Fall 2013 Parks Inspection Report

7/27/2019 Fall 2013 Parks Inspection Report

1/13

Newburyport Park Inspections

Revised October 2013

270 Water Street

Safety Issues Other repairs and/or cosmetics Actions taken

Several dead shrubs need to be replaced Unused gate post left by National Grid

contractor should be removed Some grassy areas sparse and in need of

improvement

IMPROVEMENTS NEEDS

A professional landscaping contract keeps the park looking

generally well-kept, though some grass areas (below) are

sparse and in need of improvement.

An unused gate post left by

National Grids contractor

needs to be removed.

Several dead shrubs resulting from lack of irrigation need to

be replaced.


2/13

Newburyport Parks Inspections, Fall 2013, Page 2

ATKINSON COMMON


Piles of brush along border with LowerAtkinson present fire hazard

Some trees present a safety hazard topedestrians

Trees need maintenance program to keepthem healthy and to avoid safety hazards

related to untended deadwood

Granite bollard broken

Rules signage needs replacing Dumping a problem along Chase Street

entry area & behind Plummer Ave

residences encroaching on park

Lily Ponds need new curbing and sealant toprevent leaks

Resurfaced tennis courts Working with DPW to remove brush piles CPA funding secured to address safety

issues with trees

Parks Commission reviewing rules signagein all parks before repairing then willreplace sign

Repaired Plummer Ave entrance damageand connector driveway to Lower Atkinson

Coordinating with Planning Director to dealwith encroachment on park by neighbors.

Refinished Civil War Memorial tablets andreconstructed memorial plaza with brick

and granite pavers.

IMPROVEMENTSBEFORE AFTER

Tennis courts were resurfaced and newly striped with the inclusion of Under10 lines.

Tarnished Civil War Memorial tablets were refinished and the deteriorating memorial plaza was reconstructed

with brick and granite pavers and dedicated in May 2013.


3/13


ATWOOD PARK


Chain link fence rusted & detached Ditch & cracks in tennis court area

Tennis net missing & posts broken Cracks in asphalt of basketball court Brick wall broken in three places; brick

needs re-pointing

Benches need sanding, sealing Brick bench broken, needs 6 new bricks Graffiti on basketball backboard

Coordinated sponsorship program withOpportunity Works & Hennessey

Landscaping to maintain the park weekly;

lawn quality has improved; trees have been

mulched

Secured CPA funding & seeking Morrillfunding to carry out phased improvement

project

NEEDS

Drawing above depicts planned improvements at Atwood Park. The former tennis court will receive a new asphalt surface to

provide a safe place for kids to ride bikes, scooters, etc.; the colored circles represent an area where a bike riding track will be

painted; new planting bed with street trees line the edge of School Street; new fencing will be installed; and a concrete table

tennis unit would be placed where the originally planned bocce court is pictured above. Since this drawing was done, the

bocce court was removed from the plan due to maintenance concerns and additional, ornamental fencing was added between

the play area and the School Street planting bed.


4/13


AYERS PLAYGROUND


Basketball court needs repaving &relining

Track ride handle missing Decals peeling off of alphabet toy Walkway, cobble plaza and play area

weedy

One bench needs painting Signpost needs painting

New safety surfacing installed Spring toys replaced New landscape ties installed Touched up paint on play structures

and benches; removed graffiti fromslides

Installed new basketball nets

Asphalt basketball court and play area is in need ofresurfacing and re-lining.

Replacement

of broken

swing toys

and new

safety

surfacing are

among

multiplesafety and

other deferred

maintenance

issues

addressed at

Ayers

Playground.

BEFORE

AFTER

IMPROVEMENTS NEEDS

Some portions of the climbing structure have been touched

up but more touching up remains.


5/13


BARTLET MALL/FROG POND


Water quality poor; potentiallyhazardous to people and pets

Deadwood hanging over picnic tablesat Auburn Street end of park

Need new swing mats and mat underspinning component on play

structure

Landscape ties need replacing Bolt remaining from missing bench

needs to be cut off

Basketball area needs re-paving Play lot weedy Picnic tables need paint touch up

(black) Weedy around bike racks Small water bubbler broken Fence along High Street could use

painting

Track ride has mildew, needs cleaning Street trees along Pond St. need

pruning

Repaired all lighting Replaced swing chains Under-surface aerators installed in

pond to increase dissolved oxygen Installing new piping to increase

volume of water flow in fountain

Writing RFP to determine bestapproach for pond cleanup

Weeds controlled on High Streetpromenade

Contracted for weed control on allwalkways.

