LETTER: Group of Parents Support Using Moxley as Site for Temporary High School

Ai3 ArchitectsA view from Columbia Street of what the new Watertown High School could look like. Last week, the Town Manager announced that the new Watertown High School would be paid for within the confines of Proposition 2 ½, and will NOT require a debt exclusion vote by the community. This is truly an astonishing, unprecedented commitment by Watertown. Thank you to the Town Manager and the Town Council for creating this remarkable opportunity. This is a project that will be transformative for our entire community.

LETTER: Reconsider Using Moxley Field as the Site for the Temporary High School

Ai3 ArchitectsA rendering of what a two-story modular building could look like on Moxley Field. It would be the temporary location for Watertown High School while a new school is constructed. The following letter was originally sent to the School Building Committee and the Town Council:

The architectural firm working on behalf of the Watertown High School project provided the recommendation to build a temporary high school on PFC Richard Stephen Memorial Playground on Westminster Avenue. It is dedicated to our fallen hero who gave his life in Vietnam. Richie played on this field.

School Building Committee Delays Submitting High School Project, Looking Closer at Where to Put Temporary Site

Ai3 ArchitectsA rendering of what a two-story modular building could look like on Moxley Field. It could be the temporary location for Watertown High School while a new school is constructed. The submission of the Watertown High School project to the State has been delayed in an effort to look at where the temporary location of the high school will be during construction. 

The School Building Committee had been scheduled to vote on submitting the plan for the WHS project, including the use of Moxley Field as a site for a temporary school site, on Wednesday. Instead, Town Council President Mark Sideris announced the delay of the submission of the project. 

“We have a number of things we have to work out. A lot of concerns have been raised, and we believe the prudent thing to do is to continue talking, continue investigating and continue to have conversations with people to figure out the best approach that will get us a good high school and a good plan to get to that,” Sideris said. 

The proposal called for building the new high school on the current WHS, and moving the students to a temporary school made up of two-story modular classrooms at Moxley Field.

Architects Looked at Several Options for Temporary High School Before Choosing Moxley Field

A rendering of what a two-story modular building could look like on Moxley Field. It would be the temporary location for Watertown High School while a new school is constructed. Planners of the new Watertown High School looked at a variety of options for the school’s temporary location during construction before landing on the Moxley Field site next to Watertown Middle School, the School Building Committee heard Wednesday night. Architect James Jordan, from Ai3 Architects, said he had heard some concern that designers immediately jumped toward the two options presented at the last meeting — Moxley Field and the property where Phillips School is located — without looking at other options. Some residents complained that the decision to use Moxley Field was made without having a public meeting beforehand where all abutting residents would be alerted.

LETTER: Opposition to Plan to Put Temporary High School on Field Named for Marine Killed in Vietnam

The following letter was submitted by Marilyn Petitto Devaney:

The School building Committee has been holding Zoom meetings. Unfortunately, like my neighbors I didn’t’ know. There are about twelve houses across the Street on Westminster Avenue from the PFC Moxley playground. No letter was ever sent to the abutters to notify them of any meetings or their decision. They have made their decision without input.

School Building Committee Leans Toward Single Building on Current High School Site

A rendering of what a two-story modular building could look like (in white) on Moxley Field. It would be the temporary location for Watertown High School while a new school is constructed. Watertown Middle School can be seen behind the modular campus. The School Building Committee told designers that they like the direction they are going with a single building on the current site for the new Watertown High School. That design would require students to go to a swing space during construction, and Moxley Field has been identified as the preferred temporary site.

Community Meetings Coming Up About Casey Park, Moxley Field Renovations

The Recreation Department will hold a pair of Community Meetings about planned renovations to two Watertown Parks. 

The Rec Department sent out the following information:

Casey Park Renovation

The Watertown Recreation Department will be hosting a community meeting to review a draft preliminary rendering of potential facility renovations at Casey Park. If interested, please feel free to attend the event. Community Meeting
Thursday, February 1 at 7 p.m.
Town Council Chambers, Town Hall, 149 Main St., Watertown. Moxley Park Renovation

The Watertown Recreation Department will be hosting a community
meeting to review a draft preliminary rendering of potential facility
renovations at Moxley Park. If interested, please feel free to attend the event.