Meeting Notes

Chestnut Hill Reservation – Pedestrian Pathway Renovation

Schematic Design Presentation and Discussion

April 19, 2007 – 7:00-9:30 P.M. at Brighton Marine Health Ctr.

Attending Meeting: Ethel Wong, Tony Horne, Dan O’Donnell, P. Diannd, Ben Ross, Eva Webster, Gavin Flanagan, Jeanne Levesque, Shawn Cayley, T. Keady, Steve Vartones, Rep. Kevin Honan, Abigail Furey, Lance Campbell, Louis Shuster;

Kevin Hollenbeck, Ruth Helfeld – DCR; Gary Claiborne, Pressley Associates

R. Helfeld, DCR Project Manager - brief summary of Resource Management Planning (RMP) Process; Phase I implementation of Priority Projects, as identified in the RMP include removal of the 1929 fence, hazard tree pruning and removal, stone wall repair, and pedestrian pathways. The fence will be removed by DCR and volunteers, the tree work by a certified arborist under contract to DCR, and the stone wall repair will be contracted to a stone mason qualified to work on historic masonry walls.

K. Hollenbeck, DCR District Manager – DCR is working on public participation avenues, and will start a notes page on the Department’s Chestnut Hill web site to keep the public informed of events, updates, volunteer opportunities, construction schedules, etc. He will investigate the possibility of some way to edit incoming comments, and send them out, or post them.

Some discussion of trees: removed and dead trees will be replaced.

G. Clayborne, Landscape Architect – Presents Schematic Design via Power Point presentation.

Current issues: the Reservation path, which goes the whole way around the Reservoir is 75% stone dust. The path has an inconsistent width, with poor grass shoulders. Along Beacon street the path acts effectively as a sidewalk, and needs to be plow-able. Along St. Thomas More Rd. (STMR) gravel and dirt path is worn; it is lower than the curb, and gets muddy. A sidewalk is needed along this road (it could be stone dust). There are lights and trees in the path alignment, so the layout will need to be looked at. JL notes that the sidewalk would be used by everyone, not just BC students. KHollenbeck –this would get plowed, so a hard surface is better. A dual path (as mentioned in the RMP) along Beacon Street is proposed, to have both a plow-able bituminous sidewalk, but a stone dust path preferred by runners. Much discussion here on the best widths and alignment. It was agreed that DCR will study widening the surfaces to 6’ and 6’ (bituminous/stone dust) or even 8’/6’, depending on how much room is available.

GC noted: The topographic survey is not yet completed, and it will reveal needed detail about drainage issues.

GC presented idea of closing off straight, steeper connection from Comm. Ave. to inner path, and replacing it with gentler, accessible cross-sloping path. The accessible route would be along this gentle path, along the inner path for a stretch, then up between Gate House 1 and the Reilly Rink toward Beacon Street. Much discussion on this; DCR agreed that the direct connection can be left open (though it needs some repair), in addition to the new gentler path. Proposal to remove existing bituminous loop path on top of the hill behind Reilly rink met with opposition; it was agreed that there is no need to remove it, but instead, the new cross-sloped path will connect to this loop, as well, to provide another walking option. Many people enjoy this spot. The wooded area under-story needs to be thinned and cleaned up. EW offers to organize volunteers to help with this. KHollenbeck – we’ll talk about this. KHollenbeck also notes that one of the next steps will be to design a logical, improved parking area at the rink, once the pathway is designed.

Much discussion on the intersection of STMR and Chestnut Hill Drive (CHD): whether the existing benches should remain, or be moved, in favor of opening up a lawn area suitable for passive recreation. Many people feel these benches are well-used. This will be studied further.

Discussion of sidewalk on south side of CHD: the north side has a paved sidewalk; the south side is currently a dirt path from 1977, and is depressed, and in poor shape. Proposal is to pave it; some people voiced a desire for stone dust, and others for plow-able bituminous. Discussion of possible materials: rubber, bituminous, bituminous with a rolled-stone surface, which gives a softer, more gravel-like appearance, but which can be plowed. Several people voiced opinion that the rolled-stone surface will also match the stone dust better, especially at the dual path, and be more attractive generally. GC noted this is more expensive than plain bituminous. Proposal to pave the path where it runs between the retaining wall and fence, as it heads down hill. KHollenbeck notes that paving this increases options for ADA access, which is a goal DCR always strives for. KH also notes the need to keep the fence, as the slope drops thirty feet there, and when MWRA workers were doing work on the slope, they had to wear safety harnesses; that the pointed fence deters people from climbing over.

A woodland path to go from the south side of CHD, winding down the steep slope to the inner path, is proposed to be dirt –to keep a natural woodland appearance.

Gateways: GC showed concept of small DCR pendant sign with some plantings, to identify entry points to the Reservation. KHollenbeck noted that these will be labeled with letters (e.g., Gate A) for purposes of police and fire dept. access, as well as public use (e.g., “I’ll meet you at Gate B”). Some gateways will also have the major Reservation rules posted. GC notes that vehicle access as needed for emergencies will be coordinated with pedestrian paths; one method is to construct a strong structural base even if the surface is stone dust or grass, which would be able to withstand a limited number of vehicle trips.

KHollenbeck - Along Beacon St., the fence will not be removed until vehicle access is controlled.

Meeting attendees requested to gather at Reservation plan mounted on a board, and put pins in locations where they would like to see a bench. It was agreed that a site meeting would be set up to determine bench locations more precisely. Bench type (“Shurcliff” model) shown –it is the kind of bench DCR uses at the Esplanade in Boston .