Politics & Government

Hannah Williams Parking Will Remain Along Main Street

The Wayland Planning Board approved an expanded two-entrance parking lot featuring one-way traffic.

The Planning Board Monday night approved a general layout for the Hannah Williams Park and Playground redesign project, which allows the renovations of the south Wayland public space to move forward.

The approved plan features parking along Main Street, much where it is now, with two entrances to the lot and one-way traffic flow. The lot will be about 40 feet wide and will include spaces for about 18 vehicles.

Director Don Ouellette, who has headed up this project, has said from the beginning of renovation discussions that parking and traffic at Hannah Williams were major concerns of the residents with whom he spoke. Ouellette was not convinced that one-way traffic was the safest option, but said he would accept the Planning Board’s recommendation.

The plan includes a so-called “meandering path” that will connect the green space of the park’s north end to the play structures and parking lot in the other areas of the park.

Resident Leisha Marcoccio said she loved the idea of the meandering path and appreciated that the approved plan keeps the playground equipment close together.

Planning Board members, expecting William Whitney who was not in attendance, unanimously approved the drawing with an amendment to push the parking lot back from the street an additional five feet in order to allow for street trees to be planted.

“I think that has a nicer, softer feel in keeping with the park,” said board chair Kevin Murphy of the street trees.

With parking location determined, trees took the front seat as a contentious element at the meeting. Ouellette argued for removing trees he said were unhealthy and would inevitably need to come down in a matter of years. In addition, some of the trees marked for removal would clear space .

“The concept from the get-go has always been to make this age-appropriate [3-12 year old], to make it an edible park and then to add some adult features to that,” Ouellette said, mentioning some outdoor exercise equipment, bocce courts or chess tables for adults to make Hannah Williams “truly a family park.” 

Planning Board members, however, argued that the trees provided a barrier to the commercial district at the nearby intersection of Main and Plain streets and offered much desired shade to parents watching their children play at the park. They also wondered whether expanding the audience of an often-overcrowded park was the best idea.

Ouellette responded that he didn’t anticipate adults making the park a destination as much as he thought they would make use of the adult features when at the park with their families.

During public comment, Katherine Boegehold, who lives at a property abutting the park on Maple Street, also questioned whether a dramatic redesign of the park and playground equipment was appropriate.

“This is not Central Park,” Boegehold said. “It’s just a tiny little space that has attracted thousands and thousands of people. On a sunny day, it’s always full. Why do we want to mess with perfection?”

The proposed adult features of the park will be part of future phases, Ouellette said, adding that the entire $120,000 allotted by voters for the renovation would go toward equipment and installation.

The Planning Board designated Town Planner Sarkis Sarkisian and board members Ira Montague and Colleen Sheehan to work with Ouellette in approving which trees to remove at the park. The board also agreed to meet June 7 to look at a more detailed plan that includes the trees approved for removal.

With the parking lot location decided, Ouellette can begin the process of soliciting bids for the work. He stressed that he is eager to reopen the park as soon as possible.

On May 27, Ouellette closed the playscape at Hannah Williams after an independent assessment found more than 40, Type 1 hazards, or issues that could cause death or be debilitating. The contractors report is available as public record.


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