After a year of waiting, a group of Liberty Grove residents finally got an answer for its proposed plans for Mariners Park located near Gills Rock. Last week, the Mariners Park ad hoc committee voted 3-1 to not adopt the plan for the parcel bought close to two years ago from the town. Mike Bahrke, who helped organize the proposal in the fall of 2019, was the lone voice in favor of the plan. Steve Eatough, who also helped develop the plan says it combined a lot of the aspects the community said it wanted following a survey conducted by the town. He never expected the proposal to be accepted verbatim, but hoped it would start a conversation.

Town officials have cited the impact of the pandemic and the cost of adding shoreline protection measures for delaying some of the development of the site. At its October meeting, the ad hoc committee noted some aspects of its five-year plan including the installation of benches and parking should be considered in 2021. The Liberty Grove Town Board will consider extending the life of  the Mariners Park ad hoc committee when it meets on Wednesday at 7 p.m.