T.
HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOOD PARK
TS
AR
KA
ST .
DRAFT Concept Plan
GR
AS
AN
NS
As a continuation of PUSH’s Healthy Neighborhood Planning effort, a community meeting was held on October 14, 2009 to solicit input from residents on the use and improvement of the “Massachusetts Avenue Park”. Nearly 100 people attended and offered suggestions in a break-out group format, voting in each group on the most favored ideas. This plan represents a first attempt to synthesize the public input into a cohesive plan. It is the intent of the planners that, in addition to meeting the needs of the neighborhood residents, the park be regenerative in nature, and as close to carbon and runoff neutral as practicable.
WINTER ST.
LAWRENCE PL.
HAMPSHIRE ST.
LAWRENCE PL. ENTRANCE
BASKETBALL
This proposed access point connects directly with the most active recreation area of the park, allowing users to enter this zone directly through a clearly marked gateway. Additional access points are proposed in response to safety and security issues raised at the community meeting.
One of the existing basketball courts would remain. It is a very popular recreation activity in the park and should be improved.
CENTRAL SEATING
SKATE PARK
Basketball, skating and soccer all have a large spectator draw and providing a common seating area that overlooks all three promotes a stronger sense of cross-activity participation.
The skate park responds to increasing demand among neighborhood youth for off-street skateboarding and rollerblading facilities.
GREAT LAWN The “great lawn” is a multi-purpose playing field, central to the active recreation area. Its design simultaneously accommodates mini soccer and football, two popular neighborhood sports, along with other ball games. It also provides a large open space for community activities, such as festivals, flea markets, and farmer’s markets.
PLAY AREA 5-12, 9-14 A play area for 5-12 and 9-14 offers more challenging equipment, including swings and climbing elements, and enables social interaction. The location is more removed from the Family Pavilion and smaller kids, providing a sense of autonomy for the older kids, while maintaining sight lines for parents at the tot lot.
COMMUNITY CENTRAL
SPLASH PAD
This area acts as a covered transition space between the active recreation zone and the family, play, and community zones. This area can accommodate concessions, picnic tables, outdoor grills, benches, trash and recycling, as well as park rules and “news and events” postings.
A “splash pad” area provides water play for all ages with less maintenance and liability, and is close to the Family Pavilion.
WINTER STREET ENTRANCE
THE FAMILY PAVILION
A Winter Street entry would connect the Winter/Brayton Streets directly to the family zone with benches and planter boxes along the rain garden walkway.
The Family Pavilion is the hub of the family and play areas with a variety of activities encircling it. It contains a covered, landscaped seating area, providing seating adjacent to the splash pad and larger kids’ play area as well as for family and educational events.
PLAY AREA 2-5 A tot lot play area for 2-5 yr olds with rubber surfacing and pea gravel digging pit is close to the Family Pavilion area to provide shaded play and seating for families with small children. A small play lawn is between the game tables and tot lot.
MASS. AVENUE EDGE
This main access point would have a removable bollard to allow emergency and maintenance vehicles only into the park. The sidewalk edge is planted heavily, making a visual connection with the MAP Urban Farm across the street. It becomes a “Green Threshold” from this section of the neighborhood.
This landscaped buffer area would contain game tables, quieter seating and planters and provide real protection of the 2-5 area from street traffic.
SHIELDS AVE.
MASS. AVENUE ENTRANCE
BRAYTON ST.
MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE