Dana Park

The City of Cambridge conducted a series of three community meetings to plan for the renovation of Dana Park. The public meetings took place between April and November of 2003, and were all well attended. Community Development Department staff presented background information on neighborhood demographics, open space needs analysis, relevant open space studies, and several preliminary concept plans. CDD staff also met with representatives from other city departments such as Public Works, Electrical, Animal Control, and the Arts Council, in order to coordinate the design of the renovated park, and ensure consistency with other department's policies and practices. Neighborhood residents, park users, and other interested residents commented on current park use, neighborhood open space needs, and the desired future use of the park.

Based on comments received at the first meeting, CDD staff developed a set of goals to guide the design of the renovated park.

• To preserve and enhance the existing park, the organization of spaces and distribution of active and passive activities. Maintain the park as a social gathering place for diverse individuals and groups.
• Embrace Dana Square as a destination park, which is important to the entire neighborhood, and is a unique natural and recreation resource. It should therefore be uniquely beautiful and convey a feeling of permanence. Dana Park has been and should remain a mature urban park.
• Don't "over civilize it". Upgrade park furniture, fencing and equipment, while maintaining and increasing open space, trees, plantings, hills, and natural materials, which often disappear from an urban park.
• Bring park into conformance with minimum federal child safety and ADA accessibility standards and to exceed those minimum standards where possible.
• Good design starts with public safety. The new lighting plan should be carefully considered, appropriate, and must work together with existing and new plantings to maintain clear views into and throughout park. Lighting, an emergency call box, and comprehensive regulatory signs all contribute to feeling safer.
• Design in collaboration with the Department of Public Works (DPW) so that the park can be maintained. The lights, park furniture, play equipment etc. are consistent with what the City is able to maintain, and has a proven track record of longevity.

After careful consideration of comments received by residents, several modifications to draft concept plans, and coordination among various City departments, Community Development Department staff developed the final design for the renovated Dana Park.

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• Dana Park Concept Plan (2003)

• Dana Park Concept Plan Equipment (2003)

• Dana Park Concept Plan Photographs (2003)

For information about park maintenance, reservations for events, and athletic field permits, please visit the Permits and Maintenance page on our website.

For more information, contact Daniel Wolf at 617/349-4618 or by email at dwolf@cambridgema.gov.