Opinion

Letter: Our Vital, Historic State Parks Need Champions

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The following is an open letter to elected and appointed officials and park friends with numerous originators who wrote the letter, followed by organizations that signed onto support the letter. Representatives for the Arborway Coalition, Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Southwest Corridor Park Management Advisory Committee, and more signed the letter. Massachusetts state parks are in crisis. More than a decade of funding and staffing cuts have eviscerated the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) ability to meet its mission “to protect, promote and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural and recreational resources for the well-being of all,” while digging a $1.0 billion deferred
maintenance hole. The December 2021 Legislative Special Commission report on DCR (p.51) found that Massachusetts, one of the wealthiest states in the nation, nevertheless ranks last in per capita spending on state and municipal parks.

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Letter: Jamaica Plain Civic Associations Oppose DCR’s Selection for Arborway Project

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The following letter was sent to Stephanie Cooper, the Acting Commissioner for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation. As chairs of the Jamaica Pond Association and of the Jamaica Hills Association through whose jurisdictions runs the entire Arborway from the Eliot Street intersection to and through Kelley Circle and to and through Murray Circle, we write to advise the DCR of the united opposition of the Jamaica Pond Association and the Jamaica Hills Association to DCR’s “Preferred Alternative” (Alt 4) for its Arborway Project and of our united support for Alternative 1. We oppose Alternative 4 and strongly support Alternative 1 because Alternative 1:

Eliminates the possible construction of two major, wide, signalized intersections in the park;
Protects against the build-up of air pollution caused by motor vehicles idling day and night at traffic signals at Kelley Circle and Murray Circle;
Allows for easier vehicular access outbound into the Eliot StreetBurroughs Street Pondside neighborhood;
Allows for the reestablishment of a two-lane roadway between Murray Circle and Forest Hills eliminating the present bottlenecks approaching Murray
Provides clearly designated pedestrian and bicycle crossings at Murray and Kelley Circles;
Removes far fewer trees than either Alternatives 3 and 4;
Allows Moss Hill residents direct access to the JP Business District and to travel to the Medical Area and to downtown Boston; and,
Our goal is to keep the parkway as a parkway. We ask that you meet with representatives of our associations so that we might discuss with you our opposition to Alternative 4 and our support for Alternative 1. Very Truly Yours,

Kay Mathews
Chair, Jamaica Pond Association

Andrea Howley
Chair, Jamaica Hills Assocation

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Transportation

DCR Implementing 3 Days of Closures of Southwest Corridor Park Bike Path Starting Aug. 18

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On Wednesday, the Department of Conservation and Recreation announced there would be two weeks of rolling closures of the Southwest Corridor Park Bike Path starting Aug. 18. But then DCR was reminded by the public that the Orange Line is being shutdown for a month starting Aug. 19, and DCR reconsidered its plan and opted for just three days of rolling closures. The closure comes as a shock to many considering the city and MBTA have highlighted the Southwest Corridor Park Bike Path as an alternative for transportation during the Orange Line shutdown.

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Transportation

DCR Working on Additional Design Alternative for Arborway Improvement Project; Will Tell Public About It In January

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The acting commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Recreation recently announced that due to public feedback they've been working on a fourth design alternative for the Arborway Parkways Improvement Project. In a letter addressed to stakeholders, Acting Commissioner Stephanie Cooper said the new alternative design won't be provided until an as of yet unannounced mid-January meeting. Currently there are two traffic rotaries: Kelley Circle by Jamaica Pond and Murray Circle on Centre Street by the Arnold Arboretum. One proposal would keep both circles, one would remove Kelley Circle, and one would remove both circles. DCR announced three alternative design plans to update the Arborway in November 2020.

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Playgrounds

How Accessible Are Jamaica Plain’s Playgrounds?

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There are a total of 16 playgrounds in Jamaica Plain managed by either Massachusetts' Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) or the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. So how accessible are all of them? The 16 playgrounds have varied features including age-based play structures, splash pads, spray decks, athletic fields, swings, a sandbox, and more. Currently, DCR is assessing opportunities to make improvements at their agency-managed playgrounds across the Commonwealth. In Jamaica Plain, DCR manages nine sites that include playgrounds, spray decks, benches, gardens, and sport courts.

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Sports

Jamaica Plain Has A Brand New Skatepark — And It’s Already Been Graffitied

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There hasn't even been an official grand opening for Jamaica Plain's renovated skate park on the Southwest Corridor, and it's already been graffitied. Skateboarders quickly took to the newly renovated skatepark between Oakdale and Amory streets. Before being closed the skatepark had makeshift skate ramps made through the years, but now the skatepark has smooth curves all around it with a landing area for skateboarders, non-motorized scooters, rollerbladers, bicyclists, and more. The renovations cost $75,000, with the Department of Conservation and Recreation providing $50,000 on top of $25,000 from Converse and Wheels of Steel.

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Animals

State Nixed Proposed JP Dog Park Due to ‘Limited Favorability’

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In 2018, the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation announced that a site by Oakdale Street on the Southwest Corridor Park was selected to become a dog park. That proposal never came to fruition, and it doesn't look like it's going to happen anytime soon. The Oakdale Street site was chosen after public meetings and the discussion of three proposed sites. At the time there seemed to be overwhelming support for a dog park in Jamaica Plain. Fast forward to 2020 and DCR got a new commissioner with Jim Montgomery, who performed a review and evaluation of many projects.

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Sports

Jamaica Plain Skatepark Closed Into September for Rehabilitation

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The Jamaica Plain Skatepark on the Southwest Corridor is closed into September as the state rehabilitates the old street hockey rink into a new skate park. Before being closed, the skate park had makeshift skate ramps that were created by the community through the years. The project includes the installation of new ramps for visitor use. The skatepark is between Oakdale Street and Amory Street, and is being remade by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). The adjacent pedestrian pathway is also closed.

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Centre Street

Virtual Meeting on How to Improve Centre & Walter Streets Intersection on July 30

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The public is going to receive an update on the proposed design concept to improve the intersection of Centre and Walter streets in a virtual meeting on July 30. As many people can attest, the intersection is problematic with accidents happening frequently. After the presentation, the public will be invited to ask questions and provide feedback on the proposed design concept, using a chat function that will be available through the remote participation platform. To join the meeting please visit https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9154618883245545231 from 6:30 to 8 pm on Thursday, July 30. Call-in Information: Dial 562-247-8422
Access Code: 328-910-940

If you need assistance when registering, please contact Nate Cabral-Curtis at ncabral-curtis@hshassoc.com.

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