Boston City TV, MA City of Boston Parks Department, 26 May 2021

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From YouTube: Edna Bynoe Playground Design Meeting May 26, 2021

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Edna Bynoe Playground Design Meeting May 26, 2021

A

A

Go ahead, um I'm the project manager for the improvements to edna bono playground, and um I want to start by saying that I am so excited to be working on this project because she was such an incredible lady, an incredible community activist.

A

It's an honor to be part of this effort to continue her vision and contribute to the neighborhood. I also want to thank everybody for their time tonight. We know that your time is valuable and we appreciate your sharing it with us.

A

So I'm going to run through the introductory information and then hand it over to our design consultants.

A

So what we're going to do is have the presentation and then have um question and answer at the end. So in order to do that, just raise your hand.

A

You know click on ray's hand and if you have questions that you want to ask during the presentation we'll address them at the end, but you can click on q and a so. If you're joining by phone, you can hit pre star 9 to raise your hand and star six to unmute or mute.

A

um We're going to introduce the team um I'll do the project interview and then our design consultants will do the presentation and all together, we'll do the listening and discussion and the closing remarks and next steps. But what the purpose of this meeting is is to hear what you have to say about the playground and what your sense is of the opportunities and issues and what you'd like to see stay the same and what you'd like to see change.

A

So, as I said, I'm the project manager and I can be your main contact and any information that you give me I'll pass along christine brandeo is with us she's the outreach coordinator for parks and she's managing the meeting jay shawn gant is with the office of neighborhood services and was kind enough to help me reach out to the appropriate people about these meetings.

A

And then our design team is bsc. Group and ricardo ostrich is the um ricardo. I'm not sure what to call you.

B

You just call me the manager of landscape architecture. Okay, how about that.

A

Michael cluckman is the project manager, project, landscape, architect and he's going to be doing the bulk of the presentation yeah that works so we're going to have three community meetings. um As I said this first one is really a listening session.

A

We'll have a second one over the summer where we'll show design alternatives and then in the fall we'll have the third and final meeting showing the preferred design and that preferred design might take elements of any of the alternatives and sort of mash them up.

A

Then, over the fall and winter we'll put together the construction documents after finalizing the design and we're hoping to bid in the winter and then start construction in the spring with a summer, 2022 anticipated opening. So I know it's painful to lose the playground over the summer.

A

We need to keep the site secure, because construction sites aren't safe, but that also gives us even more incentive to make sure that what we wind up is worth that that interruption.

A

So when the um when we think about how to design these parks and playgrounds, we think about the city of boston initiatives. We think about safety guidelines which is really important to us in environmental regulations.

A

We think about the parks and recreation department, goals and community input, and you put all of those things together and that should lead to a long, lasting and effective park design.

A

So the city overall initiatives are access for all ages and abilities, equity, climate, resiliency, health and building community.

A

The parks and recreation department goals are to make the parks and playgrounds accessible and available to all, to provide diverse, balanced, balanced and efficient mixes of uses to perform meaningful and inclusive community engagement, to create adaptive and resilient landscapes and promote connections.

A

So I'm going to hand it over to michael at this point and then we'll get back together for the listening and discussion.

C

Thank you annie. um It's michael dutchman um project manager, landscape architect for the bsc group and um just wanted to locate everybody to um the number one playground as part of the larger orchard park and sort of walk through the proximity to other parks and community spaces. So um it's it's an important playground um in that there are there's a clifford playground, some some uh distance away in the ramsey park up to the north, but it's this playground does serve a a significant um area. Neighborhood, um that's that's!

C

Beyond the the playground in the area at the current school, we did also want to point out the the portrait garden school in the same area as well as the boys and club squirrel as other community spaces.

C

Now, to sort of get closer to our site, um there's a a view from above of the the playground um and the site conditions. So here we are between dubois street adam street and keegan street, um the tennis courts, basketball courts and the sports fields all of orchard park and school is off to the left.

C

So our project is concentrated in the colored area, primarily around the existing playground, water and sand play areas, but also our site does take into consideration the walkways around the existing playground and some of the green spaces as well. So you know, as we develop design options and see how far our budget can go, we may decide we want to rearrange a little bit of how this end of the overall part works, but in general this is.

C

This: is our area around the existing playground that we're looking at we've noted that there's um the main entrance near the existing playground and sand plain water feature areas off of adam street, but there's also a major park entrance at the corner of the boys in adams street. We come into the corner of the park and either go on to some of the the sports fields in other areas, or you know it's adjacent passive area next to the playground that we're going to look at.

C

And again, this this meeting is being said is to listen to understand um how the park is used. Now, what's working, what's not working well, we just wanted to put some pictures up here. We can come back to them later when we're having a discussion but just noted different things. Here's the upper left corner is the existing uh climbing structure um at the playground. It's you know it's it's seen its time.

