To the Editor:
Re “Town Meeting Warrant Closed” (news article, The Wanderer, April 2):
The Island Wharf green space is not an incidental parcel of land; it is protected ground, bound by a clear and enduring legal and moral commitment. The 1901 Deed to the Town of Marion explicitly mandates that this land be used “for public purposes only and not for commercial purposes.” That language is neither vague nor optional. It is a binding covenant that defines the character and limits of how this land must be treated.
For generations, this grassy area has been understood and used as a Town Park. That understanding is not merely tradition; it is reinforced in official policy. The recently approved Marion Open Space and Recreation Plan formally recognizes Island Wharf as part of the town’s open space and recreation inventory. By definition and by law, this land is intended for passive public use, not commercial exploitation.
And yet, over time, that protected green space has been steadily diminished. A bandstand was installed. A paved parking area was carved out. MS4 stormwater swales were added. A new Harbormaster building was constructed. While each of these changes may have offered some public benefit, together they have eroded the very open space the deed was meant to preserve. The cumulative effect is undeniable: the green space has been shrinking, piece by piece.
Now, what remains is under direct threat. The use of this land as a parking lot for non-residents and as overflow workspace for commercial operations is not a minor encroachment; it is a direct violation of the deed’s covenants and a fundamental breach of the land’s intended purpose. This is not open space. It is a misuse.
The consequences are not only legal; they are physical and immediate. With each passing season, cars, boat trailers, commercial trucks, and heavy equipment encroach further onto the grass. The land is compacted, damaged, and stripped of its ability to serve as a place for passive recreation. At the same time, the presence of heavy machinery in what should be a public park creates an obvious and unacceptable risk to public safety. Parkland should never double as an industrial staging ground.
The events of Tuesday, March 31, 2026, make this situation even more troubling. During the Select Board meeting to close the Town Meeting Warrant for May 11, Articles 2 through 30 were approved with little deliberation. But when Article 31, concerning the transfer of this very parcel of land, was reached, the process broke down. This article directly involved land governed by the 1901 deed, land that must remain dedicated to public, non-commercial use.
When Mr. Hills proposed transferring the land to the Parks Department, an action that would have reinforced its status as protected parkland, Mr. Parker immediately rejected the proposal. His response was swift and unequivocal: “I don’t support that.” He then moved to remove the article from the Warrant entirely. Only Mr. Hills voted to preserve the article and allow the issue to be decided by the residents of Marion.
That decision did more than halt a proposal; it denied the public their rightful voice. Removing the article from the Warrant effectively stripped Marion residents of the opportunity to vote on the future of land that belongs to them and is legally designated for their benefit. This is not representative governance; it is the suppression of public participation in a matter of public trust.
The facts are clear. The intent of the 1901 deed is clear. The ongoing damage to the land is visible and accelerating. Allowing commercial use and vehicle storage on this parkland is not only unlawful; it is a betrayal of the town’s obligations and its shared heritage.
Island Wharf must be protected, restored, and respected as the public park it was always meant to be. Anything less is a failure to uphold both the law and the responsibility entrusted to the Town of Marion over a century ago.
Sincerely,
Eileen J. Marum, Marion
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