AMORY TENNIS COURTS, PARKING AND HALLS POND RENOVATION

This item includes the reconstruction of the drainage, subgrade, irrigation and clay tennis courts and associated infrastructure at Amory Park. It also allows for improvement to drainage and reconstruction of the parking lot and entrance to the park, picnic areas and includes rehabilitation of the existing boardwalk structure and pathways at the Halls Pond Conservation Sanctuary. The current board walk structure was installed in 2002 as a component of the overall restoration of the entire Conservation Sanctuary. Heavy use of the area is causing the decking and railings of the boardwalk to degrade, and the frequency of repairs is increasing. This project will remove the existing decking and railings, leave the piers and substructure in place, and install new pressure treated decking and handrails to ensure visitors will have a safe, and accessible, boardwalk system. This project will impact approximately 600 linear feet of boardwalk with a low bump rail, 140 linear feet with full handrails on both sides, and two overlook platforms.


FISHER HILL GATEHOUSE SAFETY AND STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS

Built in 1887, the Fisher Hill Reservoir Gatehouse was designed by Arthur H. Vinal, City Architect of Boston from 1884-1887. He is best known for his Richardsonian Romanesque High Service Building at the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, also built in 1887. The Gatehouse regulated the flow of water in and out of the reservoir basin and is emblematic of the immense civic pride in public waterworks at the turn of the last century.


The Fisher Hill Gatehouse is in need of interior structural and safety improvements. This project provides for a below grade utility room, floor inserts in the open chambers to make the space safe and accessible, lighting, interior window treatment, painting and repointing.



LARZ ANDERSON PARK

With over 65 acres, Larz Anderson Park is the largest park in Brookline, is listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places and is the flagship park of the Town with many architecturally significant buildings, structures, fences, pergolas, balustrades, Tempietto, causeway, pedestrian bridge, walls, gates, gardens, athletic fields, play equipment, shelter, comfort station, BBQ picnic areas, walking paths, an ice rink, significant trees, a water body, sweeping slopes and magnificent views of the City of Boston.


The Town has hired Structures North, specialists in historic structures, and Klopfer Martin Design Group, landscape architects to work with the Town on a Master Plan to provide conditions assessment and estimate costs to be phased in over time. Restoration and reconstruction of the deteriorating structures on site is estimated to cost approximately 15.5 M over the next 10 years. Priorities will be based upon the conditions assessment and those elements in most significant need of repair.

Larz Anderson Park shows many traces of the three major cultural influences on the Anderson's aesthetics and lifestyle: Italy, Japan and England. The Andersons had a vision for their Brookline home that would take them nearly 20 years to realize. They hired the landscape architect and artist Charles A. Platt to design a sunken Italian garden at the top of the hill that would embody their love of Italy. The Italian Garden infrastructure that remains is in poor and unstable condition. The request for improvements is to make significant structural repairs to the walks, stairs and walls, restore the gazebo on the east side of the garden (to match the restoration of the west side that was completed several years ago), removal of invasive vegetation and replacement with appropriate planting. In some cases the landings for the stairs are sunken and hollow, pieces of the walls are loose or missing and bricks are falling out and away from the mortar that once held the walls together leading to unsafe and unstable conditions.


Just below the Italian Garden was the Agricultural and Horticultural area for the Anderson Estate. Isabel and Larz had greenhouses, a hen house, a rose garden, garden shed, and maintained extensive agricultural operations to support themselves and their staff. These operations, later to be replaced by the Parks and Open Space Maintenance Garages, were surrounded by significant concrete/stucco walls. The massive walls have shifted significantly and are cracking and deteriorating. The walls and access gate/door are in need of complete replacement (similar to the replacement of the perimeter wall on Goddard Avenue that was completed several years ago).


Phased funding will include Goddard West wall (North, Middle & South), gate replacement, drainage improvements, stairs and handrails, pedestrian paths, doors and archways, accessibility improvements, retaining walls, terrace, exedra and stairs, picnic shelter, playground, plantings and tree management.


MURPHY PLAYGROUND

Murphy Playground, located between Kent, Bowker and Brook Streets, is a bowl shaped park with a noticeable grade change, retaining walls on three sides, play areas and a sloped open grass area. The park was last renovated in 1992 and is in need of renovation, including new play equipment for tots and older children, new perimeter fencing, improved accessibility, restoration of the field, rehabilitation of pathways, new hard court/basketball area, landscape improvements, review of picnic/passive areas, and new water play/spray pool with associated utilities. The design review process will revisit layout, grading, accessibility, safety, and functionality of the park.

RIVERWAY PARK

This is a continuing project of the Olmsted Park/Riverway Improvements program. This appropriation is for the reconstruction of the riverbanks that have eroded in some places by as much as 10 feet, replacement of failing or hazard trees, edge planting, lawn restoration, rebuilding the path system, and re-grading to prevent future erosion. The project was originally anticipated to be implemented in FY2003; however, with the Brookline/Boston/Commonwealth of Massachusetts/US Army Corps of Engineers joint restoration of the Muddy River, this phase of restoration will be coordinated with the overall flood mitigation, environmental quality, and historic preservation work that is currently being designed and permitted.


