1. Union Square Open Space Plan
2008-2013
Public Meeting
January 6, 2009
Aldermanic Chambers
Somerville City Hall
2. Union Square Open Space Plan
Tonight’s Agenda:
Open Space and Recreation Plan (2008-2013)--overview
Union Square
Open Space Facts
Accomplishments (2003-2008)
Rezoning Proposal
Union Square Open Space Plan
Purpose
Community Needs
Goals and Policies
Five-Year Action Plan
Next Steps
4. Open Space and Recreation Plan
WHAT: Five-year, citywide action plan
WHY: Used to secure certain state grants & serves as a
public record of City open space data, goals, and
strategic vision
2002-2007 Urban Self Help funding for parks and
open space projects: $2,211,786
HOW: OSPCD is currently revising document;
public process for comment and review
5. Open Space and Recreation Plan
Five-year strategic action plan on record with MA EOEEA
City Revision Process: September 2007-December 2008
Submittal Date: December 2008 (DRAFT)
February 2009 (FINAL)—pending BOA approval
Executive Office of Energy and
Environmental Affairs
Division of Conservation Services
6. Somerville’s public parks & open spaces are intensely used.
• The City of Somerville is 4.1 square miles in size. Population is nearly 77,478
people, or about 29.5 people per acre
• Total public open space
is 141 acres or
5.37% of the city
• Only 45% (63.52 acres)
of the public open
space is owned by
the City of Somerville.
This includes parks,
school playgrounds,
fields, cemeteries, and
other open space lots
• The City manages
46 parks, playgrounds,
and ball fields for
residents
8. Union Square—Open Space Facts
Union Square Study Area occupies approximately .54 square miles
68% of parcels and 33% of land area used for residential purposes
Public open space makes up 4.3% of land area in Union Square
(approximately 15 acres). Public parks and green space include:
• Union Square Plaza
• Prospect Hill Park
• Corbett-McKenna Park
• Lincoln Park
• Stone Place Park
• Milk Row Cemetery
• Walnut Street Park
• Nunziato Field and OLRA
• Community Growing Center
• Quincy Street Park
9. Union Square: Accomplishments
Union Square Parks Projects (2003-2008)
Year
Project Owner Acres Class
Complete
Allen Street Community Garden City 0.12 New 2007
Corbett-McKenna Park &
City 0.61 Renovation 2004
Playground
Ed Leathers Community Park &
City 0.70 New 2008
OLRA
2006
Milk Row Cemetery City 0.72 Renovation
(Phase I)
Palmacci Playground City 0.08 Renovation 2005
Stone Place Park City 0.12 Renovation 2007
10. Accomplishments: Stone Place Park
• Changing neighborhood
demographics and resident
participation changed small Union
Square pocket park from sunken tot
lot to quiet neighborhood gathering
spot
• Park is used by residents, Union
Square businesses and visitors:
popular lunch spot
• Features: lawn, stone wall, colorful
benches, new shrub plantings and
grasses, three-season color, privacy
screening for neighbors
11. Accomplishments: Ed Leathers Community Park
• Opened August 2008; former site of Kemp Nuts Factory
• “Green” design followed intensive community input
• Features: extensive lawn and open space, large shade
trees, flowering shrubs, play opportunities for children,
OLRA for dogs, and elevated terrace/informal stage
12. Accomplishments: Corbett-McKenna Park
• Located next to the famous Prospect
Hill Tower, overlooking the City of
Somerville and the Boston skyline
• City allocated Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the
park’s renovation in 2003; park re-
opened in 2004
• Features: Brightly colored, historically
themed space built on two levels;
basketball court, play structures for
different age groups, a water feature,
and a balcony deck from which visitors
can enjoy the splendid view
13. Other Accomplishments
Collaborations with Arts Commission and Union Square
Main Streets (USMS)
Programming of unique events:
• Fluff Festival
• “Second Wednesdays”
Events
• Winter Craft Market
• Prospect Hill Flag
Raising
• Spring and Fall Cleanups
• Harvest Festival
• Union Square Farmers
Market Union Square Farmers Market
14. Rezoning Proposal
The rezoning proposal supports an increase in
publicly accessible open space on private property.
