Chicopee plans to remove 2 dams in Szot Park, eliminating ponds
Today 5:55 AM
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CHICOPEE – The city is starting a three-year project that will change the look of Szot Park, eliminate a potential safety hazard to the community’s electrical system and improve water quality for the Chicopee River and Abbey Brook.
State and local officials recently unveiled a plan that will remove two dams that create the two ponds in Szot Park and replace the seriously-undersized culvert that runs under Front Street and leads to the Chicopee Electric Light property.
“It is returning the waterway back to its natural state,” said Ronald S. Amidon, commissioner for the state Department of Fish and Game.
Chicopee Council approves funding to clean up remaining buildings at Uniroyal
Updated 5:25 AM;
Today 5:25 AM
11/16/2020 -Chicopee- A view of the former Uniroyal plant West Main and Oak Streets. (Don Treeger / The Republican)
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CHICOPEE A project to complete the cleanup of the old Uniroyal factory campus will move forward with an infusion of $870,000 from the City Council.
“We are getting closer and closer to redeveloping Uniroyal-Facemate, which is really exciting for the city of Chicopee,” Mayor John L. Vieau said.
In July 2019 the City Council approved a $2 million bond to clean asbestos and other hazardous waste from the remaining larger buildings at Uniroyal and to clean and raze the former power plant, which is the most contaminated building on the 72-acre property.
Chicopee City Hall auditorium restored, open for public meetings for the first time since 2003
Updated Mar 10, 2021;
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CHICOPEE – For the first time in many years the City Hall’s auditorium was open for business after a renovation corrected structural problems and allowed it to be turned into a meeting space complete with high-tech audio and video equipment.
The newly-renovated auditorium was first seen last week when the City Council held its regularly-scheduled meeting in the room on Tuesday. The School Committee followed on Wednesday and the equipment will allow all boards and commissions to broadcast their meetings with just the flick of a switch.
Chicopee zone change requested to create new industrial park near state park
Updated Jan 26, 2021;
CHICOPEE – A development corporation that has built two industrial parks in the city is proposing to create a third one on about 90 acres located off Sheridan Street and next to Chicopee State Park.
The proposal from the Westover Metropolitan Development Corporation is being opposed by multiple residents of Slate Road and Nawrocki Drive who called the plan a “horrible idea” that would destroy forested land that is used often for recreation and create more traffic on the already-busy Sheridan Street.
The non-profit corporation, which also operates Air Park West and Air Park North in Chicopee and Air Park East in Ludlow, purchased 57.4 acres from the city in 2009 for $1.45 million. That will be joined with about 30 acres that was purchased from the Tarnow Nursery property off Sheridan Street after the company closed in 2015, said Michael Bolton, president and chief executive of