C

um This is the entrance that would come off of adams street um to the right is that entrance. I was talking off of adams and dubois the corner there. Looking back at the playground in the distance bottom left is the existing water play area with the two water features again, who have seen better days and the bottom right is the existing uh swing swing areas uh with the the toddler swings and the swings for for older children and the loose um fiber surfacing mixed with some of the resilient surfacing.

C

Again these these are details, but we're looking at things like what's under the current swings and how this is put together right now, you have a combination of the resilient servicing, the rubberized surfacing right under the swings and then the fiber surfacing.

C

So when a new playground gets renovated and redone in boston and if you've seen other playgrounds with them recently, it's all a consistent, um smooth uh resilient surfacing, so we no longer have these loose fibers here. In addition, you know some of the slopes here. You'll see um the ideas that we want to play on that's universally accessible, so anything would be a barrier to moving through the space.

C

We would eliminate a new design. um Similarly, there's the condition the similar condition, the bottom existing slide. There's some safety issues. There needs to be a distance in a new. You know when you build a new slide to any obstruction, so we would make sure there's enough distance at the end of a slide. So there's no issue with safety.

C

um We made this curve or fence.

C

In addition or thinking about how the playground may change. We do want to note that right now the existing playground, one of the things that's nice about it- is it's visible from in the playground to the streets around and from the streets. So there's good visibility and safety all around the playground and don't preserve that aspect and then we're also looking at again, we talked about some of the open areas that are not currently playground in a traditional sense, but are these open grass areas?

C

We do see values in that they can they're great unprogrammed space where children can run and climb and play around on natural grass or surfaces that aren't specific equipment, and um you want to preserve that as well.

C

Some more details, the the existing sandplace structure, the shade the the idea of having shade within the playground, uh something we want to find out. If that's desirable, you know, it seems, seems worth considering the sandplay itself. um We've been told is not something that the city will continue, mostly for health and safety and sanitary reasons. It's just not not feasible to maintain something in a safe condition for sham play so that that feature will be discontinued.

C

um There is a you know, there's a thought in a budget for um replacing and improving the existing water play, because we know that's usually a very popular um feature. We can show you some options very soon about what that might look like, and we just know you know the system drinking fountain, it's uh something we may work around preserve or you know, definitely have a feature for providing drinking water.

C

So again tonight is about listening. You know if there's playgrounds, you know of that, you like we want to hear about it, features you want. um You know, ideas is what we really want. So we put images up here, not not to tell you. This is what you're getting what you have to like, but you know exactly you have to choose tonight, it's more just to show you different ideas of what what could be. But again it's just.

C

You know if there's something here that you like we'd like to hear about it, um but again it's just just to sort of spark ideas on this first slide.

C

This combination of pictures most have to do with climbing um sliding- or you know in this case on the upper left- is the idea of more natural, looking mounds for climbing running around and either grass, or in this case this is a artificial grass hill in washington square park in new york city, primarily because over time these get a lot of wear so visually it blends into the surrounding green area of the park, but it allows a sort of safe, durable surface that doesn't get compacted and worn away. um So it's an option.

C

This slide has to do with water play um one. One thing that the city has found very successful is: is water jets that come from on the ground, so there's not a lot of above ground things that can get damaged or you know it's easier to maintain, but um where the jets are, how high they are and how they're orchestrated to go on and off, there's something that can be custom designed and and thought about, so that you know, there's, there's fun and unexpected water coming up at different times how the water gets turned on.

C

There's options, there's things that can be stepped on, or in this case in the bottom left. What you're seeing is an activator. So it's not actually a water feature, but it's a button that um a children or an adult can start to start the sequence of of the jets opening up and closing um on a day like today. This this seems like a great a great thing, as we think about a hot summer.

C

And finally, this this slide again for inspiration is about things that move. So we have our traditional swings in the upper right similar to what's there now uh thing about swings is for safety. They require a large area around each swing, so they take up a lot of area for swing.

C

um So there are some beyond the traditional swings. There's some other options, we're showing on the top in the bottom left here.

C

um So the idea is that some of these swings can accommodate more than one uh rider or one child at a time, but also some of these designs are very unique in that, because they're low wide swing platforms that don't have obstructions they are accessible, so somebody who's disabled in a wheelchair can come over and then they with can be transferred onto um a swing such as this one, the bottom left or the um top left, and so it provides a accessible option for somebody who's disabled to use as well.

C

So there's a lot they're very flexible. In that way, and again I was talking about the space they use up because you can have more than one rider.

C

You get a lot more children enjoying a smaller area. So you can, you know, pack other features into your playground.

C

Also on this slide are um things that spin that are not not a huge scale, so there um can be for different age groups and then things that swing back and forth or bounce. You know not the traditional seesaw, but something like that. The only thing I want to mention is that the other thing we'll look at in the new park design, I mean there's not an example.

