Drainage and Community Garden Project Page

Guided by the Fresh Pond Master Plan, the Drainage and Community Garden project is a complete re visioning of this narrow stretch of railway corridor. The finished product will better protect water supply water quality, improve universal accessibility, and create a more peaceful, naturalistic user experience that we strive to cultivate in the rest of the Fresh Pond Reservation. The project design addresses:

Drainage issues on the perimeter path which result in pooling and unsafe icing in winter
Proper repurposing of a defunct railroad right of way
Increased accessibility and ADA-compliance for the community gardens and pathways
Redesigned plots for the gardens, increasing definition & access
Invasive species management and the creation of a native plant community that increases ecological and habitat value

The Latest
Schedule
Description
Documents

7/2/2018 - The project is complete and open to the public. Warranty, maintenance, and punch list work is ongoing.

Contact David Kaplan with questions.

Spring 2017 - Fall 2017

Contract Award, Construction.

Winter 2017/2018

Site to remain closed for safety and security

Spring 2018

Temperature-dependent paving, parking lot restoration, fencing, misc. Substantial completion, open to public by end of spring, early summer 2018.

Please contact David Kaplan with any questions, concerns, or comments.

The Drainage and Community Gardens construction project will eliminate untreated stormwater discharges to Fresh Pond Reservoir; re-purpose and improve a former rail corridor; improve perimeter road drainage; create a graded, planted buffer between Fresh Pond Parkway and Reservation users; create an accessible, relocated, updated Community Garden; and restore native plant communities.

Demolition will include removing existing railroad rails and ties, the existing perimeter road, community gardens, and wooded area between Fresh Pond Parkway and the reservoir. All but 25 high value trees and primarily invasive understory will be removed to facilitate relocating both the perimeter road and community gardens, and allow for the installation of planted bermed barriers and the new vegetated stormwater detention and treatment system. To mitigate the removal of 70 trees, the project will plant 182 native trees, 729 native shrubs/understory, and 7,500 native wet-tolerant plants in the stormwater basin. Improvements also include new and refurbished fencing, a new seating area on the pond road, hubway, big-belly trash and recycling unit, and a water fountain and bike racks at the garden.

The existing community garden has limited accessibility, in an isolated area subject to flooding, and has 23 large and ill-defined ground-level plots. The new community garden will be located closer to the Water Treatment Plant parking lot, and create 26 defined plots with raised planters, two of which are fully accessible.

Construction will last through Spring 2018

Brief project history:

Summer 2009 – Kleinfelder (formerly SEA) begins Conceptual Project Design
December 2010 – Preliminary Drainage Design Report - included a phased full build concept excluding railroad right of way (ROW)
2011- 2012 – CWD, DPW, and Conservation Director developed additional drainage & garden alternatives for phasing and standalone improvements depending on ROW acquisition status and stormwater infrastructure constraints
Summer 2013 – CWD /DCR acquires ROW
January 2014 – Kleinfelder begins redesign incorporating the ROW
June 11, 2015 – Public meeting held to discuss project and present conceptual alternatives (see documents tab)
December 2015 – 75% design submittal
Spring-Summer 2016 – worked with Fresh Pond Master Plan Advisory Board (FPAB) Planting Committee on planting plan refinement and tree preservation
November 14, 2016 – Conservation NOI Hearing
November 17, 2016 – FPAB Presentation
December 2016 – 100% submittal
January to March 2017 – Bidding, Contract Award

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