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Advisory team presses for secondary emergency access amid concerns over DCR land and wetlands
Summary
Designers, police and fire officials told Medford advisory teams that the high‑school site’s constrained single access is the meeting’s most urgent safety problem; the design team is pursuing off‑line talks with the Department of Conservation and Recreation and first responders to identify feasible secondary emergency routes while being sensitive to wetlands and DCR land.
Designers and public‑safety officials at a Medford Public Schools advisory meeting said improving emergency access to the high‑school site is the highest immediate safety priority.
At the meeting, fire and police representatives and the design team described a tight site with a “pinch point” near the pool and limited opportunities for vehicle turnaround. Chief Buckley said the school needs at least two ways in and out so first responders can move assets in and out of the site during an incident. Chief Evans added that a properly maintained emergency access road would also improve DCR and fire department access to the adjacent Fells and could benefit the public at times when the road is not needed for emergencies.
Why it matters: The current single primary entrance and constrained circulation create a safety risk for large emergency vehicles and complicate evacuation or simultaneous emergency responses. Advisory members said the condition also affects daily operations such as event and after‑hours use, so any access solution must reconcile safety, traffic and community functions.
What the design team will do: The design team said it is actively coordinating with police, fire and multiple offices at the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to explore options for a secondary emergency access or improved circulation. Teams are studying alternatives that may involve limited use of adjacent DCR land, but the designers cautioned that land ownership, wetlands, and environmental permitting are constraints. The team stressed an intention to do further technical study—including geotechnical and environmental work—and to hold focused off‑line conversations with DCR staff, the Friends of the Fells and first responders before broader public discussion.
Stakeholder cautions: Several advisory members urged caution about publicizing specific route options too early. Jenny, an advisory member active in community outreach, urged that exploratory concepts be discussed privately with DCR and environmental staff first to avoid premature public controversy. Design staff agreed and proposed follow‑up technical meetings to firm up feasible options before presenting them to the wider community.
Next step: The design team will continue targeted coordination with DCR, police and fire, pursue geotechnical and circulation studies in spring, and return to the advisory group with evaluated options during the next advisory review and at the preferred‑alternative presentation in September.