C

Is that there's the idea that we want to provide areas for different age groups, typically um an area of two to f for two to five year olds, that's scaled to appropriately for that age group and then other features that are more appropriate from ages. Maybe say five to twelve, so one you don't have the bigger kids, maybe knocking over little kids, but also even the equipment is, is scaled for for their um their sizes and abilities.

C

um So that's an overview again we're looking for for ideas and I'm gonna, I think hand it over to like to annie and christine to um start the discussion.

A

Thanks, michael um christine, did we get any comments during the presentation? No.

D

Oh actually, one just popped up. um Josie said the structures look attractive, colorful um able to be used. Men used made a number of kids um by a number of kids. Unless someone she meant to say um at one time, yes by many by many number of kids at one time for a range of age groups, water play area um with safe ground sensor um and sensor for water play.

A

And dulce you're the dean of students at um orchard gardens right. I.

D

Can unmute her okay dulce? If you want to unmute yourself, you can speak.

E

Okay, the whole time I was like this is a weird zoom. I've never seen it's a webinar.

D

Style so um you can see us, but we can't see you. I would.

E

D

Able to mute you yeah.

E

Okay, I'm sorry! Yes, I am the dean of students at orchard gardens, but I also live about a couple of blocks away from there, so I actually live in the community and work at og. So um I love that I'm on to this, and those pictures got me really excited because we don't even use that structure that the playground that much and it's sad because there's something there's such a big, huge space there and it's not used and it just doesn't look attractive. You know um and I'll tell you I'm from the neighborhood.

E

You hardly see kids in there there's another thing: it's either like a sports team using it for something, but it I think if it looked inviting like I'll, be honest with you, my children go to school in brookline, so here we are going to lars anderson park or using their campus, which is on acres of beautiful outdoor grass and there's really not much there, but it just it's beautiful. You know it feels beautiful, so I think being attractive and welcoming is going to be one key thing um for it.

E

um I think that would definitely um bring the people in kids. Are definitely in the neighborhood. I can tell you that so it's it's, it's kind of sad that you don't use it.

A

You'll say where: where do the kids play so.

E

We have a small playground on our like campus and we have a just like a paved area that has nothing that we either do four square in place, so the kids technically don't go there, and I don't know really why you know. I know we could probably. I know we've used it in the past for like field days and different special occasions.

E

Maybe if you put permission slips to hold their class there, but I don't know sometimes it's just. What are they going to do? The park is way far down from us, so you know where the play structure is is kind of far from us. um One thing I was thinking too is like I think it's so big. It would be nice if it had like a walking path that you know, people in the neighborhood could just stroll as an exercise.

E

I'm sorry, I'm one of those people that you're gonna hear a lot from me because I'm one of those like I'm not going anywhere else, I'm staying right in my neighborhood and I'm like. I need those things here for us and for our kids. So it's kind of hard like the park right beside mason school clifford park. They just fix that up, which is nice, because you don't want to go there and look through wood chips before you.

E

Let your kids go play it's better when it's a safe, clean, tarp, that's safe and you could just look and see if it's clean and everything. So I think now that it looks a little more safer and more attractive. People will use it, um but yeah.

A

Yeah I work at 1010 mass f, so I absolutely hear what you're saying about clifford um and we are so glad to have your thoughts and comments um because you're a double whammy being a resident and involved in the schools. So that's terrific and we we welcome what you have to say. Yes,.

E

All right so like for me, I was thinking of something, but I wasn't sure like how to ask, like our kindergarten class has designed a playground before of things that they would like in a playground. I was.

F

E

I should think of like, should I share that with them just of thinking of those things, because it's true like you, don't get to get your input or you go other places and see nice things like. Oh, I wish we had that, um so I like that. We're actually doing this because it would be nice to make that more attractive in a place that we could use.

E

A

Would I would welcome getting the um design that the kindergarteners did before and where are your kids in brookline? They go to the park school.

D

A

Okay, okay, so that is a really great playground and also the playground at lars anderson is older, but that was renovated at um a number of years ago to make it accessible.

A

I came to boston a year and a half ago from brookline, so if there are things that you see in brookline parks that you think would be helpful here and popular, that would be great. Okay,.

B

Awesome, okay, is it I I've got a question, so I I love that idea of that. Your kids designed a playground yeah. You should definitely share it with us, because I think it's, I think kids always have such a freedom of expression, and that can that's such an inspiration.

B

You know as as as part designers for us to see that, because that that can really kind of really fi fuel our imagination. I really like what you said about making it inviting is. Is it is right now? Is it not I'm? I am I'm curious about because I I you know, I live in boston and roslindale, but I'm curious about like do you think it's because it's not it's not attracting kids, because there's no there's no water play right now or what do you think.

E

I definitely think the water play would be a big thing. I think that would be a a good hit for it. I think the other thing is that the structures are everything is like one solid, color kinda, you know it just all blends in it doesn't stand out like when you look at that lime, green and you see the netted thing you're like. Oh, let me try that it looks like your traditional, like I had to put a park here and I just gave you the bare minimum. You know what I mean.