ROBINSON PLAYGROUND

Robinson Playground is a 2.38 acre park located between Cypress, High and Franklin Streets in a dense neighborhood. The playground facilities include a youth baseball/softball field, paved basketball court, multi-use court play area, playground equipment, picnic area, and water play.

The renovation includes new playground equipment for older and younger children; water play, new irrigation and field renovation; basketball and multi-use court improvements; pathway and drainage improvements; and fence replacement.


SCHICK PLAYGROUND

Schick Park, located on Addington Road, is in need of a full site renovation to meet new safety and accessibility requirements. Renovations will include new play equipment for older and younger children, repointing the stone walls, repair of the wooden picnic shelter, field renovation, fencing, paving and site furniture.

BOYLSTON STREET PLAYGROUND

Boylston Street Playground is located on Route 9 in Brookline across from the Old Lincoln School. It has a basketball court, play equipment, water play, picnic and seating areas, and a small athletic field most suitable for youth soccer, softball and baseball practices. In addition to a neighborhood playground, the playground serves as a site for recess and gym classes when the Old Lincoln School is occupied as a temporary school site during school renovation projects. The field is also used by the upper grades for athletic practices as necessary due to its proximity to the high school. The playground, basketball court, water play and athletic field are in need of full replacement/refurbishment along with associated utility upgrades. The renovation will include accessibility improvements into and through the site, fencing replacement, perimeter wall repointing, lighting to support evening use of the basketball court and social seating/gathering places to best serve community and school use.

GRIGGS PARK RENOVATION

Griggs Park is located on a former wetland, in an enclave surrounded by houses and apartment buildings between Washington and Beacon Streets. The pathway is circular, rounding a collection of trees and vegetation, an open lawn area, seating and picnic areas, basketball and a playground. The playground was last renovated in 1997 and is overdue for complete renovation. The overall project includes survey, design development, bid documents, engineering and construction to include new and expanded play area, new walking paths, drainage improvements, invasive removal and planting, accessibility improvements, improved entrances, new lawn area, picnic and seating areas, improvements to the basketball area and the addition of adult exercise equipment.

SOULE ATHLETIC FIELDS & SITE RENOVATION

Soule Playground is a 9.49-acre community park located on Hammond Street and includes the Town's Recreation Department pre-school. The site contains two large playgrounds, a splash pad, picnic areas, 2 athletic fields, a gym and abuts the Baldwin school property. The athletic fields on-site serve Town-run daycare programs, multi-age athletic leagues, camps, and residents of all ages and abilities. The circulation, parking and stormwater management of the site are in need of redesign and renovation. Funds will provide for design and construction for increased capacity and improvements to parking areas, the vehicular roadway, pathway connections, stairs and railings, site accessibility, storm drainage improvements, playground replacement, picnic areas, synthetic turf replacement and improvement to Robson Athletic Field (Upper Soule). The playground was installed in 2007 and will be in need of full removal and replacement. The synthetic turf field, installed with the funding assistance of the Brookline Soccer Club, will be due for replacement as well.

SKYLINE PARK SYNTHETIC TURF REPLACEMENT AND PARK IMPROVEMENTS

The synthetic turf carpet at Skyline Field is ioverdue for replacement. Synthetic turf fields generally have a life cycle of approximately 10-12 years and potentially sooner depending upon use. The field was installed and opened to the public in June 2008. The existing carpet and infill will be removed and recycled, the drainage layer/subbase will be laser graded, new carpet and natural material infill installed. This project also calls for improvements to the site furnishings, plantings, pathways, improved connection to Lost Pond Sanctuary, improvements to the comfort station, storage area and site amenities.

MONMOUTH PARK

Monmouth Park is located on St. Mary’s Street close to Beacon. It was last renovated in 2006. The park is framed by an ornamental fence, has mature trees, stone seat walls, a walking path, bluestone plaza, lawn area, and playground. The park is located next to the Brookline Arts Center which was located here after an old chemical firehouse was remodeled in 1968. In Fall 2002, Town Meeting voted for both lots to be protected under Article 97. The playground is in need of full replacement. As part of the renovation, the lawn will be refurbished, plantings replaced, masonry repaired and plaza space repaired.


NEW LINCOLN SCHOOL GROUNDS

The Town acquired the New Lincoln School property, located on Kennard Road, as two parcels from the Park School Corporation for $400,000 in 1970 “for the purpose of the public schools.” The property is located within the Town Green Historic District and is on the National and State Registers of Historic Places. The new school and grounds were completed in 1994 and included extensive play structures and a multi-use field. The Hill-Kennard house became the home of the Brookline Music School. Portions of the brick perimeter wall located along Kennard and Walnut Streets were repaired in 2005.


