Planning Board talks recreation at Tuscan Village

Tuscan Village in Salem, New Hampshire. (Courtesy photo)

As the Planning Board continues discussions on Tuscan Village’s proposed 300 additional residential units and Whole Foods to its property, the board advocated for diverse recreational spaces to accompany them.

The board wants to see something similar to playgrounds in Boston’s Seaport, like Martin’s Park, which they said they feel fits Tuscan Village’s overall aesthetic for the expansive property’s Central Village.

The issue came up at the board’s latest meeting.

Planning Board Director Jacob LaFontaine said the board sent Tuscan Village representatives photos of what they envisioned on the property relating to play areas.

The applicant came back with conceptual pickleball courts added to Rec Park and Overlook Park, he told the board.

LaFontaine said he recognizes there is a high demand for pickleball play right now, but wants to see recreation plans diversified at Tuscan Village.

Conversations on the subject were sparked by a conceptual recreation space nestled between two buildings, including building 1300, which will add 300 residential units, a Whole Foods grocery store and other retail space.

The conceptual area in the middle of the buildings would be a flexible recreation space with a fountain as its focal point, according to Mark Gross of Tuscan Village Development.

Gross explained play area equipment would be at one end of the open park, with a large open space in the park’s middle for potential pop-up, retail use throughout the year.

He presented some conceptual play structures like train- and horse-themed equipment, but said he can’t see a full playground there.

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Gross said.

Gross said they have to be mindful of where a play area would go on the property. He stated there are 41 children living at Tuscan Village among all the occupied developments.

In relation to these two buildings and a restaurant like Tavern in the Square coming, he said it wouldn’t be appropriate to construct a playground there based on restaurants like Tavern in the Square in adjacent areas. They conceptually put some playground equipment in the site plan at the opposite end of the open park where family restaurant The Friendly Toast will be opening.

Still, the Planning Board stressed a future playground for Tuscan’s consideration.

Tuscan Village developers plan to add a pickleball court to the right of a playground at Rec Park in Salem, NH. (Courtesy photo, Salem Planning Board)

“We’ve been advocating for something along those lines,” vice chair Joseph Feole said. “I appreciate the play area components, but I’d like to see more of a park, more of a play area.”

“I think a fountain looks nice, but I don’t see the recreation in the fountain,” he added.

“It would be a benefit for the applicant and community if there were more thoughtfully-programmed play structures,” LaFontaine said. “If it doesn’t belong here, that’s OK. But maybe consider recommendation should be given to Overlook Park or Rec Park.”

Gross stressed Rec Park has already taken two years to settle on its uses.

He’s seen people utilize workout and play area equipment at the park, but said Joe Faro, Tuscan Village Master Development owner, and developers will work on a solution to make everyone involved in Tuscan planning happy about future recreation sites on the property.

Board member Damon Norcross encouraged a conversations between Tuscan Village developers and the Recreation Committee to focus in on what would be most beneficial to the community.

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