►
Description
Docket #1013 - Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($750,000.00) in the form of a Land Water Conservation Fund grant awarded by the National Park Service, passed through the Massachusetts Division of Conservation Services, to be administered by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. The grant will be used for improvements at Malcolm X Park that will make paths, entrances, and play areas compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act
A
Airing
of
the
environment,
sustainability
and
parks
meeting,
I'm
the
president
pro-tempore
of
the
council,
as
well
as
chair
of
this
committee.
This
hearing
is
being
recorded.
It's
being
live
streamed
at
boston.gov
city
council
dash
tv
as
well
as
broadcast
on
xfinity
channel
8,
rcn
channel
82
and
fios
channel
964.
A
today,
we'll
be
discussing
docket
1013
regarding
a
750,
000
federal
land
and
water
conservation
fund
grant
for
the
malcolm
x
park,
formerly
known
as
washington
park
and
roxbury.
This
funding
will
supplement
the
6.65
million
dollars.
The
city
is
investing
in
this
large
popular
and
historic
park.
Deep
in
the
heart
of
roxbury.
This
funding,
which
has
been
awarded
by
the
national
park
service
and
administered
by
the
massachusetts
executive
office
of
energy
and
environmental
affairs,
will
target
increasing
the
availability
of
recreational
opportunities
at
this
beloved
park.
A
Malcolm
x
park
is
located
one
house
lot
away
from
the
landmark
home
of
malcolm
x's
sister,
where
he
briefly
lived
and
frequently
visited
delighted
to
have
aldo
guerin,
who
is
the
senior
planner
for
parks
and
recreation,
as
well
as
lauren
bryant,
who
will
be
answering
our
q
a
she
is
the
project
manager
for
this
as
well.
We
are
also
joined
by
city
councilor,
ed
flynn,
from
district
two
and
councillor
flynn.
I
don't
know
if
you
had
any
opening
statements
or
opening
remarks
before
you
get
into
it.
B
Thank
you,
council
o'malley.
I
have
no
opening
statements
other
than
to
say
thank
you
to
the
dedicated
team
from
parks
that
are
making
significant
improvements.
It's
a
wonderful
park
and
people
love
the
puck.
So
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you.
A
Well
said
here
here:
well:
if
we
we
may
have
some
more
counselors
join
us.
I
will
note
that
counselor
braden
has
submitted
a
letter
which
I
will
briefly
read.
It's
just
two
sentences
long
dear
chair
o'malley.
I
regret
that
I
will
not
be
able
to
be
in
attendance
at
today's
committee
on
environment,
resiliency
and
parks
hearing
on
docket
1013
regarding
a
grant
to
be
used
for
ada
accessibility
improvements
at
malcolm
x
park.
I
look
forward
to
reviewing
the
committee
report.
I
ask
that
you
please
submit
this
letter
into
the
committee
record.
A
It
is
hereby
submitted.
Thank
you.
Councillor
braden
and
again
we
may
have
more
counselors
join
us,
but
we
will
get
started.
So,
although
the
floor
is
yours,
if
you
had
any
presentation,
please
feel
free
to
give
it
and
I'm
sure
our
counselor
flynn
and
I
may
have
some
questions.
So
thank
you
for
joining
us.
C
Great
thank
you,
mr
chair
and
councillor
flynn.
I
wanted
to
give
a
little
brief
presentation.
Let's
see,
do
I
have
yes,
I
have
screen
sharing,
so
let
me
get
to
the.
C
Material
here,
so
I
have
six
slides
in
this
deck.
This
first
slide
here
well
before
I
launch
into
this.
I
just
want
to
say
that
this
grant
is
for
750
000
for
a
project
that
overall
will
cost
over
4.5
million
dollars.
So
you
know
it
all.
You
know
it's
not
bearing
the
biggest
share,
but
it
certainly
is
contributes
to
helping
us.
You
know
make
this
a
more
complete
and
full
renewal
of
the
park
so.
C
We
wanted
to
go
over
this
existing
conditions
and
you
know
talk
about
not
only
the
what
are
deemed
as
whatever
deficiencies,
but
also
the
opportunities
and
as
counselor
flynn
mentioned,
it's
a
really
great
park.