E

I think it needs to have that as you in one of the slides that was shown, there's like a slide, but also a climbing feature that you can see. Many other kids can take turn and you don't have to like wait your turn or stay back. I think of it on a dean perspective too. As an educator, you wanted to welcome a group of kids and not make it limited to. I can only let three kids play here right now. They already do everything that way. You know so that one makes it more freely.

E

The thing being bigger it, it just looks more welcoming the green grass. That's another thing I feel like there there's a. There is a lot of shaded area, but the green grass. It's like not purposeful. If there was a walking trail that you can, you know get on like for me. I can't take away recess from the kids, but I'd be like okay, we're gonna, walk and we're gonna observe what the other kids are doing and tell me what's different from what you're doing so to me.

E

That's a walking thing, but if I had a walking trail that'd be nice, I see a lot of people walking with their dogs or cutting off if there was a little area for dogs like I'm not trying to be rude. When I make this comment right now, but I am I was born and raised in this neighborhood, like my grandfather, owned the two brownstones on dudley and adam street like way back in the 80s like I am an orchard park kid and I live behind st patrick's church. Currently, that's where my dad's lived.

E

My whole life but methadone miles effects come up. This way you see it in there like, I have to clean the I have to go check the yard, if there's needles or clothing or stuff like that, when, if the gates were a little higher, um you know it was lit different, that people didn't have a place to be secluded and it was lit properly.

E

That would make parents feel more comfortable like I would feel more comfortable. Taking my kids there, like I hate that I leave my neighborhood because I'm like at lars anderson, they don't do that they won't even let their this wouldn't even happen in their dog park. You know, so that's the kind of thing where I feel like we need to set that standard too, and I mean to keep the park safe. It's nothing big.

E

As asking for a detail, you know it's, it's simple as that we have a school police, but I think if it looked inviting more people would use it in and have it like. The things that kids really want like today, water play would be amazing, like if I could have had my teachers like make a permission slip today we were gonna. Go to the water fountain.

E

I would love that so like yeah, if it's safe, that I know that they can go play there, they're not going to get hurt the ground is that soft thing like I go to a park by the um museum of science, it's across the street cambridge college had a campus there, but they have like this water plate, that's by sensor, so it senses when the kids are on it and then it starts pushing water but the floors soft. They have like these spinning things that you can stand on.

E

It's all very open and safe, and I mean at least 25 kids can be on that thing with no problem, so something like that would be nice. Yes,.

E

And I have someone, that's just mama and me.

D

I can also open it up for the rest of the group to ask questions. um Yeah sure. Don't have that many.

B

Oh, my god, look at that. Yes,.

D

Mute themselves they can.

B

uh What you said was, I think, really resonates with me. I think part of the reason I think michael mentioned is you know the the sand thing we want to. We want to get. We want to eliminate that, because that is a real hazard with needles and stuff, but definitely getting rid of that is is really important.

G

H

Hello yeah, yes hi. This is lisa hall. um I am president of the gardens resident association along with val shelly. Unfortunately, val was not able to get on the call tonight. She was having an issue with the zoom, but we want to make sure that we are part of um you know. We give our input on the design and how the park looks and um how everything is going to work out. So I do have that on the phone with me currently, so she wanted to just say: she's.

H

Sorry, she couldn't make it, but we definitely want to be a part of um you know. The redesigning of the park can.

B

She she can call in um christina. Do you wanna? She can call in too to participate in the zone. Yeah.

D

B

Wanna give her that number yeah.

D

I can um lisa, are you ready to take down the number.

H

E, um do you have a pen I can.

D

F

Eight six, five, six, three, six, five, six and.

D

Then the id number she needs to put in is eight two seven.

H

You ready for the id number.

F

Eight two: seven, eight, two, seven yeah, seven, seven.

D

Zero zero four five.

H

Zero zero, four five, okay, okay, I'm gonna, hang up! You can call it okay, all right so she's going to call in.

B

And hopefully, hopefully she got all those numbers. Yeah that'd be great, because I think the more input we can get to make this really kind of a real feature. It's terrific that you know you have fair and you want people to use it, but want them to feel safe and it's a great location.

H

Exactly um if the park is well overdue for a makeover, um I know they did the tennis court portion, and I know that we they play a lot of baseball on the opposite side closer to the school in that field area, but our kids are not getting um reaping. The benefits of you know needs to really be fixed and that's the you know the park itself, so um this is excellent. This is great, I'm so excited about it.

B

Well, I'm a worthwhile because, given the warm weather, we're really happy that you guys are all like excited to be on the call, because sometimes it's hard to focus.

H

I've been listening to you guys, I just um actually. I was the one typing in to let you guys know that you know that saw that yeah. It says eric, but it's actually, though,.

D

Russell actually had a a comment. um He said. I like the design and green space. The developmentally appropriate equipment, of course, is very important. The water park will be a draw for sure, also limiting space for adults to congregate as a plus, if possible,.

