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Commission approves Greenwood Pool demolition and new pavilion with conditions on logistics and testing
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Summary
The commission approved demolition of the Greenwood indoor pool and construction of an 80-by-40-foot pavilion, adding conditions for a logistics plan, hazmat testing, dewatering procedures and operations/maintenance responsibilities.
The Gardner Conservation Commission on March 10 approved the demolition of the Greenwood indoor pool building and the construction of a new wooden pavilion and connecting sidewalks, with added standard conditions on logistics and hazardous‑materials handling.
The project — proposed by the city for the Greenwood Pool site at 69 Park Street (Map M20-7-20-50) — was presented by a TimeBond representative, who described demolition of the existing structure and construction of an approximately 80-by-40-foot pavilion, concrete sidewalks connecting to the outdoor pool and new landscaping and fencing.
Why it matters: The site is partially within the 100-foot buffer zone to Crystal Lake, and the commission required the city to supply a construction logistics plan, a hazardous-materials (hazmat) and demolition testing and remediation plan, dewatering procedures and an operations-and-maintenance agreement identifying which department will maintain the new pavilion.
Commission discussion focused on excavation, contamination testing and construction logistics. Commissioner Duncan Burns asked whether all below-grade material would be removed; a public commenter noted groundwater may enter the excavated area and recommended the commission require a pump-and-dewater plan and testing before discharge. The presenter said asbestos testing and other hazmat review were in the project materials and that the city intends to bid demolition publicly.
The commission added conditions requiring:
- A written logistics and site management plan showing material staging, parking, dumpsters (including hazmat containment), dust and wind‑borne containment, and erosion control measures; - Confirmation of asbestos and other hazardous‑materials testing and a dewatering plan that includes frac tanks and tested discharge or off‑site disposal as required by law; - A schedule and a Procore (project-management) timeline to be provided to the commission; and - A confirmed operations-and-maintenance (O&M) plan indicating the party responsible for long‑term upkeep (commission discussion identified DPW as the likely maintainer, to be confirmed in writing).
Commission action: A motion to approve the Greenwood Pool demolition and pavilion, subject to the listed conditions, passed by voice vote.
Next steps: The presenter said demolition and hazmat removal are expected to take less than three months once a contractor is on board and that construction of the pavilion is likely in late spring or early summer after bids and hazard abatement. The commission required delivery of the logistics plan, O&M confirmation and testing documentation before ground‑disturbing work proceeds.