It's
you
know
it
was
called
washington
park.
C
Originally,
I
think
pretty
much
most
of
the
vegetated
section
you
see
in
the
upper
kind
of
two-thirds
that
was
more
or
less
the
original
washington
park,
the
lower
third,
where
you
see
most
of
the
you
know
the
courts
in
the
play
area
that
was
added
in
the
20th
century
through
the
urban
renewal
project.
You
know
under
the
bra
ages,
as
well
as
the
field,
that's
in
the
upper
left
corner.
C
So
what
we
you
know,
as
I
mentioned
this
original
park-
has
beautiful
views
not
only
out
to
various
parts
of
the
city
like
downtown,
but
also
within
the
park.
Besides
the
vegetation
itself,
the
outcroppings
of
roxbury
pudding
stone
are
very
attractive
and,
as
most
bostonians
know,
roxbury
pudding
stone
is
unique
to
this
area.
In
other
words,
nowhere
else
on
earth
will
you
find
roxbury
pudding
stone
except
the
boston
metropolitan
area?
C
The
as
I
mentioned,
the
mature
you
know,
tree
canopy
is
a
definitely
an
asset,
particularly
given
heat
island
concerns
with
climate
change,
and
but
one
thing
that
wanted
to
start
to
mention
is
how,
thanks
to
the
eda
law,
you
know
all
of
our
projects
now
have
to
meet
ada
requirements
and
pretty
much
except
for
one
entrance
and
that's
near
the
children's
play
area.
All
the
other
entrances
are
not
ada
accessible.
C
The
features
in
general,
the
courts
especially
are
not
ada
accessible
and
a
lot
of
the
paths
are
not
accessible.
So
the
paths
that
you
see
in
orange,
they're
not
accessible
and
the
arrows
that
you
see
at
entrances
that
are
just
outlines.
Those
are
also
not
accessible
as
well.
So
there's
a
lot
of
ada
issues
with
this
park
and
it
doesn't
just
affect
people
in
wheelchairs,
and
you
know
people.
You
know
mothers
with
strollers
people
with
you
know
the
all
sorts
of
people
with
mobility.
C
Disabilities
have
issues
so
and
yet,
at
the
same
time,
because
it's
an
older
park,
we
wanna
keep
as
much
as
possible
the
fabric
of
it.
And
so
you
know,
thanks
to
creative
designers
and
our
project
managers
like
lauren,
we're
able
to
figure
out
ways
to
maintain
the
original
fabric
and
yet
also
create.
C
You
know
accessible
ways
of
you
know
accessing
the
features.
Let
me
give
you
some
hold
on
pictures
of
what
conditions
currently
look
like
here.
C
C
We'll
also
see
there
are
these
concrete
swales
that
are
not
very
attractive,
and
they
also,
you
know,
are
features
that
are
no
longer
functioning
well,
particularly
when
we
want
to
try
to
retain
stormwater
within
our
parks,
rather
than
sending
it
to
the
storm
sewer
system.
Doing
that
you
know
means
more
burdens
downstream.
C
When
we
have
flooding
issues,
you
know
throughout
the
city,
thanks
to
climate
change.
Other
you
know
features
you
see
the
railing
here,
that's
you
know,
obviously,
in
poor
condition,
bollards
that
are
not
very
attractive.
Obviously,
pavement
that
needs
to
be
repaired.
C
The
the
walls,
however,
the
stone
walls,
you
know
very
attractive
feature
there.
Almost
all
of
them
are
in
very
good
shape,
but
also
oftentimes,
accompanied
by
concrete
walls
that
are,
you
know,
not
don't
fit
in
with
the
naturalistic
character
of
the
park.
I
have
another
set
of
photos
here
same
thing.
Maybe
I
don't
know
lauren.
Can
you
explain
this?
C
What
picture
in
the
middle
here
that,
where
there's
a
a
barrel
trash
barrel
and
then
this
at
a
grade
above
it
an
opening,
and
it
just
looks
like
a
disaster
waiting
to
happen,
I
wha.
