~ Letter-to-the-Editor ~ What’s the plan for Roosevelt Park?

Dear City of Malden Leadership,

What is the plan to remove the lead contamination from Roosevelt Park? Earlier this week, Jim Parker from Nangle Associates referred the request for an update to Debbie Burke from the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD). Two weeks ago, Alex Pratt, from OSPCD, responded that the City was waiting for a plan to remove the lead soil at Roosevelt/Salemwood Park from Nangle Associates. If there is a plan, we are requesting that this information be released to the public immediately.

The Roosevelt/Salemwood Park Project was canceled in April 2024. Outreach to the Mayor’s office and OSPCD for updates has resulted in no answers.

The families and staff at the Salemwood School and the Ward 5-1 neighborhood residents deserve an update. While residents and the school community wait for an update, we recently learned that the Ferryway School park is being resod with new natural grass and Phase 2 of Devir Park is underway. This is not the equity the City leadership speaks of.

It is unfathomable how this one park was targeted to be renovated with no community involvement and now it is being left to further deteriorate while lead contamination sits on the ground where children play every day and all other park renovations are underway or complete.

While it is understandable that there is disappointment about the artificial turf field project being canceled, it is time to move on. The funding to get this project underway is available and in place through a city council approval to remove the lead contamination and other funding through the CPC, ARPA, HUD and other funding. The resources have been acquired and available to remove the lead contamination, fix the drainage and resod the park with natural grass.

The Malden Climate Plan has reinforced the need to maintain areas of flood mitigation, reduce areas which create heat islands and preserve our natural green space. In addition, the Mystic River Watershed has released a policy statement on the detrimental effects of artificial turf.

There are many resources available to train and educate crews on how to organically maintain our grass fields and parks. It is imperative to educate our staff in order to maintain all our parks and athletic fields. We have to invest in our parks now and for the future.

This is an open letter which will be shared publicly.

Thank you. We look forward to hearing about an update for removal of contamination, updated drainage and installation of new grass sod at Roosevelt/Salemwood Park.

Roosevelt/Salemwood Park is the perfect example to “lead by example” by using available resources to clean up the lead contamination and to preserve this natural green space for the sake of Climate Resilience and Environmental Justice.

Sincerely yours,

The Friends of Roosevelt Park