St. Mark’s Park (and street) project back on track

Above: Construction will hopefully begin this fall to convert the area that was dug up next to the Library and Old Burial Ground two years ago from a weedy mess into a small park. (photo by Beth Melo, image from 10/19/23 Select Board meeting.)

In fall 2021, residents were up in arms over a park and road project suddenly in progress that most didn’t know was coming. Two years later, officials are rejoicing that the project that put them at odds with vocal critics is finally close to completion.

The redirected St Mark’s Road intersection is already in use. And yesterday, the Select Board approved entering a contract for landscaping of the (still-to-be-named) “pocket park” next to the Southborough Library.

Here’s an update on a recent roadblock, the project status, and Select Board reactions. (For readers unfamiliar with the contstruction project, scroll to the bottom for context.)*

Below are photos I took this morning of the area that was the subject of the land swap between the Town and private school:

On October 10th, the Select Board was updated that the new intersection that had been under construction was paved and open for use. All that was still needed was one final paving coat and striping. 

Yesterday morning, Town Administrator Mark Purple told the board he hoped the “notice to proceed on the work” to landscape the park can be completed by early next week.

In recent months, the outcome for the park was much less certain.

In March, Annual Town Meeting approved the Town completing the land swap with St. Mark’s School and finishing the park. They also approved using $250K to complete the park, the same amount that had originally been granted by the state for the public space (and spent on drainage infrastructure).

In the spring, the St. Mark’s Street Park Working Group finalized its design to be included in the RFP. But this summer, the Town hit a roadblock to completion when the first round of bids came back over budget. On August 8th, Purple told the Select Board that the only landscapers that bid on the park and stonewall construction came in with bids of $392K and $496K. 

Purple went over the RFP with new DPW Superintendent William Cundiff. He said Cundiff suggested costs could be reduced by having the engineer make changes to some of “the infrastructure pieces, not the aesthetic pieces that the committee had worked very hard on”. Between that and the time of year, he hoped they would have better results this fall.

A second RFP was issued, with bids due last week. In a meeting yesterday morning, Chair Andrew Dennington referred to the new round as “dramatically more successful” than the initial round.

The board approved a $236,340 bid that included an “alternate bid” for a stonewall to be installed along the perimeter of the new park. The intent of the Working Group was for the stones to be reused from the original stonewall that was taken down on St. Mark’s Street during construction.

According to Purple, the plan shows the wall will be “between the two pathways coming off St. Mark’s Street”.

Members referred to past Planning Board instructions that the board needed to mitigate the destruction of the wall and removal of Public Shade Trees on St. Mark’s Street. (The work was done without getting approval from the Planning Board on the Scenic Road as required by law.) Kathy Cook said the approved plans would “check the box” on what the board needs to do.

Cook also opined that the new wall would be a clear improvement over “the 100 feet that was I guess there before if you want to call what was there a wall.” Member Marguerite Landry, who was Chair of the park working group, agreed “It was a mess, it really was.”

Cook noted that the Town willl need to keep an eye on the funds to make sure it stays on budget. The $250K budget should also be used to cover any cost for the Town’s engineering consultant, Greg Russell of VHB. She reminded that part of that budget had already been used on the appraiser required for the land swap.

She followed that since the appraisals were legally required for the land swap to complete the road, the expense could be moved out of the $250K, by “using ARPA or something like that”. (That might draw the ire of some voters, who may view it as the Town spending more on completing the project than Town Meeting voters were told.)

Purple seemed optimistic about staying on budget, noting that the references for the contractor (Belko) indicated that they do nice work with “few change orders”.

The Board was clearly happy for the project to soon be in their rearview mirror.

Purple told the board that when he was informed of the good bid results, the Chair did a little dance. Dennington referred to the project as an emotional rollercoaster. Landry thanked Cook for her speech at Town Meeting, which she believed was very helpful for getting the approval needed.

As for the part of the project that is now the responsibility of St. Mark’s School. . . 

The school’s parking lot for the athletic fields and events is still going through the approval process with hearings run by the Planning Board for Major Site Plan Review and Conservation Commission for a Stormwater Management Permit.  (The image right is a rendering of the plans shared with the Planning Board at a September meeting. There are markings for existing trees and new ones to be planted.)

*In fall 2021, residents were upset when the Town dug up property next to the Library for a park and road project that hadn’t gone to Town Meeting or even a public hearing. There were vocal outcries over felled trees and potential disturbance of indigenous burial sites. There were also concerns raised about authority/process issues and financial waste. The Select Board was reprimanded by voters at Town Meeting (including by Al Hamilton who has since joined the board.) And for a time it seemed that each action that the board took to navigate the issues sparked more controversy. You can read past coverage here.