of Nashua intact. The best place to
live in the country, quite frankly, one hell of a park. It would be a terrible waste of public...thank you.
Chairman Dowd
Is there anyone else that wants to speak in favor of this legislation?
Fred Shirley
My name is Fred Shirley. | live at 111 Atherton Avenue. I've lived in Nashua for over 50 years and during that time,
I've come to realize what an extraordinary place Greeley Park is. People have already said just about everything |
was hoping to say but I’d just add to comments about the uniqueness of Greeley Park. (inaudible) meets the
Manchester River, the city recently put in that beautiful boat ramp so people can access the water. No place else in
the city has that. The other one is that there's a garden there where people can grow plants. Other parks don't have
that kind of thing. | think Greeley Park is something really special.