Asked Tree Warden to addressdeadwood in willow

IMPROVEMENTS NEEDS

A basketball court

which doubles as

winter parking is in

serious need of

resurfacing and

restriping.

In addition to getting the fountain flowing again, four

underwater aerators were installed with the aim of increasing

dissolved oxygen levels in the pond to improve water quality.

Work continues to improve volume of flow in the central

fountain.

Retaining edge

around swings is

rotting and has

exposed spikes.

Swing mats are

deteriorated and

need re lacement.


6/13


BROWN SQUARE


Paint on sign post peeling Interpretive sign panels delaminating

Working with sign company to replaceinterpretive panels that are

delaminating

CASHMAN PARK


Granite benches unstable due to erosion Walkway from Merrimack St. to river

badly cracked

Cashman lawn sparse, needs re-seeding Cracks & puddles on basketball court One seahorse spring toy missing Bolts need tightening on Tot Lot

climbing structure

Dog bubbler not working

Replaced spiral slide Installed new safety surfacing Re-welded mast on central ship climbing

structure

Installed swing mats

New safety surfacing, along with swing mats have been

installed.

IMPROVEMENTS NEEDS

While many landscape ties were replaced, further

work needs to be done to address rotting ties.

While many landscape tie

were replaced, further wo

needs to be done to addre


7/13


CLIPPER CITY RAIL TRAIL


Several trees with deadwood andone dead tree needs removal

near waterfront

Low Street slope needs weeding Graffiti an ongoing problem: under Gillis

Bridge; on trash can near waterfront;

under High Street bridge; electrical

bunker; bench just south of Low Street Grass couches dilapidated, need

removal

Need mulch around all benches Shrubs near Parker St need pruning of

deadwood

Large limb to be removed north oflabyrinth peace offering sculpture

Peace offering sculpture needs washing,waxing, buffing

Mural needs washing Interpretive panels delaminating Low Street spur path garden needs

renovating

Will He needs repair Invasives need removal

Coordinated ongoing volunteer work onberry labyrinth, geometric gardens and

Washington Street gateway gardens.

Volunteer dog waste pickup ongoing; Repaired Parker Street crossing light Renovated Parker Street gateway garden

using volunteers

Increased maintenance of WashingtonStreet gateway dog refuse receptacle to

reduce odors

Increased management of dog wastecleanup

Contacted sign maker about replacinginterpretive panels

Asked Green Artist League to removeunkempt plantings south of Haleys

access path

INN STREET PLAYGROUND/MARKET LANDING/BULLNOSE


Missing steering wheel on play structure Park perimeter looks barren, needs

landscaping

Benches on Bullnose could userefinishing

New landscaping mulchpurchased and installed by DPS

Coordinating design forlandscaping perimeter of play

area

JASON SAWYER PLAYGROUND


Broken game table Chess boards rusting Pavilion posts rusting, support beams

corroded, need to replace or remove

Basketball backboard needs replacing Paint needs touching up: track ride,

hand rails, green bar over slide

Need snow fence behind climbing net

Basketball backboard replaced Installed new swing mats Parks Commission directed removal of

pavilion structure

Basketball backboard and hoop was replaced with a new,

weatherproof model. Pavilion supports are corroded beyond repair.

IMPROVEMENTS NEEDSBEFORE AFTER


8/13


JOPPA PARK


New sink holes in walkway byseawall, walkway needs to be

replaced

Grass showing weeds and bare spots Benches need replacement Rose hedge needs weeding and mulch Central garden needs renovation Water Street sidewalk in poor condition

Working with State Dept of Fish andGame to replace boat ramp

Funding approved by CPC for creation ofinterpretive panels

Partial funding approved for benches,bench plazas through Mayor Gayden W.

Morrill Charitable Foundation and CPA

Three dead rosebushes replaced underwarranty

Asked DPS to patch sinkholes

MARCHS HILL


Stair landings falling apart; stairs ahazard

Basketball court cracked Needs two new basketball rims & one

net

Signpost needs painting

Consulting with Planning Office aboutreconfiguration of park entrance in

conjunction with Rail Trail extension

project

DPS installed partial hand rail on left ofstairs

Left: Staircase partially repaired

with additional handrail installed.

Stair landing still in disrepair.

Plans for Clipper City Rail Trail will

reconfigure park entry, and install

a new, granite staircase.

