Only invited residents will be able to attend this weekend’s neighborhood meeting to discuss the future of Black Point Community Park.

In June, residents and planning board members criticized the way the town had gone about developing the park at a planning board meeting, arguing that the town didn’t do enough to involve residents in the development of the park.

The town sent out letters to residents earlier this month, some of which asked residents to come and some of which asked residents not to come. The meeting, to be held on Sunday at St. Maximilian Kolbe at 1 p.m., is to discuss residents’ concerns with the park currently in the first stages of construction on Black Point Road.

Robin Poulin, who lives near the planned park, received the letter telling her that only some residents had been invited. “It makes it sound like they’ve already decided what they’re doing,” said Poulin. “To me, power is in numbers. I may not have gone and said anything, but I wanted to go in support. Support is shown in numbers.”

“Because of the very specific intent and design of this meeting, selected individuals representing various groups have been invited to attend,” wrote Town Manager Ron Owens in the letter sent to Poulin.

The intent of the meeting, Owens wrote in the letter, is to hear from immediate abutters, other Scarborough residents who already live near parks, those who will be affected by traffic, town staff, town councilors and other residents. “In order to achieve these objectives,” wrote Owens, “it is necessary to limit attendance to a certain size and mix of individuals.”

Owens was on vacation this week and unavailable for comment.

The Black Point Community Park was first presented to residents in late July. At that time, residents were upset when they felt that they weren’t informed of the town’s plans before initial construction began. When residents went to the Planning Board meeting to voice their concerns, they were disappointed to find that it was not a public hearing. After the meeting, residents were told that a neighborhood meeting would be scheduled later in the summer.

The park, which will be bordered by Fogg Road, Black Point Road, Highland Avenue and Lancaster Lane, is being built by Community Services in phases of $400,000 a year, which means it will not have to go to a town-wide vote. Since the town owns the land, planning board approval is not required.

Community Services Director Bruce Gullifer said that back in June some of the residents’ concerns were already incorporated the plans, such as reducing the lighting. The plans for the park currently include a sports field and playground equipment.

He added that at Sunday’s meeting they will again present the concept of the park, with the requested changes, to the residents.

“It’s still conceptual at this point, nothing has been finalized,” said Gullifer. After the meeting he will potentially make more changes based on what residents have to say and then present the plans to the town council for approval.

Though Phil Saraceno, who lives near the planned park, believes the plans for the park should go through the same planning and approval process as other developments, he is not concerned that some residents were asked not to come to the meeting.

“I don’t think it was anything malicious,” said Saraceno, who was invited to attend on Sunday. He added that those who were invited are the residents who have been most involved in a series of focus group meetings run by the consulting company The Delphi Group. Saraceno also said it makes sense to draw the line somewhere in order to make the meeting effective.

The letter Saraceno received also asked that only one person from each household attend the meeting, which also doesn’t worry him.

“My wife and I talked, and we can represent each other,” he said. In the end, said Saraceno, he hopes that the meeting will help clarify plans for the park.

“I wish and I hope that the town will do what’s best for everyone,” he said.

Only invited residents will be able to attend this weekend’s neighborhood meeting to discuss the future of Black Point Community Park.

In June, residents and planning board members criticized the way the town had gone about developing the park at a planning board meeting, arguing that the town didn’t do enough to involve residents in the development of the park.

The town sent out letters to residents earlier this month, some of which asked residents to come and some of which asked residents not to come. The meeting, to be held on Sunday at St. Maximilian Kolbe at 1 p.m., is to discuss residents’ concerns with the park currently in the first stages of construction on Black Point Road.

Robin Poulin, who lives near the planned park, received the letter telling her that only some residents had been invited. “It makes it sound like they’ve already decided what they’re doing,” said Poulin. “To me, power is in numbers. I may not have gone and said anything, but I wanted to go in support. Support is shown in numbers.”

“Because of the very specific intent and design of this meeting, selected individuals representing various groups have been invited to attend,” wrote Town Manager Ron Owens in the letter sent to Poulin.

The intent of the meeting, Owens wrote in the letter, is to hear from immediate abutters, other Scarborough residents who already live near parks, those who will be affected by traffic, town staff, town councilors and other residents. “In order to achieve these objectives,” wrote Owens, “it is necessary to limit attendance to a certain size and mix of individuals.”

Owens was on vacation this week and unavailable for comment.

The Black Point Community Park was first presented to residents in late July. At that time, residents were upset when they felt that they weren’t informed of the town’s plans before initial construction began. When residents went to the Planning Board meeting to voice their concerns, they were disappointed to find that it was not a public hearing. After the meeting, residents were told that a neighborhood meeting would be scheduled later in the summer.

The park, which will be bordered by Fogg Road, Black Point Road, Highland Avenue and Lancaster Lane, is being built by Community Services in phases of $400,000 a year, which means it will not have to go to a town-wide vote. Since the town owns the land, planning board approval is not required.

Community Services Director Bruce Gullifer said that back in June some of the residents’ concerns were already incorporated the plans, such as reducing the lighting. The plans for the park currently include a sports field and playground equipment.

He added that at Sunday’s meeting they will again present the concept of the park, with the requested changes, to the residents.

“It’s still conceptual at this point, nothing has been finalized,” said Gullifer. After the meeting he will potentially make more changes based on what residents have to say and then present the plans to the town council for approval.

Though Phil Saraceno, who lives near the planned park, believes the plans for the park should go through the same planning and approval process as other developments, he is not concerned that some residents were asked not to come to the meeting.

“I don’t think it was anything malicious,” said Saraceno, who was invited to attend on Sunday. He added that those who were invited are the residents who have been most involved in a series of focus group meetings run by the consulting company The Delphi Group. Saraceno also said it makes sense to draw the line somewhere in order to make the meeting effective.

The letter Saraceno received also asked that only one person from each household attend the meeting, which also doesn’t worry him.

“My wife and I talked, and we can represent each other,” he said. In the end, said Saraceno, he hopes that the meeting will help clarify plans for the park.

“I wish and I hope that the town will do what’s best for everyone,” he said.