A former industrial site where the U.S. Army burned and stabilized depleted uranium has been cleaned up and turned into a park at the intersection of Arsenal Street and Greenough Boulevard. State officials now want to know what features residents want to see in the passive recreation space.
On Nov. 19, the Department of Recreation and Conservation held a meeting about conceptual plans for site improvements to the former GSA Site.
“The project goals include creating a safe and welcoming passive park with trails and seating areas, connections to regional bike and pedestrian networks with safe access on Arsenal Street, universally accessible parking and pathways, nature-based stormwater management, landscape restoration including diverse vegetation, invasive species management, and improvements to site amenities and signage,” the meeting announcement said. “The improvements will enhance public access while preserving the site’s ecological features and mitigation performance.”
From 2012-14, the Army Corps of Engineers removed the most contaminated soil from the site, and covered the soils with lower levels of PCBs with a cap and dirt, forming a mound.
The park has been approved for passive uses, including walking, sitting on benches, or nature watching. More active recreation, such as sports or a playground are not allowed.
The proposal includes adding pathways around the site, a bike path through the area linking the Watertown-Cambridge Greenway to the Charles River, as well as a sensory pathway to make it accessible to the visually impaired. Signage about the history of the site have also been proposed.
The public will be invited to provide comments on the future of the park. The presentation will be available for viewing by clicking here. The deadline for receipt of comments by DCR of December 3, 2025. Comments may be submitted via the DCR public comment portal.
See the slides from the DCR’s presentation, click here.
View the video of the Nov. 19 meeting here.