Cemetery Fields Group to Shed Light on Town's Options

Amherst residents who want to learn more about some of the things the town could do with the 47.5-acre Cemetery Fields property can attend a special educational forum on Wednesday night.

Faby Gagne, one of the eight members of the Friends of Cemetery Fields Committee, said the forum will be held in the Souhegan High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. 

She said town residents can learn how the town could use the land for a combination of things that could include recreational fields, open space and additional cemetery space.

A grass roots initiative started by Andrew Rowe to create awareness surrounding the facts of Cemetery Fields. There are seven committee members and the group was formed in the spring of 2013.

Gagne said the town purchased the land with cemetery trust funds in 1993 for $140,000 from Oliver and Geneva Merrill. In the purchase and sales agreement, it was stipulated the land could be used for recreational purposes until it was determined that there was a need for cemetery space, she said.

On Wednesday night, Gagne said the eight-member grass roots committee that Andrew Rowe formed in 2013 has one goal: “We want to move beyond the history and ask the parties involved what can be done moving forward." 

Currently, the parcel is set to fall under the control of the Cemetery Trustees in September 2014 and the board believes the land is needed for future cemetery space.

But Gagne said there is a need for open space in town where the community can gather for recreation, sports and also where residents can go and walk “and be at peace with nature.”

She said there are three things that can be legally and feasibly accomplished. The Cemetery Trustees could decide to sell, subdivide or swap the land with the town.

She said the Attorney General’s office has confirmed this that the land could be used for recreation, cemetery space and open space. The location of the land is located on Merrimack Road, which cuts Route 122.

“It’s so important because it’s considered a little gem in town,” she said.

Town Administrator James O'Mara said Monday the town’s recreation director has done an analysis that when Cemetery Fields reverts back to the Cemetery Trustees in Sept. 2014, her analysis the need for recreation fields will outpace availability. There are 11,000 people who live in Amherst.

The demand for recreation fields is fueled by a demand for year-round sports. In the past, soccer and football was played in the fall and now it is year-round. And sports like baseball and softball they are being played beyond the summer.

“The selectmen have not taken a position because they have not been required to,” he said.

He said there is also another petition warrant article calling for the selectmen to take control of the Cemetery Fields once they revert to the Cemetery Trustees in September 2014.