D
It
is
yeah,
I'm
happy
to
explain
that
one,
like
aldo
said,
the
grading
and
the
ada
accessibility
of
the
existing
park
is
really
challenging
here.
It
may
not
seem
like
it,
even
though
it
looks
really
hilly.
There's
a
90-foot
grade
change
over
the
entire
park
from
high
point
to
low
point,
so
you
run
into
a
lot
of
issues
like
this
area,
which
is
looking
from
standing
in
the
basketball
court
looking
up
towards
the
roadway,
and
that
is
a
drop
off
a
just
there's
no
railing
that
goes
across.
D
There's
a
drop
off
that
goes
down
to
the
court,
and
one
of
the
things
that
we'll
be
doing
is
that
each
of
the
courts
will
be
accessible
not
only
from
the
park
side,
but
also
the
roadway
side
and
the
new
design
so
aldo.
That's
what
that
is
is
the
great
change
coming
from
the
road
drop
off
into
the
basketball
courts
as
the
current
condition.
C
Right
right-
and
you
know,
the
lower
photos
show
the
playground
area
and,
as
you
can
see,
a
lot
of
concrete
and
you
know
the
use
of
wood
chips
or
wood
fiber,
you
know
nowadays,
we
I
think,
on
all
our
new
play
playgrounds
we
put
in
safety,
surfacing
the
rubberized
safety
surfacing
throughout
the
entire
park,
so
we're
going
to
be
improving
this
area,
making
it
more
naturalistic
and
also
fully
not
only
fully
ada
accessible,
but
in
fact,
more
going
beyond
that
to
be
inclusive
as
well.
C
This
is
the
my
current
plan,
meaning
the
plan
that
we
are
hoping
to.
You
know
that
we
will
be
constructing.
You
can
see
the
yellow
dotted
lines
are
all
ada
accessible
pathways.
Some
of
them
will
not.
Some
of
the
pathways
will
be.
You
know
existing
pathways
that
aren't
ada
accessible,
but
otherwise
every
major
feature
the
courts
will
be
accessible
not
only
from
the
street.
There
are
these.
C
You
know
short
little
paths
that
come
from
the
sidewalk
on
martin
luther
king
boulevard
to
the
courts,
they'll
be
accessible
from
there
as
well
as
within
the
park.
C
The
children's
play
area
will
be
accessible
as
well,
and
you
know
we're
going
to
be
installing
a
new
amphitheater
near
the
school
building.
Nearby
that'll
be
usable
for
class
outdoor
classrooms,
as
well
as
for
any
kind
of
special
event
in
the
park.
D
Elder
if
I
could
just
jump
in
really
quickly
on
those
few
paths
that
are
not
ada
accessible,
I
just
want
to
note
that,
based
on
ada
regulations,
there's
a
percentage
of
pathways
and
entrances
that
are
required
within
a
facility
to
be
ada
accessible
and
even
with
those
few
that
we
weren't
able
to
make
ada
accessible.
We
are
far
far
exceeding
the
percentages
that
are
required
and
the
only
way
that
those
ones
could
be
made
ada
accessible
would
be
to
remove
that
historic
pudding,
stone
and
the
historic
walls
that
are
surrounding
them.
D
C
Great
great
and
just
one
more
thing:
I
there
are
these
gathering
areas,
you'll
see
just
above
the
one
of
the
tennis
courts,
where
they're
going
to
be
picnic,
areas,
etc.
These
gathering
areas,
you
know,
are
new
and
they'll,
be
you
know
much
more
functional
than
what
was
there
before,
which
was
a
kind
of
what's
the
word
you
used,
lauren.
D
C
Right,
I
think
yeah
the
it
had
that
x
configuration
very
much
like
brophy
park
in
east
austin.
My
recollection
of
brophy
park
is
that
it's
also
on
a
steep
slope
too
here
we're
making
this
now
a
bit
more
functional
and
more
accessible
as
well.
C
C
You
know,
and
really
you
can't
get
there
from
here.
Even
the
little
bit
of
blue
you
see
here,
is
you
can't
get
there
by
a
an
accessible
path
to
that
area?
