Bradford Hawes Park improvements wind down for 2014

Improvements to Bradford Hawes Park are winding down for the 2014 calendar year.  The project continues to run on schedule with all grant funded improvements to be finalized by the end of November.  The Department of Planning and Community Development thanks the park’s neighbors for their patience and support during the renovation.    

As the Town looks to continue improvements in 2015, the Planning Department would like to inform residents of the following updates:

Playground.  The new playground equipment has been assembled.  Structures include benches, tables, a swing set and two play areas.  Families are welcome to use the playground as weather permits.  The park’s benches and tables have been generously donated by the In Memory of Me, Tanner B. Foundation.  All park furniture will be placed in close proximity to the play and swing sets with the intention to install lamp posts for security lighting next spring.

Basketball court and street hockey court.  Construction activities related to the courts are complete for the current calendar year.  The basketball court has been expanded to regulation size, and the street hockey court has new fencing as well as a berm for keeping balls/pucks in play.  Regrettably, the Town cannot proceed with the sealing, coating and painting of the courts until next spring.  Doing otherwise would risk the integrity of the work and could negatively impact the final product.  In the interim, the courts remain accessible and usable by park guests.

Walking path.  The new walkway is more than 75 percent complete.  Remaining construction will bridge the distance between the street hockey court and the park’s eastern entrance.  The Town plans to finish the path before the end of the calendar year.

Gateway experience.  The project team has determined that production of the new gateway should be postponed until the spring of 2015.  Due to the detail and size of the gateway, fabricators cannot guarantee completion of the product by the end of November.  Conditions for installation will become uncertain thereafter.  In the interim, the Town has installed new signage detailing the project’s partners and the park’s rules near the eastern and western entrances. 

Ribbon cutting. A formal ceremony has been postponed until the spring of 2015 when a larger event can be planned for the park’s neighbors and their families.  All Town-funded improvements to the park should be completed by this time. 

The Planning Department will continue to update residents as the project moves forward.  Photos of the park’s progress (before and after) can be found on the project’s webpage.  Residents may submit questions to the Planning Department by phone at (781) 340-5015 or online by clicking here.