Town eyes property on Russells Mills Road

The town could soon have its “final piece of the puzzle” in creating an uninterrupted stretch of municipal-owned land along Russells Mills Road.

The Select Board unanimously agreed Monday to purchase an approximately 1.06 acre parcel located at 245 Russells Mills Road for $290,000. Ultimately, the purchase will require approval from Town Meeting, which is scheduled for June 7.

If approved, the parcel would be used for “any municipal purpose,” including potentially for part of a proposed community center.

Should Town Meeting reject the purchase of the land, the Select Board’s agreement would be null and void.

Plans for a community center have been in the works since 2018, when the Parks and Recreation Board expressed interest in having an indoor facility to provide more room for recreational activities.

Currently, town officials and consultants are working on designs for the proposed center on an existing open space near the baseball fields at Crapo Field.

“If we do create that recreational center — the potential is having enough parking for all of those activities,” Board Member Heidi Brooks said.

The estimated construction cost for the recommended facility is $14 million.

“It will be a wonderful project at some point,” Vice Chair Stanley Mickelson said.

To learn more about the proposed community center, visit www.town.dartmouth.ma.us/home/news/community-center-feasibility-study.