for Waltham on a section of the site, but eventually the proposal was discarded due to difficult topography, potential soil contamination, and a denial of approval from the Massachusetts Historical Commission related to the demolition of certain buildings on the site. Current status In May 2017 and 2018, the Waltham Lions Club held a fundraising carnival on the grounds with rides, games, prizes, a petting zoo and food. In November/December 2020 and 2021, the site became the home of the Greater Boston Lights Show, a fundraiser for the Waltham Lions Club chapter. The decision to host a holiday lights display at this location angered disability rights advocates. In December 2021, the Waltham Recreation Department held an online meeting to collect public input for potential recreational development on the Fernald property. While many suggestions were made around walking paths, gardens, and other passive recreation facilities, the majority of the meeting focused on the need to honor and respect the history of Fernald and the treatment of the residents. As of 2021, despite at times considering use of the property as a high school or police station or for recreational development, it remains vacant except for these special events. Many proposals have been made to the Waltham city council for various uses, but most have been tabled. A number of residential buildings have been removed and wetlands restoration work has taken place in the northwest corner of the property. See also Human experimentation in the United States Templeton Developmental Center, another state facility originally established under Fernald's tenure National Register of Historic Places listings in Waltham, Massachusetts Metropolitan State Hospital (Massachusetts), the state hospital located across the street at 475 Trapelo Road Wrentham State School, Massachusetts' last remaining large scale institution for developmentally disabled people Belchertown State School, a similar state institution that existed from 1922 to 1992 and was built to alleviate overcrowding at Wrentham and Fernald. References Further reading D'Antonio, Michael. The State Boys Rebellion. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004. External links Excerpts from the writings of Walter E. Fernald In the swim of things Fernald through the years (photo gallery) Closure of Tufts dental clinic leaves disabled patients without care History of the Fernald Center, City of Waltham Human subject research in the United States Hospitals in Middlesex County, Massachusetts Historic districts in Middlesex County, Massachusetts National Register of Historic Places in Waltham, Massachusetts Special schools in the