Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett Saturday outlined her vision for a new downtown park that could rise from the ashes of a burned out mill complex and also address a longtime complaint.
The mayor’s comments came near the end of an information session that saw more than two dozen residents preview improvements along Little River following the removal of the dam at Winter Street.
“I would love, personally, to move Lafayette over there, give him a nice little Lafayette Park, and then maybe the rest it, sell it to some of the industrial folks that are in business further down the street,” she said.
The mayor was referring to the statue of Gen. Marquis de Lafayette that was relocated during a $1.2 million state reconstruction of the square that bears his name beginning in 2003. Longtime residents have complained moving Lafayette to the side diminished his stature. In fact, a 2005 Haverhill Reconnaissance Report concluded, “The sense of place has been diminished…The large Lafayette statue is no longer a focal point.”
Completing a circle, the report by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and Essex National Heritage Commission was coordinated by Lisa DeMeo, now Haverhill’s city engineer, and a committee that included now-Mayor Barrett.
Although saying it’s “way too early,” Barrett said her plan would restore Lafayette to a place of prominence. “It would give that statue a nice place to be and give this area a nice green space,” she said.
During the tour, Haverhill Environmental Health Technician Robert E. Moore Jr. noted a contaminated section of the mill property on the upriver end must be first be addressed.
“There are four—I’ll call them hot spots—along Little River that have areas of contaminated sediment that we want to make sure it’s removed and properly disposed of. It’s not material that you want to see just cast aside and so forth,” he said.
Little River dam project Superintendent Kyle Curley, of Luciano’s Excavation, pointed out part of the original Pentucket Mill’s waterpower system remains intact.
“Across from us, if you look by the white concrete wall, you’ll see there’s like an iron structure that’s up on there. Those are actually the gate wheels that turn the raceway open and closed for the mill,” he explained.
Upon learning of vintage gear, Barrett suggested this be saved and incorporated in any future park.