H

B

I

B

Russell yeah: can you elaborate on that a little more, please yeah, so.

I

Let's say you know, I'm I'm close with dusay lisa, val, um good everyone, the boys and girls club there, hey guys so uh yeah. So it's just you know the the idea of the park is great, something that we've wanted in the community for years.

I

It's just you know, there's there's always that chance that there's places where adults will congregate when the kids aren't there anymore or when their kids are there. um So it's more you know my my. um I always think about safety. First, so just places where adults wouldn't be able to you know um do things that they shouldn't be doing. I guess or stay overnight or you know, leave.

I

Remnants of things that you know, kids don't need to be seeing um just just you know, um you know you know, so I guess kind of less like benches or adults um anytime. There's there's not a shade, there's going to be people there regardless, but I'm just thinking about overnight and then we want to use the park in the morning, and you know we always do sweeps, but just kind of limiting the possibility of how adults could congregate there.

I

Hopefully that makes sense to you guys. Oh.

B

It makes a lot. You know it makes it's a huge amount of sense. um You know, I think that that's it's a real issue. I mean, I think you know I think, you've just uh you've. You've expressed it really. Well, you know, that's a total sense and I was just thinking. Do we like put little mini benches? So, like adults can't you know, I mean sort of we'll have to think of creative ways of because you always think about when you're a playground designer it's like like a mom or dad watching their child play.

B

But then I this is great to hear that. Well, the back side of that is that there's folks, then, when mom or dad and the kids are gone, it's nighttime, you know they use everything. You know it can be used for other things that are are inappropriate for that space. Yeah.

I

You know a um something that just popped in my head would be. You know smaller benches. You know, instead of a bench, that's maybe six feet long, maybe something that's right, three feet that can fit. Maybe a father and son there. You know um just I think.

A

There's a lot of variety in sight: furniture now that there didn't used to be- and we've learned, some things about psych furniture that can discourage people from sleeping just if you do want a longer bench and you put an arm rest in the middle of it. It makes it pretty impossible to sleep on it. It also that middle that middle arm rest makes it easier for older folks or folks who aren't as mobile to lift themselves up off the bench.

A

I've used individual seats, you know two seats and a pair with a with an occasional table in between. So there's um there's a lot of variety that we can look at and we'll be interested in getting your feedback on that. I will say that I've gone by any number of times during the day during work hours and um I'd be reluctant to go in a number of those times because of adults hanging out.

D

Jeffrey has his hand up. I'm gonna jeffy. You kind of mute yourself.

J

Yeah good evening, everybody um jeff final, um it's my mother's park. um I work I work at I work with russ. I work at the yorkie club of roxbury, but I but I do a foundation a program in my mother's name and I do programs down in her park.

J

I do basketball, baseball flag football for the kids in the community.

J

I've been doing it for years and um I believe, like safety, is the biggest issue um I haven't done it in a while, because I've gotten older and I got married with children, but um safety is the biggest issue down there and keeping keeping the place clean because I know when I did my basketball, baseball and black football program being the coaches would come in there and clean before we played- and you know, check the ground and stuff like that.

J

I think lighting would be great at night because I know um a couple of the younger. My younger boys are trying to do what I've done now they could. So. I can't come.

A

Down there now.

J

But they always talk about 7 30, it's always 30, but they go down in the morning. um It's great it's well over to so because I know my eyes are fighting for this. It is I'm getting that part big step. The park, playground, basketball, court baseball field, everything to get fixed up, and it's just a blessing to see that this is finally coming from. Thank you.

B

Well, it's a real honor to have you on the call. um Thank you.

B

For um and I think that we've, this is great information for us to have in terms of the safety concerns and the cleanliness and the unappealing to adults and really focused on children. I mean, I think we could definitely have some. That's given me some ideas and I think the design team with annie in with michael.

A

So I think that the more kids we get in there, the fewer um sort of stray adults will get in there.

D

F

D

Has her hand up guys? Oh well,.

G

Yes, I apologize I couldn't, except for some reason I couldn't connect myself to the zoom. I am not kept savvy.

D

You joined us now.

B

You're here now you you remembered all the numbers. I would have not been able to figure that out.

G

No, I wrote them down. Believe me, I wrote them down, but um I just want to say my name is valerie shelley, I'm the president of the board here at orchard gardens. I am also edna vinyl sister we both were raised in archer clock um edna was the one that got that development um changed um to orchard gardens, which I now reside and been residing here. Since the change of since the change has been made, I've been fighting to get our park done.

G

They did do the basketball court over finally, um but we're still having problems with finding needles in our park.

G

um We have a little water uh faucet that they've the homeless are now washing themselves um and now we're having what I call uh uh interlopers and I call them gang members because that's what they are they're, the ones that bring habits to our communities are starting to hang in there um at night.

