Renovation project upgrades Town Common!
This article appeared in the December 9 edition of The Lynnfield Villager and is reprinted in its entirety here.
By DAN TOMASELLO
The Spring Town Meeting voted to appropriate $169,200 from Free Cash in order to make improvements to the Common. The project was originally budgeted for $200,000.
“We are very excited about the Town Common renovation project,” said Town Engineer Charlie Richter in an email sent to the Villager. “This project was the culmination of several large projects that took place on the Common. Last year, we installed a much-needed joint septic system for the Meeting House and the library that disturbed a large portion of the Common. Over the past year or so, the Lynnfield Historical Society made several improvements to the Meeting House, which freshened up the building and made it shine. We saw this as a great opportunity to put the icing on the cake by making a variety of improvements to the Common.”
As part of this year’s project, Richter said the Common’s old asphalt walkway was replaced with period appropriate Boston City Hall Brick Pavers. “We also added an additional walkway from South Common Street to provide a path for people parked at Town Hall to access the Common,” said Richter. “We reset all of the existing brick walks, which are the same pavers.”
Richter said lampposts were added to the Common in order to illuminate the walkways at night. He said Americans with Disabilities Act compliant handicap ramps were installed in order to improve access for pedestrians. He also noted that electrical outlets were installed throughout the Common. “This will aid in the Tree Lighting Ceremony and make it more flexible for the town to hold events on the Common,” said Richter.
In addition to a new irrigation system being installed, Richter said sod was planted throughout the Common. “One of the goals during the project was to install a more resilient and sustainable grass for this park,” said Richter. “By amending the existing soil on the Common with a carefully blended topsoil, we were able to develop a great base that helps with both preventing compaction and aiding in root growth. We also choose a special blend of grasses that when woven together into sod is more resilient and sustainable than the typical sod and grass seed used. We are hoping these extra steps will ultimately reduce water consumption and the need for fertilizer.”
After the new lawn is established this spring, Planning and Conservation Director Emilie Cademartori said organic products will be used to maintain the grass instead of chemical-based pesticides and herbicides. She recalled that Pillings Pond Road resident Patti Fabbri serves on a Conservation Commission subcommittee that has championed the benefits of using organic lawn care.
“Patti has worked on raising pesticide awareness for years,” said Cademartori. “She has spearheaded hosting an annual guest speaker on organic lawn care. When the DPW started planning for the Common overhaul, we thought it was an excellent opportunity to turn it into a demonstration of how successful organic lawn care can be. Our annual speaker, Chip Osborne, is an independent consultant who helps municipalities, universities and others create organic lawn programs. We hired him to develop the program for the Common. The DPW has been an excellent partner and very willing to try something new. We are hoping that the Common will be the flagship project and ultimately the DPW will be able to convert all of the town’s grass surfaces to an organic program.”
Richter also said the DPW added “lighting to accentuate important features such as the War Memorial facing Main Street and the Memorial at the tip of the Common at the intersection of Summer Street and South Common Street. We also addressed some much-needed tree issues with our arborist that will ensure that the trees stay healthy and safe,” said Richter.
While Richter said the project is mostly finished, he said there are a couple of components that still have to be completed. “We are planning on refinishing the bell and several plaques on the Common,” said Richter. “This may need to wait until spring. There will also be a variety of other small items that will be taken care of before the spring.” The renovated Town Common currently does not include a gazebo because the Board of Selectmen voted in September to put that project on hold for the time being.
Richter said he hopes people will visit the Common more frequently now that it is renovated. “I was amazed how you could drive past it at night and might never have realized it was there,” said Richter. “Now with the new lighting and accessible walkways, people are able to fully appreciate it, especially in this day when more people are out walking.” Richter thanked the project’s contractor, MJ Cataldo, Inc., “for the great job they did under a tight timeframe.”
“It was one of the few jobs that actually got done sooner than planned,” said Richter. “I’d also like to thank Leahy Landscaping for their help with designing the planting beds around the memorials. I’d like to thank the selectmen for understanding the importance of this project and backing the project.”
Selectmen Chairman Chris Barrett said during last week’s meeting that the renovated Town Common “looks absolutely outstanding.” DPW Director John Tomasz agreed. “That was Charlie’s baby,” said Tomasz. “He did an outstanding job. I thought it turned out great. I am very proud of it.” Richter echoed his boss’ sentiment. “Over the past 16 years in town, I have gotten a chance to do a variety of projects,” said Richter. “This was one of the more enjoyable.”