Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vaughan Field?
Vaughan Field is the site of the current elementary school in Hallowell. In the year 1923, Bertha Vaughan donated it to the city of Hallowell to be “used as a public park and playground.” For the next 30 years, Vaughan Field was Hallowell's "Central Park" and gathering place as well as the site of sports fields used by Hallowell High School and a few town league teams. In 1952, the Vaughan heirs allowed the city to use a portion of the land to build a much-needed elementary school. SAD 16 is currently constructing a new school on a different site and Vaughan Field will be returned to the city of Hallowell.
Why does Vaughan Field need to be restored?
In June of 2004, the Hallowell City Council voted in a non-binding straw poll to sell the Vaughan Field property for the purpose of development. As citizens of Hallowell became aware of this plan they realized that selling the property would eliminate the last chance for an in-town park.
Why did the Friends of Vaughan Field form?
The Friends of Vaughan Field formed to advocate for a park on this space for the following reasons:
- It honors the original intent of the deed – this intent is even more important today than it was in 1923.
- It is the last open space in town suitable for a centralized park – if this space is developed, this oppurtunity is gone forever
- This park will enhance Hallowell’s quality of life and sense of community
Wouldn’t development lower my taxes?
In a word, no. Taxation is not a profit-making enterprise, but is intended to pay for the services that people use. In other words, more people equals a greater demand for services, which may or may not be paid for by the increased tax revenue. Many towns find that the tax rate actually goes up as more people move in. If residential development lowered tax rates, then the most populated areas would have the lowest taxes, which is clearly not the case.
What about mixed use?
Vaughan Field is simply not large enough to support recreational uses as well as residential development. Development would substantially reduce the quality of any remaining recreational space.
Won’t there be a playground at the new school?
At the top of Winthrop Hill, with only one sidewalk on the opposite side of the street leading to it, the new school is not really a safe spot for children to walk to. School playgrounds are restricted in hours of use, and who can use them. Vaughan Field would be open and accessible to all, at any time.
What about the old Stevens School site?
According to the State's Re-Use Guideline Plan of November, 2002, this property will be sold to developers with no restrictions.
Wouldn’t a park need to be supervised?
Vaughan Field sits at the end of a quiet street surrounded by single family homes and a few apartments. It is open to view and flat. There is no traffic and, even now, the basketball courts and the existing playground equipment are in frequent use by a full spectrum of age groups in all kinds of weather. It is probably one of the safest locations in the city.
Do we really need a park in this day and age? Aren’t people different than they were in 1923, before television, before the Internet, before computer games?
If there are people mesmerized by TV or addicted to video games, does it make sense to eliminate an opportunity for them to reconnect to their community? Surveys indicate that in the post-9/11 era, people crave a sense of place and belonging more than ever. We currently have an epidemic of childhood obesity. For a healthy, vibrant, and desirable community, parks are not a luxury, but an absolute necessity.