Green space and playgrounds are hard to come by in Waltham’s South Side neighborhood. Some city councilors are trying to change that, securing space for the public before developers step in.

The council voted last Monday to send a proposal to the mayor to buy the property for sale at 141 Ash St. and turn it into a passive recreation area, or “pocket park,” in the South Side.

“I was made aware of the property by a couple friends who were developers and looking at it as an option to build housing, but was a bit too small for them to build on,” said city councilor Carlos Vidal, who took office in January.

Vidal, along with ward councilor Stephen Rourke, proposed the idea of transforming the 4,300-square foot lot into a public park.

“It’s very interesting, the 2007 community and development plan spoke about pocket parks on the South Side, but not much has been done since,” Vidal said.

“I think it will be a great opportunity to find some open space in this densely populated area where recreation space is really low,” he added.

Of the 24 playgrounds and parks in Waltham, only three reside in the South Side. As far as why this is, Vidal said it’s simple.

“There’s just not much land,” he said. “Whenever a property comes on the market it will most likely be scooped up by a developer. Most spots here are multi-family lots. For a seller, you’re going to do a lot better turning it over to condos than open space.”

The high profit margin for both sellers and developers is why Vidal stressed the importance of moving quickly to buy this property. As of Friday, March 18, Mayor Jeannette McCarthy said she was moving forward with the property’s purchase.

“I sent a notice out to the owner to have them contacted for an appraisal,” she said.

In addition to the property at 141 Ash St., McCarthy said the city is also working on an appraisal for the 12,000-square foot vacant lot at 67 Crescent St., an initiative led by Ward 9 councilor Robert Logan.

Those potential South Side parks will compliment the city’s plans to revamp the Gilmore Playground, the largest playground in the South Side. The playground redesign, which is set to go out to bid at the end of the month, will include a multi-use basketball/futsal court, a children’s playground and a fountain, among other amenities.

Vidal said it was too early to determine what, if any, playground equipment or infrastructure would go into the potential park on Ash Street. He said it would be part of an overall community discussion.

While developers continue to buy and build on land in the South Side, Vidal said the city shouldn’t stop trying to maintain open space for the public.

“There’s a lack of open space and there is a need for it,” he said. “Kids want to spend time outdoors.”