Around Town

Partnership Between Town, Arsenal Yards to Renovate Town Park Over Before it Began

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An overhead view of Arsenal Park. The long red building is the Arsenal Mall, and to the left is the Commander’s Mansion and the Arsenal on the Charles complex. A public-private partnership between the Town of Watertown and the developers of Arsenal Yards, which was to speed up renovation of part of Arsenal Park, has ended, Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced Tuesday night. A disagreement over a construction management fee that Boylston wanted to charge the Town to oversee the construction was the main sticking point, according to Driscoll, who read from a letter from the Town’s attorney Mark Reich of KP Law. “Of particular concern, and the primary impetus for this letter, is the insistence of Mr. (William) McQuillan that the Town pay Boylston Properties a 5 percent construction management fee as part of the proposed public-private partnership,” the letter reads.

Government

Funding to Design Arsenal Park Renovation Approved

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A view of the planned renovation of Arsenal Park. The Watertown Town Council approved $250,000 to be spent on the design of the majority of Arsenal Park renovation, while another section is moving ahead with funding from the developers of Arsenal Yards. The money will be used to do the detailed designs to all of the park, except for the eastern most part, which is being worked on in conjunction with Arsenal Yards. The project includes a multipurpose field —including a softball field — a playground in the northwest corner with a new bathroom, a picnic area and an expanded splash pad. In addition, the plan includes two basketball courts and three tennis courts, next to a picnic area and space for community gardens.

Around Town

Temporary Change to Access Road to Arsenal Park, Harvard Vanguard

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The blue lines show the temporary traffic flow through Arsenal Yards to Arsenal Park and Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates. Arsenal Park is in the upper right corner of the illustration. The following information was provided by Boylston Properties:

Starting July 1, Boylston Properties, the developer of Arsenal Yards, will make temporary changes to the access road for Arsenal Park and Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates (HVMA) to accommodate the next construction phase. Park Drive, the current one-way road accessing Arsenal Park and HVMA, will remain open during the 2-week construction period to build the temporary access road. The temporary road will provide 2-way traffic access with a right-in entrance from Arsenal Street and exiting via a right turn only onto Arsenal Street.

Arbor Day

Watertown Celebrated Arbor Day with Special Activities & Tree Care at Arsenal Park

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A member of a tree crew trims dead and damaged limbs from trees at Arsenal Park as part of the Town’s Arbor Day Celebration. Trees around Arsenal Park got a trimming, and visitors learned about trees, storm water and the environment on Thursday at Watertown’s celebration of Arbor Day. Watertown Tree Warden Chris Hayward organized the celebration with the help of the Massachusetts Arborists Association and some local organizations. Crews from the Department of Public Works, Mount Auburn Cemetery, Joe Butler & Sons, and Tree Tech (on behalf of Eversource) removed dead or damaged limbs from the trees around the parking area at Arsenal Park. “This is a week’s worth of work taking place in one day,” Hayward said.

Arsenal Park

Town Looks to Team With Arsenal Yards Developers to Fast Track Arsenal Park Improvements

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An illustration made by developers of Arsenal Yards of what how the redeveloped Arsenal Mall could interact with next door Arsenal Park. The final buildings and park design, however, will not look like this drawing. A portion of the Arsenal Park renovations may be fast-tracked if the State Legislature allows the Town of Watertown to team with the developers of Arsenal Yards on the design and construction of the East End park. Town officials have been discussing how to renovate and upgrade Arsenal Park for a few years, but progress has not be fast enough to keep pace with the work at the next door property – Arsenal Yards. Developers of that project, Boylston Properties, approached the Town to see if they could speed up work on the east side of the park if they are able to provide funding and construction crews, said Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon.

Government

Town Hosting Open House on Planned Changes to Arsenal Park

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The Town of Watertown announced it will host a meeting where residents can comment on the conceptual designs for renovating Arsenal Park. The Town sent out the following information:

Please come to an Open House to see the final Conceptual Design Plan for Arsenal Park. The Conservation Commission, who has care, custody and control of the Park, has reviewed the design and recommended to move forward with the plan and with this open house presentation. WHEN: June 13, any time from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Town Council Chamber
WHAT: Concept Plan (Click here to see the plans)

Arsenal Park

Visions for What Arsenal Park Could Look Like Presented to the Public

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Some visions for what Arsenal Park could look like after some sprucing up went on display Wednesday night, and residents got an opportunity to give their reviews. 

The Department of Community Development and Planning (DCDP) hosted the event at the Commander’s Mansion, where three options could be viewed on large boards. Attendees got a chance to write their comments and put them on the boards using yellow sticky notes. Some of the areas that planners wanted to improve include the signage inside and outside the park, said DCDP Director and Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon. “A lot of people describe Arsenal Park as a hidden gem, but it is not really well known,” Magoon said. “We want to change that.”

Government

See Proposals for Renovation of Arsenal Park at Oct. 11 Meeting

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On Oct. 11, Town officials will present some proposals for how Arsenal Park could look after being renovated. The meeting is the second public meeting on Arsenal Park, which is located behind the Arsenal Mall. At the first meeting in August residents gave input about what they like about the park, and things they would like changed. See results of the Arsenal Park survey filled out by residents by clicking here.