Around Town

Residents Invited to Meeting on Redesign of Watertown Square

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Watertown Square. Find out about plans to redesign Watertown Square at a public meeting on Dec. 3. Organizers sent out the following information:

Join Us for a Public Meeting

When:         Tuesday, December 3                      Open House, 6:30 to 7:00 p.m.                      Presentation and Q&A, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.Where:        Perkins School for the Blind                      Grousbeck Center                      55 Beechwood Avenue, Watertown                      Parking available in lot off Beechwood Ave.; follow signs for event parking

The Town of Watertown is redesigning Watertown Square to improve mobility and safety for all users (including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and vehicles). At this public meeting, the project team will present three conceptual plans (of the original six shared at the Open House in July 2018) for further discussion and analysis. We will also review the potential benefits of each alternative.

Around Town

See Photos from the 2019 Watertown Faire on the Square

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The sun shines down on the 2019 Faire on the Square, held behind Watertown’s Town Hall on Saturday. Hundreds of people joined the festivities at Watertown’s Faire on the Square on Saturday. Under sunny skies, the 2019 Faire on the Square featured entertainment from singers, acrobats and dance troupes. Dancers perform at Saturday’s Faire on the Square. Kids had plenty of activities, with several inflatable play structures, pony rides, face painting and clowns.

Around Town

See the Recommendations of the Watertown Parking Plan

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A parking consultant recommends replacing Watertown’s current parking meters with “smart” meters that offer a range of payment options. This is one of many recommendations in the Watertown Parking Management Plan. Town officials recently released the final version of the Watertown Parking Management Plan, which included 10 recommendations, including adding high tech meters, adding meters in some places, removing them in others, and having different priced depending on the demand. The recommendations were developed by Stantec, the consultant hired by the town to look at parking in Watertown’s major commercial districts: Watertown Square and Coolidge Square. They also held public meetings to hear from residents and workers.

Coolidge Square

Give Your Opinion on Changes to Parking in Watertown at Upcoming Meeting

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The public is invited to give input on Watertown’s Parking Management plan for Watertown Square and Coolidge Square which was presented earlier this year. The Watertown Planning Department provided the following information:

The Town seeks public input on draft parking strategies, presented at a public meeting on May 7. Please join the Town and project team at the Watertown Parking Management Plan Draft Strategies Public Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, from 7-8:30 p.m., at the Watertown Public Library (Watertown Savings Bank Room). Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., to review key findings from Watertown and Coolidge Squares’ parking data collection, public engagement survey and January open houses. In January, the public had the opportunity to provide input at two public open houses to review parking supply and utilization data, share parking concerns, and give the Town ideas on how to improve parking management in Watertown Square and Coolidge Square.

Entertainment

Author Talking About How Watertown Square has Changed Through the Years

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Hear about how Watertown Square has changed over the decades in an author talk sponsored by the Historical Society of Watertown. WHEN: Thurs., March 21, 2019

EVENT: “Watertown Square through Time” with Cara Marcus Presented by: Historical Society of Watertown

Cara Marcus will do a game show style presentation of her new book, “Watertown Square through Time.” How well do you know Watertown? — its streets, buildings, events and famous people? Find out. Come to the Community Room of the Watertown Police Department Headquarters, at 552 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472 on Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Free and open to the public.

Around Town

What Parking Technologies, Improvements Do You Want in Watertown? Let the Town Know

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If you have you been frustrated by not being able to find parking in Watertown Square or Coolidge Square, found a broken meter, or not been able to find the hours when you have to pay to park — well, Town officials want to hear from you. Watertown officials recently hosted a pair of open houses to talk to residents and people who work in Town about the parking situation in Watertown’s two main business districts. There are many parking spaces in these areas, with more than 1,500 in Watertown Square and nearly 1,400 in Coolidge Square. The majority are off-street spaces. Town officials do not just want to replace the aging parking meters, but to come up with a parking plan.

Coolidge Square

Give Your Opinion About Parking in Watertown’s Business Districts

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Town officials seek input about what changes should be made to parking in the Watertown Square and Coolidge Square areas. Residents, workers and others can share their thoughts in an online survey, or attend two upcoming open houses about the two areas. The Town of Watertown sent out the following announcement:

Watertown has begun a Parking Management Plan for Watertown Square and Coolidge Square. The goal is to support Watertown’s retail centers and make them more user friendly and welcoming. The Plan will describe current parking needs, supply, and usage.

Around Town

Watertown Conducting Survey as Part of Creating Parking Management Plan

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Town officials want to know what people living, working and visiting Watertown think about parking in two major commercial areas in town. The Town is creating a Parking Management Plan for Watertown’s two major business districts, Watertown Square and Coolidge Square. To collect information, town officials have created an online survey. The Plan will take a fresh look at the existing parking supply, demand for parking, and look for creative ways to satisfy parking needs, according to the Town’s website. Some of the areas that the Parking Management Plan will cover are:

Improved meter technologyConsistent and easy to understand regulationsOptions for enforcementChanges that could better manage parking and meet ongoing demandOpportunities for shared parkingOther ways to support healthy and successful commercial centers

To take the Watertown Parking Survey go to: www.watertownparkingsurvey.com

Town officials will also be holding two open houses about parking.