G

um As a matter of fact, I just did a notice to the residents to make sure they call 9911 when they see these things, and not just call me um my concern with the park is that our kids do use it, but it's it's an awful park. It's awful um and- and I ride around the city- and I see the parks that have been done, and I said when I when, when are we next I've been fighting to get this done for the last 10 years?

G

I'm glad we're finally on on board with this, but I'm going to make sure that we, the residents, have a say on what is brought to our top, what it would look like and how it would service our youth and our seniors.

G

So we have to also look out for the seniors who like to sit at the bench: crochet watch the kids or just sit out and get some fresh air. um So that's my thoughts on that and I appreciate the city finally coming through, um and could someone tell me when this exactly would happen?

G

How long does anybody know.

A

I should know that, but I haven't been at the department long enough to know the history behind it. I think that part of it might have been a lack of staffing.

A

um You know I feel very lucky to have this job. I was in my former job for a long time, but I you know. Of course I live in boston and I want to be helping my city and I want to be helping neighborhoods, where it's really going to make a difference, and I wish I could tell you more about the history of why it took so long, but we're on our way now.

A

So it's it's exciting and also val. I wanted to thank you for mentioning the gangs, so we'll make sure that in the colors that we choose for the play equipment and the site furniture that um we don't use any of the gang colors.

G

Yes, yes, um also, if you notice what our houses look like and to make sure that we didn't have bricks seems like our houses are yellow all bright colors. So we wanted.

J

G

The look of orchard park to orchard gardens and we want to keep that. Let's keep that up. It's.

A

Very inviting all the.

G

Residents all the residents that stayed in part to make this community better for us.

A

G

Now we did meet with city folks um from park to recreation. About eight years ago. They came out, did a walk through the park with us um and promised that we would get it done.

G

Then I guess you all had some changes in personnel, because I know how the turnover is not just for the city but other places, um but I kept pushing and pushing, but I'm glad we're finally coming to and and as soon as you could find out when this actually would take place, it would be helpful for us, so we can get residents involved.

B

Oh, you got the schedule. Do you wanna now you're on the phone, but is it michael? Does it work makes sense to flip back to the calendar? So we could tell you that verbally and just the folks from the zoom call could see it again, because it's a pretty fast turnaround is that right, annie.

A

It is, you know, one alternative might be val because I have your email address. I could I could we're recording the zoom and I could send you this.

G

That would be helpful. That would definitely be helpful and I can play it for my board too.

A

G

Can also that would.

A

Be that would be fantastic.

B

Yeah, I think that that would be great. No, I think this is. um I mean I'm just really impressed by the the folks who are on the call, and your input is really really important. The gang thing I mean I, I get the methadone mile, I get the adults, I get the needles. The gang thing is that like they're there every night or what sort they use it for meetings or what? What do you think's got? What.

G

Well, we'll see the game thing. It varies. um They move from area to area when, when the security comes around, they move from one one side, one part of the development to the other um they've been using keegan because that's so awesome the point as one of their viewpoints we're meeting with boston police and our security force to come up with a plan to um try to knock that in the bud.

G

uh We did have a police officer from b2 out here last night that stabbed for about an hour and watch the activity, so they were able to take down lights and plates and stuff. So we're working on that aspect.

G

um I also send a notice out to residents that's going out with our newsletter to make sure they call 9-1-1 um when they see things and and our security when they see things. We have security on from two from six in the evening to two in the morning, but that's only two guys in there for the whole development, which has we have 331 units wow throughout this whole development. So it's not just like the park in that area. We have a there's a lot of grounds to cover.

C

Can I ask um that, for the security thing's really important, I mean making a beautiful playground is, is the the fun part we know we can do that on the security?

C

Are there I mean I'm thinking holistically um security cameras in the device.

G

Yes, we do have cameras throughout way out throughout the development.

C

And in the park, annie is boston, have um a program of security cameras in in parks, because I know I've worked in other parks.

G

That would be the city, we don't we don't. We don't um put um cameras in the park. We can't do that, but we do have cameras on space in our housing. Michael.

D

That's something you would have to. We would have to work with um the police department to try to put up cameras, yeah.

C

I just I don't know if this program is.

D

Through the police department.

C

Yeah, it's just it's a you know, and the other question I have is in you know: people who see what how it's being used, especially for the the you, know, the the people that are not using it as a playground or a park um right now. There's that low fence, which is around the playground, features and then there's you know the equipment and then there's you know the area between the courts and things.

C

Do I'm just wondering if the fact that there's a little fence there is, do they stay out of the playground or they just actually hang out on the equipment? No.

G

They're not they're, not actually in the playground they're in the the baseball field on the bleachers area on.

C

The basketball.

G

Basketball court.

C

Yeah outside the house, or even.

G

The tennis court area, okay,.

C

G

Not actually in our park the little park where the kids play.

C

Okay, because that's that I mean that, like we.

