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Select Board keeps concrete for Harding/Hospital roundabout, cites maintenance and safety concerns
Summary
After residents suggested grassed 'splitter' islands at the new Harding/Hospital roundabout, DPW staff and multiple board members recommended a low‑maintenance hard surface; the contractor has ordered materials, so a mid‑construction change would be a change order. The board also narrowed stamped‑concrete color choices and agreed to finalize the color by email or quick follow‑up.
Medfield Select Board members on June 30 decided to keep the roundabout splitter islands as low‑maintenance hard surfaces rather than grass, citing safety and maintenance limitations.
A resident raised concerns that the islands—small lane dividers leading up to the roundabout—were shown as concrete in the contractor's plan and asked whether they could be grassed or landscaped instead. "Jeremy is suggesting that those splitter islands ... be grass or landscaped in nature versus concrete," staff relayed. Town DPW official Mo explained maintenance constraints: "I'm not going to have someone go into the between the lanes and put a hand mower out there; that's just not going to be safe ... the roadside vegetation mower is a giant tractor with a huge boom flail ... it will cut it up a little rough."
Safety was a central argument: one board member noted proximity to schools and said a hard surface is easier and safer for crossing children and cyclists. "Having a splitter island that has grass on it is going to be harder and potentially more hazardous for a kid on a bike than if it's just a hard surface," the member said.
Staff also told the board that much of the contractor's material had already been ordered, so any change would likely be a change order with little or no cost savings. The board said they preferred a no‑maintenance surface and approved proceeding with the current design.
Members also discussed the stamped‑concrete 'brick' band around the center island and reviewed color samples. Options were narrowed informally to a cool gray or a brick/red tone. Because the board's next meeting schedule made a quick in‑person decision difficult, members agreed to share preferences by email or to have staff collect additional examples for final selection.
The board and staff said they will continue to pursue sidewalk connections (potential Chapter 90 funding and complete‑streets grants) to improve pedestrian access near the roundabout, and they flagged future opportunities to extend sidewalks when funding is available.
