Waveney Conservancy presents $2.5–3M schematic to reduce Merritt Parkway noise along Waveney trail

The Waveney Park Conservancy presented a schematic redesign on Sept. 10 for a roughly 2,800-foot segment of the trail that runs adjacent to the Merritt Parkway, proposing to move the path inward, elevate and extend earthen berms, reinforce with stone walls in constrained sections and add native plantings to reduce noise and sightlines from the highway.

Veil Verdon, chair of the Waveney Park Conservancy, said the design grew from a multi-year review and a tree and wetlands inventory intended to preserve the landscape’s historic Olmsted character: “We went through a 2 year process...we think it will really remediate a lot of the issues along that trail. We think it will be transformational,” Verdon said.

The consultant, Heritage (Peirce) Landscapes, described the key moves: raise and extend two existing earthen berms, shift the trail inward by as much as 180–200 feet where feasible, and use rusticated stone walls and native understory plantings in narrow locations. Peter Gabriel of Heritage Landscapes explained the proposal to bring the trail inward: “We're looking at bringing in a 180 to 200 foot, but a 200 foot width of landscape is something we can stay. We can plant more heavily on the South Border to help...mitigate the sound.”

Why it matters: the trail segment is within a nationally registered Olmsted-influenced landscape and is heavily used. The Conservancy said the redesign aims to reduce highway noise, improve trail experience and attend to failing drainage and trail infrastructure while remaining sensitive to historic landscape character.

Costs, staging and next steps: the Conservancy provided a preliminary order-of-magnitude estimate of $2.5–3 million and said the work would be staged in four sections. If the project proceeds, organizers said construction drawings would be prepared this winter, costing refined, and the Conservancy would return to relevant town committees next fall for budgeting and approvals, with a potential late-spring 2027 construction start. The Conservancy described a funding plan using its reserves, grant applications, a capital campaign and prior allocations the town has set aside.

Constraints and questions: presenters noted tight space between the highway right-of-way and wetlands, which limits options and may require a limited length of fencing (about 300+ feet) to protect certain edges. Commissioners asked about construction staging and alternative trail routing during work; presenters said Phase 1 could be constructed while other trail sections remain open.

Ending: commissioners were asked to provide early feedback; no formal town vote occurred—presenters sought to socialize the plan with town departments and committees before returning with construction drawings and refined costs.