The Valentes became involved in divorce proceedings, and a judge ordered them to sell the park-still their property despite its public uses-on March 11 of this year.

A developer bought the park for $800,000 in a "sealed bid" process, meaning that bidders submitted concealed bids to the real estate agent, and the highest bidder got the property.

Under the sealed bid process, no consideration was given to who the new owner would be, or what the owner would do with the lot.

The developer is allowed to build up to seven townhouses on the lot under current zoning restrictions.

Struggling for Space

But the neighborhood is fighting to keep that from happening to their beloved park.

Even prior to the sale, they had been trying to acquire the park from Valente in order to ensure the park's survival.

In November, members of the neighborhood asked the City Council to write Valente to see if he would sell the park to the city.

The council responded to the neighbor's request on Dec. 14, 1998, passing a resolution asking City Manager Robert W. Healy to write to Valente and meet with him about the park's future.

The council also told Healy to form a plan to acquire the park, and to place it on the agenda of the city's new Green Ribbon Open Space Committee. Healy complied.

"The parcel has become an important open space element to both the neighborhood and the neighboring elementary school," Healy wrote in a letter to Valente sent Jan. 8.

Valente expressed interest in selling the city the property upon meeting with Healy. The Valente family has long been involved in the city, contributing to Cambridge with projects like North Cambridge's Valente Library.

But according to Deputy City Manager Lisa C. Peterson, Valente was also interested in making a profitable sale.

"[Valente] was very clear that he wanted to make it into a park, but he was also very clear that he wanted $850,000 for it," Peterson says.

Valente could not be reached for comment this week.