As Yarmouth town officials plan for a new municipal park at the site of the long-shuttered Yarmouth Drive-In by Parker's River on Route 28, they need help with a name.
The project has been referred to as "Riverwalk Park" as a placeholder throughout design and permitting, but town officials want to hear from residents before settling on a permanent name. Suggestions can be submitted online, with the link available on the town's website.
Hard copies of the survey are available at Town Hall at 1146 Route 28 and can be returned to Town Planner Kathy Williams.
Names can be submitted until Wednesday, July 24. The town Drive-In Site Utilization Committee will then provide its three top recommendations to the Select Board.
What are the name suggestions?
During a recent meeting, Select Board member Joyce Flynn said she liked the name Riverwalk.
"It describes what it is: it hints at nature to be seen, to lure in tourists," said Flynn.
Member Mark Forest said history should be at the core of the selected name and said he liked the idea of the name incorporating a reference to Captain Parker in some way.
David Reid, a member of the drive-in committee, said there was an Isaiah Parker who was a sea captain of a ship, the Lavender, which was built in Yarmouth. He was a prisoner of war during the war of 1812.
"After that, he retired from being a sea captain and decided to become a farmer. He thought that was much safer than being a sea captain in those days. And he had a farm on the west bank of what is now Parker's River. His home was just north of the Captain Parker's restaurant ... the name of the river is credited to him, in honor of Captain Isaiah Parker," said Reid at the meeting.
Williams said shop drawings for a park sign to be installed by October are being done now so "there is some timeliness to this."
A purchase in 1986
The town purchased the 22-acre property in 1986 and used it sporadically for festivals while a committee weighed options for its future. Officials eventually decided to pursue a community park featuring parking, restrooms, pathways, a natural playscape area, kayak launch, space for artist shanties and public art, and native landscaping.
A large lawn will also be available for special events and woodland trails will lead to an elevated looped boardwalk offering views of the salt marshes to the south.
In June, the town awarded a Phase 1 construction contract to Robert B. Our Marine Division, LLC for about $9 million. This phase includes the vast majority of the site walk, kayak launch, play area, walking trails, special event space, and elevated boardwalk, according to the town website.
200 engraved boardwalk planks
This part of the contract also includes the installing of 200 engraved boardwalk planks. The Select Board has authorized the sale of boardwalk planks at $350 for individuals/family, $450 for nonprofits, and $550 for local businesses. Money raised from these sales would go toward the construction, maintenance and operation of the park.
The second phase, which qualifies under a different state law and had to be bid as a separate package, includes restrooms and is planned to be awarded in September. The entire project is expected to be completed by August 2025.
According the town website, over $13 million is available in funds from sources such as Community Preservation Act, Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant, and Seaport Economic Council Innovation Grant. Williams said that the town could potentially construct both phases within the current budget.
Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on X @zanerazz.
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