G

Talked about that's what we're finding that's when we're finding the homeless people sleep overnight, um they're sleeping on the benches yeah yeah or even let me tell you, they had tents in our park um and we had to cut down the bushes. We had um the city cut down the bushes that were in the park because they had tents around there.

G

E

I know like at orchard garden school. We actually had to get taller fences all around the school, so they're not on our property, and that has helped tremendously because, like now they're in our parking lot, where we park, but okay, that's better than where the kids are. But I feel like there has been measures that have lessened that, and I feel also that there's walking beats like there's certain things that can be done to keep it safe, like through regular city, things that are already happening. That will be helpful.

E

um I think making like entrance just uh not accessible to like a whole cart that you can wheel like a shopping, cart in you know and stuff like that. It has to be designed that it's only letting like a stroller or maybe a wheelchair, the most to come through, but not for people to be wailing. These big things that they they're carrying their whole belongings with to find a place to be secluded.

E

I think the location of how the park is on the perimeter outside and in the street way that doesn't let people be there, but um I think there's been some measures that have really helped.

G

Yeah- and I also think that, once this playground got the most, the more our residents use the park and more people out, I think that would deter from those folks hanging in the park. Also, we need to take our park and our communities back.

I

Yes, I agree with that. Yes,.

G

Yeah, you know once once it is safe for them to go out. There you'll find that people will start using that part I mean we have right now. Softball has started a baseball and they're out there every week and sundays uh weeknights sad days. I think there's two or three games that go on and um this we haven't had any problems. Thank god.

G

So, when it's being used, they they're not there.

G

So that's what I want to see. I want to see our products being used by our residents and we will keep up that with raft.

A

Yeah you're, absolutely right that positive activities drive out negative activities and also what you just said is an indicator to me that I should take a look at the park when it's dark out and see what lighting is is already there.

G

Well, I know they did add lighting like on the tennis court, the basketball court, um the baseball court, but I'm not sure how much lighting is in that playground area and that back area. That leads into the playground like from the boys and from that end,.

A

And I would think that what we'd want to do is if we do need to add additional lighting is take the tree cover into account and also make sure that we're not shining lights in the adjacent houses.

G

Yes, exactly exactly.

B

So so valerie, if you can, I just want to get I'm sure. I got my facts straight you're saying that um basically, the security detail that you guys have from orchard gardens is in at night from like 9 00 a.m, to 6, 9 p.m, to 6 a.m. Or what, when do you.

G

No, no, no! No! It's it's 6 p.m. To 2 a.m.

B

Six: okay, it's from 6 p.m, to 2 a.m, and then okay, that's what I wanted and then did you say valerie that um that the the the problem with the riffraff or the gang you don't see that you don't see homeless.

B

You see homeless in the playground area, where you get the kind of riffraff is up by the tennis courts right. Is that what you're saying yeah.

G

Mostly the homeless we find now like are on ziegler street and um hasn't have where they're coming from dudley, yeah, so there's a little park on winslow and zigler street that they use, and then they use our porches.

G

I mean you'd be surprised how many residents have to call to get them off our porches that run along ziggler and harrison app.

B

And this is the method on mile folks.

G

Mess it on mile or whatever you want to call them, there's a double, I'm not sure they left on my and the dudley mile is the same thing.

B

Okay, the deadly mile right because I yeah okay right right: uh okay,.

G

uh Because you.

B

Have a mixture of both and to me it sounds like if I'm gonna be just to talk about like the different sort of folks. It's like you, get the methadone mile dudley mile folks, and then you get the gangs and those are two different yeah different groups yeah, it's kind of like okay. How do we not invite out of those people to come in here.

J

B

Okay, this is this is very. This is good. um I like the lighting idea like the security camera idea, uh I'm I'm I'm actually not too far tonight. I can't do it, but I'm gonna swing by at night and take a look at that uh annie because I can or if you and I want to come out. You know I'll draw I'll pick you up in the south end and we could drive out and just cruise around in my car that'd be great yeah, I'm happy to do that.

B

Okay, scope, it out, so we'll just set up a time sometime I mean now, of course it's like till nine o'clock at night. So it's not. I mean, and the other thing I have a question for you, folks is: um is it like? Is winter time? Worse is summertime fall? Is there like.

G

Let me tell you the worst time: the worst time is, this time right now from the spring, through the fall. This is the worst time. Oh.

B

Okay, why do you think that is.

G

Because they're out they're out and in the wintertime we see them but they're in their cars and they're, not hanging.

J

Out but they're.

G

Still gold, they don't want to get older. You kidding.

I

And the gang members generally come out.

G

So they and in the wintertime they stay in, they mostly stay in their cars or they drive into our little um parking lots. Not up top, not the big parking lots. The parking lots beside the houses, some houses have individual parking like for two cars.

J

G

If there's an empty unit, they seem to know where to empty units on and they'll use, that space and and then they drive up and down our streets double park. You'll see them coming through security that we, um our security, actually, the guy that leads our security, actually watches. The cameras done today he's not even on so. We have. We have footage that we send and we send in to boston, police and the drug units to show them, um so they have license plate cards.

