Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Engineering plan for Clear Pond Park proposes new snack building, ADA upgrades, parking and drainage fixes
Summary
Zenith Engineering presented a plan to reorganize Clear Pond Park with 104 parking spaces, ADA seating areas at fields, a proposed 30x50 multi‑use building, drainage basins to reduce persistent field flooding, replacement of an undersized culvert and a 2,500‑gallon tight tank for utilities.
Zenith Engineering presented its site and technical plans for park improvements to the Parks Commission on March 12, emphasizing parking organization, accessibility upgrades and a multi‑tier drainage solution intended to fix chronically wet fields.
Jamie of Zenith Engineering said the layout calls for 104 parking spaces (including five accessible spaces and four van‑accessible stalls) and a gravel paving delineation with curb stops to create durable parking stalls. "We're proposing that for delineations here," Jamie told the commission while describing a buried paving block approach to keep stall markers visible through plowing and grading.
The plan proposes a new 30‑by‑50‑foot building to house a snack shack, bathrooms and storage; Jamie noted the dimensions were a placeholder pending structural design but said the location blends the existing snack‑shack and old building footprints. Commissioners raised operational and code questions about a proposed cul‑de‑sac and emergency vehicle access; Jamie said the design meets state NFPA door‑backup distances but he would consult Fire Chief O'Brien on operational preferences.
Field upgrades: Engineers proposed major rehabilitation of Field 3—now wet and largely unusable—including regrading to a 200‑foot outfield suitable for USA Softball tournament play, new dugouts, bleacher/seat planning and a potential lighting scheme. Jamie estimated that completing the field repairs could cost on the order of $150,000 (the figure the engineer cited as a target for delivering six playable fields), though no formal bid package was presented at the meeting.
Drainage and utilities: The plan relies on a two‑tier drainage approach—reducing the contributing area routed to the problem field, installing a detention basin sized to drain within the 72‑hour standard, and replacing an undersized culvert that currently causes brief flooding near dugouts. Jamie said the culvert replacement moves from an 18‑inch to a 24‑inch pipe and that the basin will include an outlet configuration to avoid long‑term standing water. For onsite sanitary needs the team reported poor soils and board‑of‑health testing that point to a tight tank solution; the plan includes a 2,500‑gallon monolithic tight tank with alarm, pump‑out service and the potential to use the existing well for irrigation and toilet flushing pending health‑department approval.
Accessibility and play space: The engineer described ADA sitting areas close to each field and walkways to separate pedestrians from travel lanes. Commissioners raised playground location and safety tradeoffs—proximity to fields improves sightlines but increases exposure to foul balls, which would require fencing and safety surfacing. Jamie acknowledged high equipment costs for modern playground installs and said the plan left playground design deliberately flexible pending budget and grant availability.
Next steps: Jamie said he would finalize permit‑grade plans and submit to conservation and (if required) planning board review, with a plan to file by the end of next week. Commissioners asked staff to continue conversations about grant sources, phasing for lights and tournament readiness, and to coordinate with public safety on access and egress.