Same
thing
with
the
kenneth
courts?
The
only
recreational
feature
you
can
access
is
the
you
know
playground
itself.
C
Otherwise
all
these
entrances
are
not
accessible
and
and
basically
the
park
is,
you
know,
limited
accessibility.
As
a
result.
C
Now
then,
in
the
proposed
accessibility,
the
we've
basically
gone
from
a
majority
of
paths
inaccessible
to
now
a
majority
of
paths
that
are
accessible
while
at
the
same
time
retaining
a
lot
of
the
historic
fabric.
As
lauren
was
mentioning,
the
basketball
courts
are
now
accessible.
The
tennis
courts
are
the
playground
gathering
areas
and
that
are
new
at
gathering
areas
on
either
end
of
the
athletic
field
area.
Those
are
going
to
be
accessible
as
well.
C
The
entrances
are
accessible
and
lauren,
as
I
understand
that
that
that
entrance
in
the
middle
between
the
two
endpoints
on
dale
street,
that's
also
going
to
be
accessible
too
correct.
C
Okay,
great
great
now
we're
going
to
switch
to
a
different.
Can,
let's
see
okay,
so
let
me
I
think
I
have
to
ask
for
a
different
screen.
Okay,.
D
C
So
this
is
basically
some
text
going
over
a
certain
amount
of
what
I've
already
described.
How
the
majority
of
the
paths
now
will
be
ada
accessible
entrances
will
be
accessible,
the
children's
play
lot
will
be
inclusive
and
well.
One
thing
that
you
know
is
really
amazing
to
me:
is
that,
because
of
the
topography,
you
know
they're
able
to
make
for
wheelchair
access,
not
only
on
the
lower
levels
of
the
prey
structure,
but
also
the
upper
levels
as
well.
So
that's
that's
pretty
impressive.
C
So
now
a
child
in
a
wheelchair
can,
you
know,
be
higher
in
those
higher
up
levels
of
the
play
area
as
well,
which
I
know
you
know,
kids
usually
enjoy
being
at
that
that
level
as
well
again,
basketball
and
tennis
will
be
you
know,
accessible
entrances,
concrete
squares
will
be
removed.
C
The
storm
water
will
be
handled
in
two
ways.
One
under
the
you
know
the
big
sports
field,
there's
going
to
be
an
infiltration
system
and
it's
going
to
be
sourced
both
by
the
field
and
the
park
uphill
of
a
field
for
the
park,
part
of
the
park
downhill
on
the
field,
vegetated
swales
will
connect
to
mantles
and
catch
basins
that
will
infiltrate
into
the
soil
in
in
the
park
itself.
C
Regarding
trees.
Here,
the
we're
gonna
have
a
net
gain
of
41
trees.
85
are
going
to
be
added.
44,
however,
are
going
to
be
removed.
All
have
been
approved
by
the
city's
tree
warden.
There
are
obvi
they're,
either
invasive
species
or
they're
dead
and
dying
and
impose
you
know
hazards
because
of
the
dead
wood.
C
One
healthy
tree
is
being
removed
for
one
of
the
ada,
accessible
paths,
and
so
overall
there'll
be
a
net
positive
in
terms
of
adding
trees
and
existing
trees
will
be
pruned
for
tree
health
and
longevity,
and
that's
not
an
afterthought
to
keep
you
know
these
existing
trees.
Some
of
them,
you
know
pretty
pretty
good
sized
trees,
keeping
that
canopy
as
healthy
as
possible.
C
You
know
is
a
you
know:
a
strategy
for
cooling
and
carbon
sequestration
as
well.
Landscape
wise.
As
I
mentioned,
all
the
existing
stonewalls
will
remain.
C
Most
of
the
existing
pads
are
going
to
remain
as
well,
but
some
are
going
to
be
realigned
for
ada
accessibility,
putting
stone,
ock
proppings
will
remain
with
interpretive
signage
and
invasive
vegetation
is
going
to
be
cleared
out
for
safety's
sake
and
landscape
improvement.
So
basically
it's
going
to
be
a
more
what's
called
a
park-like
landscape.
