Around Town

Reopening of Arsenal Park Celebrates a Bright Future for a Site Filled with History

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The new play structure at Arsenal Park features a slide that begins 20 feet above the ground. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

On a hot afternoon, the new playground at Arsenal Park bubbled with activity. Children lined up on the stairway up to the two-story high slide, and then cooled off in the new splash pad. These are just some of the features of the renovated park that was officially re-opened on July 15. The ribbon cutting held at the park behind Arsenal Yards marked the end of the second phase of the park renovation, and several years of planning and construction.

Entertainment

WEEKEND FUN: Jane Austen Garden Party, Superman, Art Reception, New Look Park, Craft Night

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Arsenal Park

Let’s all go to Arsenal Park this weekend, or at least sometime soon to discover the newly renovated facilities. It provides residents of Watertown with a wonderful outdoor area for summer activities. I might even join the kids in the splash park on a hot day! But to start the weekend, on Friday evening the Hatch Maker Space has an LGBTQ+ drop-in time. It’s open for teens and adults. Saturday evening you could get your thrills watching the new Superman staring David Corenswet at the Majestic 7.

Around Town

Arsenal Park Picnic, Pavilion Permit Applications Now Available

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Arsenal Park’s renovation is nearly complete and the Watertown Recreation Department will accept permit applications for picnics and the pavilion. See more in the Recreation Department’s announcement, below. Watertown Recreation is now accepting Picnic & Pavilion Permit Applications! 

Reservations are available for dates on or after July 16th, 2025 — we are not accepting reservations for earlier dates. We’re excited to roll out new pricing and brand-new Pavilion rental options (includes multiple picnic tables and more)! Filippello Park reservations now require their own specific application.

Around Town

Arsenal Park Improvements Approved, Project Cost Significantly Higher Than Expected

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Photo by Charlie BreitroseArsenal Park will be getting a major overhaul. Here it is set up for the Watertown Arts Market. The second phase of renovations at Arsenal Park was approved by the City Council, which will include improvements to the recreation areas, but came in more than $4 million higher than originally budgeted. On Tuesday night, the City Council unanimously approved borrowing $10.35 million to cover the cost of the project. The project will make significant improvements to the park in the East End, said City Manager George Proakis.

Government

Replacing Watertown Senior Center Included in City’s 5-Year Capital Plan

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Courtesy of the City of WatertownThe City’s Capital Improvement Plan includes replacing the Watertown Senior Center. Building a new Senior Center made the list of projects planned to be undertaken by the City of Watertown over the next five years, Watertown City Manager George Proakis at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. Proakis presented the Fiscal Year 2025-29 Capital Improvement Plan, which includes $210 million of projects with $93 million of general obligation bonds to cover part of the cost. Senior Center

The City explored replacing the Senior Center in 2022 as part of a review of the Phillips Building site. That study by Ai3 Architects, done during the planning for the new Watertown High School, looked at tearing down the former Phillips School, but Proakis said that would be too disruptive for the Watertown Public Schools administration, as well as Watertown Cable that now resides in the basement.

Around Town

Summer of Upgrades at Multiple Watertown Fields & Parks

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The artificial turf has been removed from Victory Field, and will be replaced over the summer. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

This summer some of Watertown’s fields and recreation facilities have been filled with construction crews and equipment, instead of residents and athletic equipment. The football and baseball fields at Victory Field, the courts at Moxley Field, and the spray pad at Filippello Park all have ongoing construction projects. Recreation Director Peter Centola thanked City Manager George Proakis for placing a priority on completing some delayed park and field projects. “One thing I am very appreciative of Mr. Proakis and leadership and the City Council is for really just understanding that you can’t continue to have projects on the backlog and not do it,” Centola said.

Entertainment

Arts Market Returns to Watertown This Weekend

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The 2022 Watertown Arts Market will take place at Arsenal Park on Saturday, Aug. 13. The following information was provided by the Watertown Arts Market:

The Watertown Arts Market will take place at Arsenal Park this Saturday, Aug. 13 from 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Join us in celebrating our local artists, arts and cultural organizations, and related businesses serving Watertown! The Watertown Arts Market is free to attend.

Entertainment

See What’s Happening at the 2022 Watertown Arts Market

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Charlie BreitroseThe Watertown Arts Market returns to Arsenal Park in 2022. The following information was provided by the Watertown Arts Market:

The Watertown Arts Market returns to Arsenal Park on Saturday, Aug. 13th, noon-5 p.m. Rain date of Aug. 14. Over 120 artists and organizations who live or work in the area will be there – we hope you will be too! 

The Watertown Arts Market is an initiative of the Watertown Business Coalition, this year in partnership with the City of Watertown.