New London - The Coast Guard Academy has reignited a long-standing interest to purchase Riverside Park, which abuts the academy's 120-acre campus on the Thames River."We are operating at close to peak capacity and additional land is needed to keep pace with the mission of the service and to remain competitive as a highly selective institution,'' David M. Santos, communications director at the academy, said Wednesday.

"We are operating at close to peak capacity and additional land is needed to keep pace with the mission of the service and to remain competitive as a highly selective institution,'' David M. Santos, communications director at the academy, said Wednesday.Coast Guard officials approached some city officials at the end of last year to open discussions on the future of the 18-acre park, which sits off Adelaide Street and is one of 26 parks in the city.

Coast Guard officials approached some city officials at the end of last year to open discussions on the future of the 18-acre park, which sits off Adelaide Street and is one of 26 parks in the city."We've had very brief preliminary conversations,'' Mayor Rob Pero said. "The city has said it would listen. When we hear a formal proposal, we'll get the community involved in any decisions and discussions.''

"We've had very brief preliminary conversations,'' Mayor Rob Pero said. "The city has said it would listen. When we hear a formal proposal, we'll get the community involved in any decisions and discussions.''Councilor John Russell said if the academy wants to expand, he's willing to listen. "They're throwing out a trial balloon,'' he said. "They're saying, 'We're interested in the property, what do you think?' "

Councilor John Russell said if the academy wants to expand, he's willing to listen. "They're throwing out a trial balloon,'' he said. "They're saying, 'We're interested in the property, what do you think?' "Russell added that he understands the academy's need to expand but he doesn't want residents to lose any open space or access to the water. "I don't think citizens would be happy with that,'' he said.

Russell added that he understands the academy's need to expand but he doesn't want residents to lose any open space or access to the water. "I don't think citizens would be happy with that,'' he said.Santos said the Coast Guard wants to purchase the park, but before anything is done a National Environmental Policy Act review must take place. The review would include funding sources, proposed plans and public comment.

Santos said the Coast Guard wants to purchase the park, but before anything is done a National Environmental Policy Act review must take place. The review would include funding sources, proposed plans and public comment."We're very early in the process,'' Santos said. "We have to find out if the land is for sale and if the Coast Guard, as a government organization, has money to pay for it. The only thing we've done at this point is to ask if it's in the realm of possibilities.''

"We're very early in the process,'' Santos said. "We have to find out if the land is for sale and if the Coast Guard, as a government organization, has money to pay for it. The only thing we've done at this point is to ask if it's in the realm of possibilities.''The city gave the Coast Guard its current site along the western side of the Thames River in 1932. Today, the Coast Guard Academy, the smallest of the five federal military academies, awards 200 bachelor of sciences degrees a year.

The city gave the Coast Guard its current site along the western side of the Thames River in 1932. Today, the Coast Guard Academy, the smallest of the five federal military academies, awards 200 bachelor of sciences degrees a year. Last spring the city's public works crews began clearing brush and sprucing up Riverside Park, which hasn't been well maintained in recent years.

Last spring the city's public works crews began clearing brush and sprucing up Riverside Park, which hasn't been well maintained in recent years. The property is assessed at $2.6 million.

The property is assessed at $2.6 million.The park was established in 1893 when the city purchased the property on what was known as Winthrop's Neck. During its glory days, the park was the site of church socials. Children sledded there in the winter and swam in the river in the summer. It was a prime viewing spot for the annual Yale-Harvard Regatta and at one time it had pavilions and a water fountain. In the 1920s, residents could camp at the park for 50 cents a night.

The park was established in 1893 when the city purchased the property on what was known as Winthrop's Neck. During its glory days, the park was the site of church socials. Children sledded there in the winter and swam in the river in the summer. It was a prime viewing spot for the annual Yale-Harvard Regatta and at one time it had pavilions and a water fountain. In the 1920s, residents could camp at the park for 50 cents a night.The Coast Guard's interest in the property is one of several proposals that have emerged over the past 10 years.

The Coast Guard's interest in the property is one of several proposals that have emerged over the past 10 years.In 2001, the Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut negotiated with the city to build a new facility on the site. The children's museum eventually decided to remain where it is in Niantic.

In 2001, the Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut negotiated with the city to build a new facility on the site. The children's museum eventually decided to remain where it is in Niantic.At the same time, the Coast Guard was interested in purchasing the park for athletic fields, among other uses. The site was also once considered for a proposed National Coast Guard Museum, but officials decided on land at Fort Trumbull instead.

At the same time, the Coast Guard was interested in purchasing the park for athletic fields, among other uses. The site was also once considered for a proposed National Coast Guard Museum, but officials decided on land at Fort Trumbull instead.In 2005 the state considered building a maritime magnet school on seven acres of the park, but it eventually chose the site of the former Eastern Point School in Groton.

In 2005 the state considered building a maritime magnet school on seven acres of the park, but it eventually chose the site of the former Eastern Point School in Groton.Also in 2006, the park was considered for a federal homeland security training facility that would have been part of the Coast Guard. That project eventually went to Maine.

Also in 2006, the park was considered for a federal homeland security training facility that would have been part of the Coast Guard. That project eventually went to Maine.k.edgecomb@theday.com

k.edgecomb@theday.com