Where
you
see
you
know
the
tree
canopy
and
you
see
lawn,
but
the
what's
called
the
understory
layer
is
not
going
to
be
available
because
of
safety
concerns,
public
safety,
primarily
for
shade
and
heat
mitigation.
C
We
have
various
measures.
The
field
is
going
to
have
a
shaded
dugout,
the
main
basketball
court
will
have
a
shaded
bench.
Picnic
tables
will
be
shaded,
we're
gonna,
add
five
more
drinking
fountains.
These,
I
think,
are
the
the
the
water
bottle.
Fillers,
that's
right,
and
then
water
play
you
know
is
gonna.
Have
safety
surfacing
as
well
and
provide
a
you
know
a
critical
cooling
element?
So
that's
that's
about
all
I
have
at
this
point.
A
Well,
thank
you
very
much,
although
that
was
a
very
thorough
overview
and
a
very
exciting
overview
with
that,
I'm
I'm
I'm
feeling
wistful.
I
remember
when
I
did
the
hearing
order
for
installing
water
filling
stations
in
our
parks
and
playgrounds.
It
seemed
as
it
was
such
a
new
idea,
and
now
it's
obviously
part
of
all
the
specs
and
it's
great
to
see
five
of
them
included
here
and
and
lauren.
Similarly,
thank
you
for
your
leadership.
A
I
mean
this
is.
This
is
absolutely
exciting.
This
is
a
home
run
all
around.
I
know
that
park
well,
my
my
mother
and
sister
both
taught
at
the
higginson
lewis
school.
I
know
it
was
well
used
by
the
students
so
and-
and
I
know
that
there
have
been-
and
I'm
sure
are
now-
students
who
use
wheelchairs
who
attend
that
school
so
to
be
able
to
make
a
more
inclusive
space
for
kids
to
play
is
kids
of
all
ages
is
just
tremendous,
so
you
know
I'm
so
glad
you're
keeping
the
stone
walls.
A
I
think
they're
so
important
and
beautiful,
but
I'm
also
glad
that
you're,
adding
more
of
that
porous
rubber
surface
that
you're,
making
it
obviously
more
accessible
that
you're
planting
new
trees.
This
is
clearly
something
that
we're
all
really
really
excited
about.
So
I
I
don't
have
any
questions.
My
statement
is,
I'm
so
excited
to
put
this
before
the
entire
council,
as
I
will
do
on
wednesday,
god
willing.
A
The
only
reason
I
wouldn't
is,
if
there's
some,
you
know
technical
change,
but
I
will
intend
on
pulling
this
for
a
vote
on
wednesday
and
then
it
should
act.
The
money
should
be
accessed
thereafter,
although
if
you
could
get
michelle
goldberg
a
copy
of
those
bullet
points,
specifically,
okay
really
really
helpful,
just
as
we
sort
of
draft
our
committee
report,
but
I'm
just
very
excited.
What's
I
guess
my
only
question
is
you
know,
provided
we
vote
on
this
and
I
anticipate
it
will
be
unanimous
on
wednesday.
A
What
phase
are
we
in
the
renovation?
I
know
it's
about
a
six
and
a
half
million
dollar
renovation.
What's
when's
when's
the
big
ribbon,
cutting
going
to
be
where
I,
as
a
private
citizen,
can
come
and
bring
my
daughter
to
hopefully
play
on
this
playground?
Do
we
have
any
idea
what
the
when
this
will
all
be
completed?.
C
D
Okay,
so
the
design
is
100
complete.
We
bid
the
project
in
august
and
are
currently
working
on
the
bid
review,
we're
hoping
that
we
will
be
able
to
award
the
contract
within
the
coming
month
or
so.
D
The
plan
is
to
start
construction
in
the
spring
and
then
it
would
be
approximately
a
year's
worth
of
construction
just
because
it
is
quite
a
substantial
project,
and
I
just
wanted
to
double
check
on
a
couple
of
quick
things
just
to
throw
out
there
for
the
budget
is
actually
a
7.7
million
dollar
estimate
for
the
park
and
then
the
other
thing
I
just
wanted
to
clarify
from
the
bullet
points
aldo
is
the
rubber
surfacing
is
going
to
be
on
the
playground,
but
the
water
play
is
actually
on
a
hard
surface,
which
is
our
standard
for
park.
