Details about the renovations planned for Conway Park were recently shared in a virtual public meeting. ~Photos by Hongyu Liu

By Hongyu Liu

The City of Somerville expects to start renovating Conway Park in early 2021. On November 17, Brandon Kunkel, the team leader of Weston & Sampson Inc., shared more details of the renovation at a recent virtual public meeting.

The city of Somerville closed the park in March 2019 after soil testing indicated the presence of contaminants including lead and PCBs, some of the levels exceeding regulatory limits.

The 2.8-acre park currently holds a playground, a splash pad, few basketball courts, and a multi-purpose grass field. Kunkel expects the renovation to focus on technology and materials instead of its function. “Hopefully, it doesn’t look much different from what is out there today, and it shouldn’t, because a lot of the uses are the same,” said Kunkel.

The Conway Park proposed site plan. ~ Courtesy of Weston & Sampson Design Studio

Kunkel mentioned that the grass field will be replaced by synthetic turf. The turf will sit above a few layers of organic material to facilitate drainage. Underneath are materials acting as a barrier from the historic fill.

The renovation will also include the installation of a new lighting system for the field. Kunkel expects 90% of the light will be cast directly onto the field without impacts offset. He says the light will reduce to ordinary streetlight level around the property lines.

Andrew Louw, the city’s public space planner, assured the public that the lighting will only be used under permitted circumstances. However, he said the sports lighting does not comply with the dark sky policy of Somerville. “It’s almost impossible for the sports lighting to comply with the city’s dark sky policy,” Louw said.

The splash pad is already fenced off to the public due to contamination. It will serve as the entrance and exit once the renovation begins. Kunkel said the new splash pad will increase shade and seating. It will also have more permeable surfaces to reduce run-off in rain. They will also introduce native understory pollinator plantings.

47 out of 59 trees currently in the field will be removed. The city will plant 62 new trees during the renovation.

The renovators will also replace around a hundred feet of containing wall at the southwest corner. They will install a new wall at the west border.

The playground will feature some elements for children aged 2-5. Kunkel said that the play equipment currently installed is more suitable for children of 5-12. The city will restore the metal play equipment and replace the signage. They will also avoid tripping hazards on the playground by replacing broken concrete. Flexi-pave will replace the tree grates. They will also repair the rubber surface on the accessible route. The basketball court will have new asphalt and markings.

The City Council approved remediation and construction funding on October 22. Louw anticipates the project to be finished by the end of 2021.

The city has published more details of the project on its website:  https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/conway-field-and-playground-contamination.