Above Left: Joppa Park walkway is prone to sinkholes and needs to be replaced. Above right: benches are old & damaged and need repair

and/or replacing.

NEEDS


9/13


MOSELEY WOODS


Needs more wood fiber safetysurfacing around all play structures

Steering wheel needs tightening Stone wall damaged Erosion problems along waterfront

pathways

Lawn being used to stage equipmentfrom Round-A-Bout project

Broken split rails on trail near Pavilion Stove pipe should be removed or

planted to discourage use as a grill

under pine trees

Picnic table top Trex boards warped Touch up paint needed on central play

structure

Invasive vines damaging trees onproperty line with Swindlehurst

property

Additional wood fiber safety surfacingbeing installed

Consulting with round-a-bout contractorre: lawn repair-improvement

Added Gladiator dog refuse receptacleand contracted with Doody Calls to

maintain it to reduce litter issues

IMPROVEMENTS NEEDS

An old grill base encourages use of

fire where fires are prohibited.

Synthetic planks on one of the

pavilion picnic tables are warped,

need replacing.

Portions of the central climbing

structure need touch up paint.

Additional wood fiber safety

surfacing is needed around all play

structures.

Several split rails need to be

replaced.

To reduce a litter problem in the park, an additional dog waste

receptacle was installed and is being maintained as part of the citys

contract with Doody Calls.


10/13


PERKINS PARK


Equipment replacements needed toreplace: two spring toys; ship; fire truck

Playground grass areas needsreplacement, fertilizing and maintenance

Ball field grass slope needs repair Too much signage is an eyesore Lichen on benches. Park sign rotting, needs replacement Cracked swing chains on tire swing Tire swing support beam needs repainting Graffiti on port-o-potty shed; consider

securing shed with doors

Repaired & re-shingled sandboxstructure, and wooden entrance

structure; added new sand

Installed new slides Installed new play wood fiber safety

surfacing

Installed new play sand

IMPROVEMENTS NEEDSBEFORE AFTER

The declining sand box structure and park entrance cupola were shored

up, given new decking and new shake shingle roofs.

Old, damaged

slides were

replaced.

Missing play structures (right) and

ragged landscaping gives the park

an un-cared for look.

Chain link fence is bulging and

needs re-fastening.

Tire swing chains are cracked

and need replacing.

Tire swing

support

beam is

rusted and

needs

painting.


11/13


SKATE PARK


Chunks of concrete are chipped fromunder the coping; normal wear and

tear

Youth Services applied annual sealantYouth Services called for volunteers to

repair concrete under coping

THREE ROADS


Twigs and brush need to be raked Water trough needs painting Trees and bushes could use mulch to

make the park look more well-kept

TRACY SQUARE


Benches need refinishing Entrance garden beds needs mulch Leaves need to be raked

NEEDS

Park needs some TLC to look well-kept: benches need refinishing; leaves need to be raked; entrance garden beds needs mulching, possibly re-

landscaping.

NEEDS

Chunks of concrete have been broken

away from under the coping, or upper

metal edge, of some of the bowls.

Here the damage can be seen at thefar side of the small bowl in the

foreground. This is normal wear and

tear which Youth Services repairs

every couple of years.


12/13


WOODMAN PARK


Basketball court cracked Climbing structures need touch up

(red & tan, steering wheels,

handrails, steps)

Climbing structures and picnic tablesmildewed

Trash cans look dilapidated Baseball infield overgrown Nu-oak benches need cleaning One sound tube broken off Ruts in parking lot Landscaping ties around parking lot

rotted

Installed new wood fiber safety surfacing Installed swing mats to reduce wear of

wood fiber safety surfacing

Partially cleaned climbing structures Partially touched up paint on climbing

structures

Coordinating with neighbors to volunteerlabor

Coordinating with Pioneer League toimprove ball field

Removed used pile of backstop fencing Replaced broken swing seat Tightened handles on play structure Replaced basketball rim

IMPROVEMENTS NEEDS

Playground safety surfacing was replenished to improve safety and

mulch spread around trees and parking lot to make the park look

well-kept.

One sound tube is

broken off. Photo on

left shows what it

should look like. On

right is what remains

of the damaged play

piece.

Landscaping ties that

border the parking lot are

rotted, need replacement.

Some portions of the climbing structures

have been repainted, but many

components still need touch up paint.

While the outfield,

used as a soccer

field, is in good

shape, this ballfield

needs a backstop

and fencing and the

infield needs to be

repaired and

maintained.


13/13

Documents

Fall 2013 Parks Inspection Report