G

They have pictures of the guys and most of the boston police know who these people are. Most of them have been locked up now, they're out and that's another problem. We had a big bust about five to six years ago, and most of them were locked up and the last 18 months. They have been releasing them and of course, we gotta have a new crew too. So we got the new crew and the old pool, um but um that's just about the brunt of it.

B

And and it's the gangs, the guys in the gangs are in the cars in the summertime. They come out they're, not in the cars, because the homeless, basically don't have cars right. No.

G

They don't have no, no, the homelessness, no but homeless. The homeless people to me are not they're they're a problem but they're not a safety problem as far as guns, because we have they thought I'm nothing on wood and be knocking on my head in a minute that.

I

G

Haven't had any students down here, you notice throughout the city's been a lot of shooting, but oh yeah.

B

G

Been lucky and we're trying to keep that down by keeping them out of here, because what these gang members do they put themselves on facebook, so everybody knows where they are so then you have these drive-by shootings and that's throughout the city right right.

B

So that's yeah! No, this is this is now valerie. This is very helpful. um uh Would we lose russell? Did russell go away? Maybe he had to go away. Okay,.

D

Yeah we lost him.

B

Okay, um now this is this is really. This is valuable. um Thank you, for you know, and it's just the right people to kind of speak up.

G

Oh, you have to worry about being, not speaking up. I won't shut.

B

Up, well, you know, don't worry, I'm not shy either.

B

Oh yeah, my unfortunately, my colleagues like, oh god, it's ricardo again, you know.

G

Well, I'm hoping my input is helpful and I'm definitely we definitely want to be a part of this.

B

Yeah, no, I guess and well that no that's terrific. I think this is this is really terrific. This is great, is I've got a question is zoom capri. I know you had a hard time tonight is zoom generally yeah.

G

No, no, I don't usually have a problem, but when I went on to the zoom and I said to join, I went to join and then it said you are not an honor. This is for authorizing and then I tried to sign in they said sign in with your email.

G

I tried to sign in again and it wouldn't let me in yeah.

D

Like I said, you said that yeah um val, I'm not sure why I did that, because the way I set it up, like I told you in the email exchange, I set it up to have no restrictions so I'll. Look into that again to make sure it doesn't happen for the next meeting, um but I really am- I'm really don't know why it happened this time.

G

Yeah but but it didn't happen with lisa I and I'm wondering, is because I was late signing on that shouldn't be a problem.

D

G

I would think, but.

D

Yeah, you would think I don't yeah, I'm not sure, but well, hopefully, next time it doesn't happen that way for the next.

G

Meeting yeah- oh definitely that means if I have to sit with lisa, I have to sit with lisa. She won't mind.

F

I could come as long as you're.

G

There lisa is the tech queen of portugal.

H

I can come to you the next time, if need be down.

G

So when is our next meeting? Is that scheduled, yeah.

A

It's not scheduled yet, but oh okay,.

B

We gotta get to work see. This is just a meet and greet, and this is the social hour now we gotta get oh okay. We gotta we gotta, get busy.

G

Okay, well, anytime, you need our input with we're. Welcome and you are welcome to come to um meet at our office. We're all been vaccinated. The whole board has been vaccinated, so you all had our key shot.

B

So is this: are you is this that your office is at uh orchard, gardens where's your office yeah at.

G

25 ambrose 25., the old, the old old dam school buildings. Oh.

B

Is that the boys, the old dearborn, is that the boys club? No, that.

G

No across them there's across from the news, the new school you see like an old school building that that was the dearborn. When I went there, oh yeah.

B

Beautiful building an old brick building.

G

Yeah, but it is, it is, and that's where a lot of our seniors and handicapped live.

B

Oh okay, all right so.

G

Yeah, our offices in that building, along with the management office.

B

Okay, let me look yeah, okay, so that's and that's 25. What was the name of the ambush ambrose.

G

A-M-B-R-O-S-E and we're on the second floor second floor got it now, we're not there every day, so you need to let us know when you're coming, so we will be there excellent or yeah, but this board this board is not a paid boy. We all go to volunteers.

B

No yeah, no, I know so.

G

We're not on nine to five we're on as needed.

I

G

I

G

Our community is needed so we're there available all the time. Great.

G

J

A

Well, does anybody have anything else.

H

No we're excited that this is happening.

G

I just want to thank you guys, and I appreciate you all finally, coming to orchard yeah.

A

G

We can do to help swing this. Please count us in.

A

We will, we will lead on you yeah.

C

And we're we're excited to have you as partners. This is.

B

Great, I I love this. I mean you like. The energy is just awesome because we thought oh who's. Gonna show up tonight is anybody. I was like. Oh my god. I hope somebody shows up, because I'm sick of looking at michael all day long.

J

B

Really sick of me.

A

I want to thank you all so much for your.