Daniel F. Ford Playground at Emerson Garden

Project Updates

May 2018

The contractor is mobilizing the second week of May to make final improvements at Emerson Garden. Their work is very professional and they continue to meet our specifications/requirements for quality work. As you may have seen, the 16” ornamental fencing at the entrances is currently being installed. The Contractor will also be starting on final grading adjustments, topdressing and reseeding the lawn areas. Final improvements include various pavements, safety surfacing in the playground, testing of the irrigation and water play, and replacement planting where necessary. Additional specimen trees have been selected and have been installed by the Town. The custom play piece will be completed after the safety surfacing is finalized. All of the former benches at the park, which have been refurbished, picnic tables, café tables, bicycle racks and movable chairs will be installed.

The play area, water play and path may be the first areas to be opened to the public, while keeping the lawn area closed until there is proper root growth and density of grass. The Town is committed to ensure that this project is completed in a way that is successful and sustainable. The anticipated completion date will be forthcoming.

October 2017

The contractor is making solid progress on the improvements at Emerson Garden. Their work is very professional and they continue to meet our specifications/requirements for quality work. If you have visited the site recently you may get a glance at some newly installed play equipment and the assembly of the custom wood play element by Mitch Ryerson. Entry planting has been installed, the new concrete splash pad has been poured and the rough grading is being done. In the upcoming weeks, we are expecting the remaining play equipment to be installed along with the playground safety surfacing and site furnishings. We are very excited about the overall play space, seating areas and plantings.

August 2017

The contractor is making solid progress on the playground at Emerson Garden. Their work is very professional and they continue to meet our specifications/requirements for quality of work. If you have visited the site recently you will see the craftsmanship in forming and placing the curvilinear concrete edging that will define the play area. In the upcoming weeks, we are expecting the concrete work and drainage to be completed, footings for playground equipment and rough grading. We are very excited about the overall play space, seating areas and plantings.

June 2017

Emerson Garden is a park located between Davis Avenue, Emerson Street and Waverly Street with a perimeter walking path, seating, water play, picnic area, playground, and lawn area. The play equipment for tots and older children, last renovated in 1995, is in need of total replacement. The Design Review Committee process took place in 2016 ending with approval of the park improvements plan in December 2016. Emerson Garden construction will begin on Wednesday, July 5, 2017. The contractor Ronald A. Marini Corp. will be working on the park renovations which will include the following work over the next several months:

• Installing temporary chain link fencing and gates, erosion controls and tree protection
• site demolition and earthwork
• re-grading and added drainage structures to improve site drainage
• new play equipment and playground boundaries
• new splash pad area
• resurfacing of walkways
• new lawn, irrigation system, and plantings
• park furniture & movable seating
• and the correction of sewer/drain cross connections.

The Town anticipates that construction work will be completed spring 2018, however the newly seeded lawns will remain closed until summer 2018. The actual opening of those areas will depend upon root growth and turf density and will be assessed in the spring. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact the Parks and Open Space Division at [email protected]. 

Project Description Emerson Garden is a park located between Davis Avenue, Emerson Street and Waverly Street with a perimeter walking path, seating, water play, picnic area, playground, and lawn area. The play equipment for tots and older children, last renovated in 1995, is in need of total replacement. At a minimum, all safety surfacing will be replaced, the lawn will be refurbished and accessibility improvements included. The playground review will include consideration of picnic/passive areas, review of spray pool utilities, park furniture, grading/drainage improvements, utility upgrades, hardscape improvements and rehabilitation of the landscaped areas. The design review process will revisit layout, grading, accessibility, safety, and functionality of the park.

The design review process consists of presentation and open discussion of alternative solutions to meet our goals for the Garden in a series of public meetings over the course of approximately seven months, with establishment by the Park and Recreation Commission of a Design Review Committee for the project. The Design Review Committee has been named and consists of seven members, four Park and Recreation Commissioners and three members coming from the public. The Design Review Committee, with input from the public, will work with the Division of Parks and Open Space staff Landscape Architects, to develop a preliminary design within our budget. Once consensus is reached on a preliminary design, the Design Review Committee will vote its approval and the design will go before the Park and Recreation Commission for its final comment and approval. At that point the Town landscape architects and engineers will proceed with final development of the design and preparation of the documents for construction bidding.

We welcome you to join us in a creative and productive conversation about how best to improve Daniel F. Ford Playground at Emerson Garden. If you have any questions, please call Kathleen Fasser at 617-730-2088.