Worcester library board stands firm against rinks in parking lot. (Worcester Telegram, 12/21/2012)
Excerpt: Residents and business neighbors in the area have praised the business group’s overall plan, which includes a vision of vibrant, pedestrian-friendly walkways, ornate lighting, parking improvements and mixed-use development. There are plans to close Federal Street to vehicle traffic to encourage the development of an “outdoor room,” and a plan for a pedestrian walkway that spans Portland Street from the old Telegram & Gazette parking lot, adjoining The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, to the Worcester Public Library.
The sticking point with members of the library board — who have in general praised the redevelopment efforts — has been solely with the plan for the ice rink in the municipal parking lot. The task force has previously voted to recommend against placing the rinks there because of the impact it would have on access for library patrons, along with aesthetic concerns about how it fits in the neighborhood.
