Mayor Scott Galvin reports a great turnout for the grand opening of Fleming Field Park, at the site of the former Clapp School on Arlington Road overlooking Horn Pond.
Many thanks to Rory Lindstrom and Bryan Nagle of the Woburn Recreation Department, along with our Recreation Commissioners, as well as Engineering, Planning, DPW, Parks, Police, Fire, City Council and School Committee, and all of our city departments and employees for their critical support and hard work in helping to bring this fantastic panoramic public park on the shores of Horn Pond to completion (and under budget) so everyone can enjoy it.
The park was designed by CBA Landscape Architects, with the design including input from neighbors and the public, following a series of meetings. MJ Cataldo was the Landscape contractor for this project, funded in part by a $300,000 Land and Water Conservation federal grant, received in part because of the innovative rain garden features that help clean water runoff before it hits the street.
Here’s a roundup of the new park’s features:
Fleming Field Playground Structures –
· Smart Cube Play Structure – This play structure was designed to engage toddlers and young children with 14 play activities that are geared to suit and challenge their developmental abilities and needs.
· Venti Smart Play Structure – With over 20 different activities, this structure is designed for children between 5 – 12 years of age. It offers challenges that foster their strategic thinking and physical development.
· Swing Set – With two bucket seat swings for young children, two strap seat swings for older children and a dish swing for multiple children and disabled children. The swing set caters to children of all ages and offers a relaxing experience that builds their coordination and strength.
· All of the play equipment is accessible to children with disabilities and provides stimulating play opportunities to all, including those with limited mobility.
· Additional features found in the playground include two painted hopscotch boards, picnic benches under shade trees, multiple bench locations and a water fountain with bottle filler.
Multi-Use Basketball Court- The 50′ x 84′ High School size Basketball Court has a durable two- toned painted surface delineating both keys and the center circle from the surrounding court. In addition to the basketball boundary lines, there are boundary lines for two pickle ball courts.
Splash Pad – A button activated series of water jets with different spray patterns turn on and off in sequence offering a fun cooling experience to children on a hot day.
Scenic Overlook – The circular Overlook looking across Horn Pond has an interpretative sign that provides the history of the Site and the City, the different uses of Horn Pond and the former Middlesex Canal. The sign has a QR code that links to the City’s website which provides additional information regarding the history of Horn Pond and Clapp Park.
Open Lawn Area – There is a large flat irrigated lawn area that lends itself to pick-up sports games such as soccer and frisbee or to informal play and other passive activities like kite flying.
Additional Park Amenities – The park also includes seating areas, bike parking, drinking fountains with bottle fillers, path lighting, trash and recycling receptacles, shade trees and flowering shrub plantings, a parking lot with rain garden and pedestrian entries from Hudson Street and Arlington Road.
Hillside Rain Gardens – There is a series of three interconnected rain gardens designed to receive runoff from the splash pad and the upper lawn area and paths. The rain gardens and surrounding landscape feature native wetland and meadow plant species. They step down an existing hill and are interwoven by an accessible serpentine walking path with seating areas. The rain gardens handle water runoff in an environmentally friendly way while also providing a relaxing user experience among the native flora of Massachusetts.