The school grounds are in need of complete renovation including full replacement of the playgrounds, edging and safety surfacing, refurbishment of the courtyard, basketball court and hardcourt play areas, drainage improvements, accessibility improvements, refurbishment of the paths, stairs and railings, replacement the field play area and irrigation, planting area improvements, retaining walls reconstruction, site furniture, school garden and resurfacing of the parking areas.



HEATH SCHOOL GROUNDS

The Heath School playground is defined by a row of uniformly mature oaks along the front entrance of the school at Eliot Street, the slope at the rear of the property, and the planted courtyard in the school atrium. Currently the playground has landscaping, two basketball half-courts, hardcourt play space, gaga ball, two playground areas, school garden beds, a sledding hill and an informal natural turf field. It was renovated in 1996. Both the younger children’s play area, installed in 1996, and the older children’s play area, retrofitted in 2005, are in need of replacement, expansion, accessibility improvements and new safety surfacing. Improvements are needed on the turf field, hardcourt areas, drainage and erosion improvements and the parking areas are in need of resurfacing.

BAKER SCHOOL GROUNDS

The 11.27-acre Baker School property was purchased in 1935 in conjunction with the building of the Baker School. Baker School Playground is notable for its significant grade change. The highest point is in the front playground and field area, with a steep drop into D. Blakely Hoar Sanctuary. The topography divides the playground into separate areas, with each having its own use and activity. Additional character definition is provided by the mature oaks and garden located at the front of the property. The recreational facilities include 5 tennis courts, a play equipment area, one and one-half basketball courts, and a softball infield. School and physical education programs occupy the fields from 8 AM to 4 PM during weekdays while youth baseball, youth soccer, and men's softball use field areas at other times. The playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball court and hardcourt play area, parking areas, stairs, railings, athletic field, irrigation, fencing, drainage, utilities and furniture are all in need of replacement, refurbishment and accessibility improvements.


LONGWOOD PLAYGROUND/LAWRENCE SCHOOL GROUNDS

Situated in a bowl, the perimeter of Longwood Playground is lined with mature trees. The consistent site furniture provides continuity, while the variety of plantings creates interest. The recreational facilities are multiple yet organized; the slopes of the land dictate the location of the field, and all other facilities are located around the field. Stone, boulder, and brick retaining walls add quality to the park. There are several pleasant seating areas sprinkled throughout the park.


During the week, the park serves the Lawrence School's recess periods, physical education and after school programs. The field is programmed for after school sports and the site is used for summer camp programs. The park is developed with 2 separate play areas, one designed for school age children and the other for pre-school and kindergarten age children. Three tennis courts are located at the eastern edge of the playground. Two short combination softball and youth baseball infields are provided, however the area is too small for simultaneous play and men’s softball in either field. A well-developed pedestrian path system exists around the field. The purpose for 2 infields is to provide additional space for youth baseball practice. The site can accommodate a 40 x 60 yard soccer field. school building and the park were renovated in 2003. This site sees a tremendous amount of use year round. The playgrounds, safety surfacing, athletic fields, hardcourt space are in need of replacement, significant grading and drainage improvements are needed on the grounds as the site slopes to the athletic field, the entrances, pathways, plaza space, seating, water play and perimeter plantings are all in need of replacement.


PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS REHABILITATION & UPGRADE

This annual, town-wide program directs CIP funds to the evaluation, repair and replacement of unsafe and deteriorating park, playground, fence, and field facilities or components. Items funded under this program include fences, gates, backstops, retaining walls, picnic furniture, turf restoration, infield refurbishment, bench replacements, play structures, safety surfacing, and drainage improvements. This program avoids more expensive rehabilitation that would be necessary if these items were left to deteriorate.

TOWN/SCHOOL GROUNDS REHAB

Town and School grounds require on-going structural improvements and repair. These funds will be applied to create attractive and functional landscapes and hardscape improvements including plant installation, regrading, reseeding, tree work, repair to concrete or asphalt walkways through the site, trash receptacles, bike racks, drainage improvements, retaining walls, and repairs to stairs, treads, railings, benches, or other exterior structures. This funding does not include capital replacement of areas over building structures or directly connected to the buildings, such as entrance stairways and ramps into the building that are under the Building Department's jurisdiction. This program avoids more expensive rehabilitation that would be necessary if these items were left to deteriorate.

TENNIS COURTS/BASKETBALL COURTS

The Town has over 19 basketball courts and 36 hard-surface tennis courts. Over time, the court surfaces begin to deteriorate, crack, and weather. In order to maintain the integrity, safety, and playability of the courts, the Town needs to plan for the phased reconstruction/renovation/resurfacing of the courts, lighting and drainage improvements.

COMFORT STATIONS

Brookline has 8 comfort stations that are located in various parks and playgrounds throughout Town. The restrooms are open to the public 7 days a week 7+months out of the year and serve thousands of people daily. The Division has made efforts to upgrade dilapidated facilities as parks are renovated. This funding item is intended to address fixtures, drainage, ventilation, partitions and accessibility improvements to the comfort stations system-wide to avoid more costly improvements at a future time.