“A Multi-Generational Project”

Town officials tout the state-of-the-art features of a plan to put a street hockey rink and pickleball courts at Anna Parker Playground

By Mark E. Vogler

If everything proceeds as planned, school kids and senior citizens will share the same favorite playground in Saugus. There will be room for both ends of the age spectrum to get their exercise once improvements are completed at the Anna Parker Playground located behind the Essex Street Fire Station. The coming attractions include a street hockey rink that will draw heavy use from the town’s youth and six pickleball courts that will become a destination for people of all ages.

“This makes this sort of a multi-generational project,” Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree said as he outlined the key features of the playground renovation during an informational session Monday night in the second floor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall.

Improvements that are part of the renewal project will include renovations of the existing hard courts, including the addition of sports lighting to accommodate evening play. There will be six pickleball courts and a court for street hockey. The courts will be supported by team benches and shaded areas for spectators. The plans also include a substantially improved picnic area with dedicated tables, benches and shade trees.

The project is estimated to cost up to $1.6 million and is the latest in a series of town-wide recreational upgrades dating back to 2016. Work is scheduled to begin this month with a completion date targeted for early November.

With diagrams of the proposed playground renovation projected across a screen set on the back of the stage, Crabtree and David J. Warner, president of Warner Larson Landscape Architects, explained the project and answered questions about it.

“I think it is very exciting for our residents to see these continued investments made by the town to improve and upgrade our open space and recreational areas,” said Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Jeffrey Cicolini. “This reflects the administration’s continued commitment to investing in quality improvements for our residents to enjoy. Hats off to the town manager and his team along with Town meeting and the finance committee for their continued support of these and other town projects,” Cicolini said.

Kids offered their expertise to the town about how to build the street hockey rink, according to Crabtree. Currently, Saugus youth who want to play street hockey go down to the basketball courts at the Evans School Playground and turn that into a makeshift hockey rink.

Positive feedback from Town Hall

“I am absolutely thrilled about the Anna Parker project,” Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta said.

“This will be a tremendous facility for all ages in Saugus. I am also happy that we are working on the other identified parks and playgrounds in town and can’t wait for those upgrades as well. A big thank you to the Town Manager and all that are involved in making this idea and town priority a reality,” said Panetta.

“These are quality handicap accessible products being presented to the community rather than fixing or putting Band-Aids on older facilities,” Finance Committee Chair Kenneth DePatto said. “This is money well invested for the residents.”

“I couldn’t be prouder of the support of our residents and town officials,” said Crabtree. “We should all celebrate and enjoy these improved town facilities.”

Some concerns expressed

Nobody expressed outright opposition to the Anna Parker Playground project at Monday’s meeting. But at least one Town Meeting member expressed some concerns about the need for more clarity on the project. Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member William Brown, who lives within walking distance of the playground, wanted to know why there wasn’t an actual plan submitted to the Town Meeting, which approved funding for park improvements.

“It’s a playground,” Crabtree responded. “We’re upgrading and modernizing it,” he said.

Brown expressed concerns about the noise of the pickleball games. He also had apprehension about people frequenting the park after dark.

“We’re going to have the same security that protects the town’s investments,” Crabtree said. He noted that there would be security cameras and police monitoring of the park.

“Whatever your concerns are, we are willing to work with you,” he said.

Some residents expressed concerns about the lighting and the parking spaces.

Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Peter Rossetti Jr. said he wonders why the administration is moving too fast on the project. “It just seems odd that one day you announce a project of this scope and then you are going to go out in two weeks to begin it,” Rossetti said.

Rossetti also said he didn’t think that there was enough information on the diagram. “It would just make more sense to show the whole area and abutting streets,” Rossetti said.

“If something like this came before the Board of Appeals, I don’t think I would be prepared to approve it. It just seems incomplete,” he said.

A track record of investing in recreational facilities

Town officials expressed confidence in the project and the town’s overall commitment to improving parks and playgrounds throughout Saugus. “This is a great project and I like to see the continued improvements to our parks and playgrounds over the years,” said Selectman Michael Serino. “Thank you to all in working together to make this happen for Saugus.”

“Parks and playgrounds help bring the quality of life to reality,” Crabtree said.

“Studies consistently show that municipal recreational and outdoor facilities increase the quality of life for its residents,” said Crabtree. “Those studies also cite improvements to community residents’ physical and emotional well-being. I’m both proud and thankful for working together with the Board of Selectmen on these priorities. I thank our residents, Town Meeting members, and the Finance Committee that have consistently supported these town-wide upgrades to Saugus’ recreational assets. I have a special thank you to the street hockey kids and pickleball players that participated in the concept and design of the upgrades. This is what community engagement is all about.”

A press release issued this week by the town manager’s office noted the improvements to Saugus’ community recreational facilities, beginning in 2016. They include:

• 2016 – a brand-new Veterans Memorial Elementary School playground that includes brightly colored playground equipment, wheelchair-accessible equipment, new swings and a newly designed updated basketball court.
• 2017 – a new Bristow Park, which features a large, handicap-accessible play area with swings, slides and a seesaw, as well as shade trees, seating and a nearby water bubbler. The existing field was irrigated and includes a 10-foot-tall, 30-foot-long lacrosse wall. The tee-ball field was remade with a new infield, backstop, bleachers and players’ benches. A new basketball court was constructed, and a bathroom, storage shed and concession stand were included in the renovation. The Park also features a series of workout stations from playground equipment company Landscape Structures and LED lights and security cameras to increase safety and security.
• 2017 – the Town replaced the old tennis courts at Belmonte Middle School with an expanded facility and five regulation-sized courts to accommodate tournament play, with one overlapping pickleball court and wind screens. These courts are home to the Saugus High School tennis team and are available for residents’ enjoyment.
• 2019 – Evans School Playground improvements included two new regulation-size basketball courts, restoration and improvement of surrounding sidewalks, curbing, parking and drainage, and inclusion of security cameras and lighting to increase safety and security on the premises.
• 2023 and ongoing – the Riverwalk Project Phase 1, which includes significantly improved connectivity with Vitale Park, Lobsterman’s Landing and the Rumney Marsh Restoration area, a dedicated kayak launch point and significant environmental improvements, including the removal of almost 3,000 square feet of impervious hardtop, reestablishing the area as a tidal saltmarsh with native plantings, which benefits stormwater management and drainage and enhances ecological and habitat diversity along the riverfront.