Open Space Provisions:
Usable Open Space (TOD): 10-15% of parcel set aside as
open space
Payment In Lieu of Open Space (TOD): Developer
contributes funds to the City instead of providing usable open
space; funds used for park acquisition, construction, or renovation
Donation of Open Space (TOD): Developer donates 40,000
square-feet of open space to City in return for structure-height
increase to 150 feet
16. Union Square Open Space Plan (USOSP)
PURPOSE,
COMMUNITY NEEDS,
GOALS & POLICIES,
FIVE-YEAR ACTION PLAN
17. USOSP: Purpose
The purpose of the USOSP is to:
Focus on a distinct area of Somerville that will be
significantly enhanced by Green Line Extension
Guide future development to ensure that accessible open
space is designed to meet community needs and goals
Establish goals to improve and increase public open space
in Union Square
Establish policies for the development of usable open
space on private property
18. Union Square: Community Needs
Despite accomplishments, Union Square community has
expressed a need for:
Additional open space
Public gathering space
Active open space for children
Green open space / contemplative open space
Street trees and streetscape
Bicycle and pedestrian open space and connectivity
Water features
Public art
19. Union Square Open Space Goals & Policies
Policy #1
Usable open space on private property in Union Square
should follow the following guidelines:
Usable open space must be designed in a manner that clearly
indicates that it is open to the public
New useable open space should respond to identified types and
features of open space that are needed in the area
Planted green space is generally encouraged in privately owned
usable open space
“Hardscaped” plazas should be placed primarily in commercial
cores
20. Union Square Open Space Goals & Policies
Policy #2
The provision of new land for usable open space is a
priority
Developer proposals for payment in lieu of open
space should only be approved when the
proposed development truly cannot produce open
space
21. Union Square Open Space Goals & Policies
Policy #3
Union Square Plaza should retain its dominance as
the central gathering point and activity area for the
neighborhood
Programming of the space should take into
account the different types of users, and should
include a diverse mix of activities to meet the
needs of these users
22. Union Square Open Space Goals & Policies
Policy #4
Four key vistas within Union Square should be
preserved to maintain the area’s unique character:
View north along Prospect Street toward the Post Office
View up Prospect Hill toward the Prospect Hill Tower
View east along Somerville Avenue from intersection at
Bow Street toward the historic City fire station
View north along Webster Street toward the intersection of
Bow Street and Somerville Avenue
24. Union Square Open Space Goals & Policies
Policy #5
Gateways into the Union Square area should be
enhanced so that visitors recognize they have
entered a distinct area of the city of Somerville
25. Union Square Open Space Goals & Policies
Policy #6
The provision of outdoor public art should be
strongly encouraged throughout Union Square on
both public and private property
ArtsUnion and OSPCD commissioned local artisans to design
new streetscape architecture in 2005
26. Union Square Open Space Goals & Policies
Policy #7
The construction of a community path aligned with
the Green Line Extension spur should be strongly
encouraged
Private properties should be required to dedicate (and
preferably construct) their portion of the path as a
condition of special permit approval
Community path will add approximately 1.4 acres of
open space to Somerville
27. USOSP: Five-year Action Plan
Five-Year Action Plan Goals
1. Renovate Parks and Open Space
2. Acquire Additional Land
3. Analyze and Improve Access to Public Open Space
4. Increase Tree Canopy and Green Spaces
5. Increase Off-Leash Recreational Areas (OLRAs) and
Create New Skate Park
6. Raise the Bar for Sustainable Practices
7. Reduce Brownfields
8. Set Vision through Strategic Planning Documents
29. NEXT STEPS
Draft Open Space & Recreation Plan is currently available
on City website for public review and comment
BOA Committee on Housing and Community Development
to schedule a meeting to review Plan
Plan approval by BOA anticipated in mid-February 2009
Final Plan to be submitted to DCS by early spring 2009
Final Plan will be available on City website and paper
copies distributed to libraries and other public facilities
30. PUBLIC COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO:
Mail
Ellen Schneider
Landscape Project Manager
City Hall, OSPCD
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143
Phone
617-625-6600, Ext. 2529
Email
eschneider@somervillema.gov
31. CONTACT INFORMATION
Monica Lamboy mlamboy@somervillema.gov
Executive Director, OSPCD
Madeleine Masters mmasters@somervillema.gov
Director of Planning and Zoning
Rob May rmay@somervillema.gov
Director of Economic Development
Alderman Maryann Heuston mheuston@somervillema.gov
(Ward 2)
Alderman Thomas Taylor ttaylor@somervillema.gov
(Ward 3)
Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development
City of Somerville, 93 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143
617-625-6600 x 2500
www.somervillema.gov
32. THANK YOU for your time.
There will now be an opportunity for
public questions and comments.