Groton — Athletic fields, a pool and splash pad, and town green are among the many ideas people have suggested so far as potential future uses for the Claude Chester Elementary School property, and the town still is looking for input online. 

The former school, at 1 Harry Day Drive off Route 1, closed at the end of the 2020-21 school year as part of the Groton 2020 plan, the town's school consolidation and improvement plan. The parcel is located in the vicinity of Poquonnock Plains Park, the Groton Public Library and Thrive 55+ Active Living Center.

The town said it is still seeking input from people through Wednesday before it closes its initial public comment period on Groton's online community engagement website, greatergroton.com. People can submit ideas on the site, and the town also held an in-person workshop on ideas for the former school site on June 6 at the Thrive 55+ Active Living Center. During the workshop, Chad Frost, principal with Kent + Frost Landscape Architecture of Mystic, a consultant for the town, outlined potential ideas for the property, such as an outdoor classroom, public event space, playground and a mixed-use development, and people participated in exercises to give their feedback.

"The public is invited to use the survey and budget simulation tools at GreaterGroton.com to make your opinion known. Tell us what you would like to see on the site and how you would budget for this project," according to a town notice. "Imagine the possibilities and make your voice heard! Public input will be accepted through July 13th."

Two surveys and a budget allocation exercise are available at greatergroton.com/visioning-claude-chester.

People can weigh in on how important they think certain ideas would be for the site, selecting if it's something they do not need, are indifferent toward, would like to have or think is a must have. The list of ideas includes school building removal, town green, athletic fields, pedestrian connectivity, bicycle facilities, playground, event space, streetscape improvement, town office uses, outdoor classroom, a pavilion or shade structure, public restrooms, a smaller community pool, larger community pool, public art or placemaking, and native plantings.

There also is a survey to provide feedback on how much residents would be willing to have their taxes increase to support a potential project on the site and if they would prefer a single-year tax increase or an annual increase over 20 years.

Jon Reiner, director of Planning and Development Services for the town, said that after the initial data collection period closes, the town will work on compiling the data and look to have a meeting sometime next month to present that information and look to next steps.

At last month's meeting, Parks and Recreation Director Mark Berry described the parcel as one of the gateways into Groton. He said he was looking forward to getting people's vision for the property because it would help set the tone for what Groton looks like in the foreseeable future.

Frost said the Board of Education deemed the building no longer usable for a school and town staff members have deemed it really not useable for another town facility, so he thinks it's likely necessary that removal of the building would be one of the first steps. 

k.drelich@theday.com