The city of Saco is moving forward with its Pepperell Park redesign project with the creation of a nine-person Pepperell Park Ad Hoc Redesign Committee.

At a City Council meeting on Monday, Saco Parks and Recreation Director Ryan Sommer presented the idea to create an ad hoc committee to the council.

“The hope is to create a committee that would allow us to put a design together that we feel we could present to the council,” Sommer said.

The committee will be formed in the next six weeks, and will consist of city employees and Saco citizens.

“It will truly be a public committee,” Sommer said.

Over the course of 12 to 18 months, the committee’s goal will be to finalize a park design to present to the council and secure funding for the project.

If the project goes to bond, Sommer hopes to put it on the November 2027 ballot.

Sommer presented the park’s potential renovation plans at a council meeting last month. Plans for the remodeled park include a pond with a fountain and a perimeter walkway, picnic area, gathering spaces, amphitheater, and a playground with equipment for children of all ages and abilities.

The remodel centers around the removal of the Fairfield School, which is located in the middle of the site.

At Monday’s council meeting, Councilor Joseph Gunn said the redesign concept was “tremendous,” but he had concerns about the timeline of the project.

“We’re talking about a park. It seems a little long,” Gunn said. “You already have a starting point. I don’t see why it would take more than a year to have a group of citizens come up with a concept.”

But the timeline of 18 months is simply an outline for the committee, Sommer said. The design process could be completed earlier.

“By going 18 months, it gives us time. We don’t have to be pushed into rapid decision making,” Sommer said. “It’s better to say 18 months and go early than to say 12 months and go late.”

Councilor Phil Hatch said he was also in support of the project, but suggested building the project in phases so as to put less pressure on taxpayers.

“It might be easier to take small bites instead of one big one,” Hatch said.

Other councilors also expressed support for the project Monday. Councilor Michael Burman said the design is “very beautiful,” and he likes the idea of forming a committee.

Councilor Tricia Huot said the proposal shows a lot of vision.

“It’s a great idea for the city,” Huot said.