Perry Park on September 3, 2000. © 2005 GlobeXplorer.

Approximately twenty residents joined Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston; Arn Franzen, Project Manager; Sherri Geldersma, Director of Urban Design; and landscape architects, Bellalta 3 Design, to discuss the architects' "Scheme C" for the renovation of Perry Park.

The representatives from City Hall reassured the residents assembled that people who signed in would receive advance notice of future meetings.

Geldersma opened the meeting and highlighted the "green"—or "sustainable"—features of the proposed design, for example solar powered lighting.

In response to a request for details regarding the timeline for the project, Geldersma stated that there will be at least one more meeting at which the design team will present to the community the "preferred plan." The plan may go out to bid as early as January 2006, and construction may then begin as early as May 2006.

Antonia Bellalta led her team's presentation, which began with a review of the two design alternatives that were presented at the previous meeting on March 28. She also reviewed her team's goals and objectives for the project:

• To improve the presence of the park from the street
• To design a forecourt that signals the park as a destination
• To maximize the green space in the park
• To replace "structured" blacktop activities in the park (foursquare and paddleball) with more spontaneous and natural activities
• To improve visibility of all areas of the park
• Possibly to include a dog recreation area
• Possibly to include a water feature

Scheme C

Taking into consideration responses from the community to the two initial design alternatives, Bellalta 3 Design presented its "Scheme C" for Perry Park. Scheme C features an open lawn to the left (west) of the three existing Linden trees, which are to be preserved and complimented by a line of shade trees which will border a walkway into the park. The "forecourt" is the main feature at the entrance to the Park from Washington Street and is designed in a diagonal grid pattern that visually draws passerby into the park. The forecourt includes a water feature that can be integrated into a play area to the left (west), which is set back in the park and separated from the street by the lawn. The water feature can be designed so that it is attractive even when the water is not turned on and does not look like an abandoned fountain.

The main area of the park is a lawn bordered by a curved walk way. The central treelined walkway through the lawn leads to a raised shaded seating area in the back (northwest) corner of the park.

In addition to the play area for small children, the designers showed pictures of sculptural, stand-alone play equipment that can complement the passive areas of the park.

Another walkway on the east side of the park will provide access for park users with dogs to an off-leash recreational area at the back (northeast) corner of the park. The area for people and pets is one hundred fifty feet long across the back of the park and fifty feet wide at its widest point, along the east side of the park, behind the building that formerly housed Arthur's store. The designers visited Peters Park in the South End and spoke with dog owners there who recommended a surface treatment of pea gravel. An amenity that Perry Park will have that is missing from Peters Park is a drinking fountain with separate spouts for people and for dogs.

A variety of plantings, in addition to the existing trees-most of which can be preserved, were recommend, including honey locusts, the small leaves of which provide dappled shade, and upright pin oaks, which, when planted in a row, provide the effect of an aerial hedge. Flowering trees like dogwoods, pears and hawthorns were also recommended, as were perennial ground plantings and bulbs, like silla and daffodils, which can be planted in the grass and mowed after they flower.

Questions from the Community

With regard to the off-leash area, a resident asked, "who's going to clean up after all those dogs?" and complained that dog owners in the neighborhood don't clean up after their dogs.

Michele Biscoe, Chairperson of the Somerville Dog Owners Group, agreed that it is inappropriate and unacceptable that people do not clean up after their dogs. Biscoe said that the Somerville Dog Owners Group is working to promote responsible dog owner education and to help dog owners understand how important it is both for the health of our dogs and for public health that every dog owner clean up after her or his dog every time. She said that, by providing "mutt mitts"—plastic bags for cleaning up dog waste—and trash cans, the City can help dog owners to be more responsible. She added that, when there are designated areas in Somerville parks where people may safely and legally enjoy off-leash recreation with our dogs, there will be less dog waste in other areas of the parks.

The history and historical significance of the Park was remarked, and a request was made for some type of acknowledgement of the Park's history that is more prominent than simply a plaque. In particular, the importance of brick-manufacturing in the neighborhood and local economy was mentioned: brick, it was observed, could be used in the landscaping.

Geldersma offered the idea of outlining the footprint of the former school in the Park.

Anothers resident recalled that, at the first meeting in September 2004, there was interest in labeling the trees in the Park as an educational feature.

One resident felt that, other than inside the children's play area, no play equipment should be included in the passive recreation space.

Another resident expressed a preference for free-standing play equipment that is not so tall that it requires a rubber safety surface; she was concerned that the "garish" colors of play surfaces would clash with the natural colors of the rest of the landscaping.

A resident asked whether the entrance to the tot lot could open toward the back of the park rather than toward the plaza. It was pointed out that the benefit of opening the play area toward the plaza is that it will be more integrated with the water feature in the plaza. The parent also observed that it is hard to find play areas that are located in the shade and asked if the proposed tot lot could be positioned out of the morning sun.

Arthur (who owns the commercial property abutting the park) observed that the old and the young alike enjoy the existing park. He shared pictures of the park as well as pictures of some parks in Cambridge and suggested that the renovation focus on changing the problem areas in the park, singling out the sandbox, which children cannot use because the local feral cat population uses it as a litter box. He also expressed his concern that any fountain in the park would be misused and destroyed.

A resident said that, at one time, a Friends of Perry Park Group existed and contributed to the stewardship of the park.