Conservation Commission approves Sullivan Park plan

  Last Wednesday, the Conservation Commission approved a notice of intent for a major upgrade to Sullivan Park. The public hearing on the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) park at Revere Beach Boulevard and Revere Street was continued from December.

  During Wednesday’s meeting, landscape architect Skyler Chick of Shadley Associates addressed some of the issues that were raised at the December meeting. “The proposal is to rehabilitate an existing park that is sorely underutilized; it has compacted soil, and it lacks vegetation,” said Chick. “The DCR is planning a pretty major investment in this park to upgrade the walkways, amenities, site furnishings, and there will be a significant amount of plantings and stormwater improvements.”

  The park is bound by Revere Beach Boulevard on the east, Revere Street to the south, a National Grid parcel and Diamond Creek to the west and a recently completed six-story residential development at 320 Revere Beach Blvd. to the north. Currently, there is a baseball field at the park that is underutilized, and plans for the upgraded park include bocce courts, a water feature like a splash pad, and a paved concrete plaza with tree pits, benches and game tables.

  Chick said the project now has a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) file number, which it did not have in December. There were also some issues with some references in the operations and maintenance manual for the park. “The references to the city of Revere have been updated to the DCR, so Revere does not have any maintenance obligations at Sullivan Park,” said Chick. “There was also a question about the use of a diverter for the water feature. We discussed that with the DCR, and that has been included in the project.”

  There will also be signage in the park regarding dog walking and dog waste. “The DCR has reviewed that, and they are including park regulation signage, and there will be a condition on that that will say something to the effect that dogs must be leashed at all times and owners shall remove all pet waste,” said Chick. “In addition to that, the project does include waste receptacles, so they will be around the site so people will have an opportunity to dispose of their bags in the waste receptacles.” The DCR will be responsible for maintaining and emptying the trash barrels.

  Conservation Commission Chair John Shue said Chick addressed all the issues that were raised during the December meeting. “I think it’s a great project,” he said.