http://serious-noir.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] serious-noir.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] davis_square2014-10-05 09:29 pm
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Kenney Park ETA?

Any insider news about the Kenney Park renovation? The park has been offline for almost a year(!) and the posted Spring/Summer 2014 completion dates have long passed.

I ask because Honk is coming up and Kenney has been one of the venues. Also because I always wonder about these small city projects which really should take no more than a month or two but which seem to stretch out for no apparent reason. Wouldn't it make more sense to start one project and see it through rapidly rather than to start numerous projects (to give the appearance of activity– or is that too cynical?) which then take ages to complete? Perhaps there is some technical reason it has taken so long?

Anyway, I've noticed more work activity around Kenney the last few weeks but it doesn't look like the park will be completed by next weekend.

[personal profile] ron_newman 2014-10-06 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
At a Honk volunteer meeting a few weeks ago, I asked about Kenney Park. The answer was that the Honk venue will move to a neighboring municipal parking lot if the paved part of Kenney is not ready for use in time for the festival.

[identity profile] wobblymusic.livejournal.com 2014-10-06 02:50 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes, we have had some delays..." (http://davis-square.livejournal.com/3435772.html?thread=36594172#t36594172)

[identity profile] keithn.livejournal.com 2014-10-06 04:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Is the sign still up on the construction site saying that the park would re-open in "Summer 2014?" It's a bit embarrassing. I believe it has Rebekah Gewirtz's name plastered on it. You'd think they would have parts ready before closing a park down for construction so the space wasn't a completely useless, ugly hole in the ground for an entire year.

[identity profile] surrealestate.livejournal.com 2014-10-06 05:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Which reminds me that when we went by (and stopped to watch them pour cement for the sidewalk -- toddler entertainment!) I noticed the accessible picnic table appears to be installed backwards. Meant to drop someone a note about that.

[identity profile] katherine fiorello (from livejournal.com) 2014-10-06 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I would definitely send a note to the aldermen about that picnic table or directly to the city as that could be a big problem, if it's not accessible. I had asked aldermen Gewirtz about the playground ETA because I have a little toddler who is really missing her playground next to her house. The city had emailed alderman Gewirtz back saying that they were hoping to have it open by the 2nd week in October. Not sure if they meant second full week in October or not.

[personal profile] ron_newman 2014-10-07 01:50 am (UTC)(link)
Did the Kenney Park construction somehow damage the adjacent house at 11 Dresden Circle? It is boarded up and abandoned, something very unusual to see in Somerville.
Edited 2014-10-07 01:51 (UTC)

[identity profile] katherine fiorello (from livejournal.com) 2014-10-07 11:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I think that house next to the playground is being renovated. It has housed many transients in the past several years (many of them seeming extremely high upon leaving the house, so we always thought there was some sort of sketchy illicit business going on in that house). I'm so hoping it'll be cleaned up & non-drug related people will live there, as having a drug den directly next to a playground is absolutely horrible.

Just got an email from Alderman Gewirtz who has done an awesome job keeping our family in the loop w./ this playground work & said that the playground will not be open until the first week in November (according to the city). I'm hoping they'll be putting in a rubberized playground floor over the stones too in the next couple of weeks, as leaving it just rocks could be an accident waiting to happen w./ kids.

[personal profile] ron_newman 2014-10-27 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
An update: the park officially opens on November 7, which a "pre-opening" ceremony to be held on October 31.