D
B
D
A
Okay-
and
so
we
think
you
know,
barring
any
any
sort
of
unforeseen
delays
which
may
happen
we'd
be
looking
at
the
summer
of
2023,
where
there
will
be
a
lovely
ribbon,
cutting
and
we'll
be
able
to
access
this,
and
your
keep
you
had
mentioned.
I
think
this
is
an
olmstead
designs
park
and
you're
gonna,
for
the
most
part
keep
the
pathways
as
they
are
recognizing.
A
There
may
be
some
changes
for
ada
compliance
which,
in
my
opinion,
as
a
historian,
is
more
important
to
have
ada
compliance
than
you
know,
then
keeping
them
perfectly
historically
accurate.
So
it
sounds
like
you're
doing
the
best
to
both
satisfy
both
of
those
goals,
which
is
important.
I'm
excited.
I
think
this
is
great
great
work
all
around,
and
this
is
going
to
be
a
wonderful
addition
to
our
city.
So
that's
all
I
have
counselor
flynn
any
questions,
thoughts,
concerns.
B
Thank
you,
councilman
councillor,
o'malley
and
just
to
say
thank
you
to
aldo
and
to
and
to
lauren
for
your
presentations
and
as
the
vice
chair
of
the
civil
rights
committee.
I
spend
most
of
my
time
on
that
committee
working
on
how
we
can
improve
city
services
for
persons
with
disabilities
and
what
you're
doing
here
is
exactly
that:
you're
giving
young
children
the
opportunity
to
also
play
and
have
some
fun
in
the
playground
and
enjoy
it
and
be
with
their
friends
and
be
with
their
family.
B
So
you
know,
just
as
a
city
resident
you
know,
makes
me
so
proud
to
see
parks
like
this
parks
across
the
city
making
improvements
for
for
our
children
with
disabilities.
So
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
not
just
from
me,
but
really
from
the
residents
of
boston,
who
really
really
know
the
importance
of
making
sure
that
our
parks
are
accessible
to
young
kids,
persons
with
disabilities.
So
thank
you,
lauren.
Thank
you.
Aldo.
A
Thank
you,
councillor,
flynn.
Well
said
I
don't
see
any
other
counselors.
I
don't
believe
we
have
any
individuals
signed
up
for.
Oh
there
are
two
attendants.
Oh
no,
that's
ep.
Would
michelle?
Is
there
any
members
of
the?
Are
there
any
members
of
the
public
who
had
signed
up
to
testify
sign.
D
A
No
signups,
I
believe,
great
okay.
Well,
I
don't
know
lauren
aldo.
Are
there
any
concluding
remarks
before
I
gavel
this
hearing
out.
D
A
D
I'm
really
excited
about
the
project
too,
and
and
counselor
finn.
Thank
you
for
the
comments
about
the
ada
compliance
with
everything,
because
we
are
trying
to
go
above
and
beyond
that,
and
I
know
we've
met
with
commissioner
makash
from
the
disability,
commission
and
she's
really
excited
about
it
as
well.
So.
A
That's
great
well,
this
is
you
know.
I
wish
we
had
more
hearings
like
this,
because
this
is
just
wonderful
news.
All
around
keep
up
the
great
work
laura
and
keep
up
the
great
work
eldo.
We
will.
You
know
on
behalf
of
counselor
flynn
and
myself.
We're
gonna
pull
urge
all
colleagues
to
vote
in
support
of
docket
1013
on
wednesday.
A
I
would
suggest
you
will
have
a
very
favorable
vote
on
wednesday
and
just
keep
up
the
great
work
we
look
forward
to
being
at
the
ribbon
cutting
in
a
couple
years,
so
seeing
no
more
opportunities
for
testimony.
Docket
1013
and
the
committee
on
the
environment,
sustainability
and
parks
is
hereby
adjourned.
Thank
you.
Everybody.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.