Dedham Select Board Votes 4-1 To Appropriate $2.5M For Town Green

DEDHAM, MA - After putting the brakes on a proposed town green design after years of efforts, the Dedham Select Board reviewed two plans for a scaled-back versions that will replace the current police station at its meeting Thursday night. It approved a motion to appropriate $2.5 million for the design and construction of a town green by a 4-1 vote.

The police station, located at 600 High St. in the heart of Dedham Square, will be demolished upon completion of the town's new public facilities building, which is currently under construction. The Dedham Square Planning Committee had been gathering feedback since December 2018 in creating the design. It presented a plan to the Select Board last fall indicating that a town green "would be the highest and best use" for the parcel, according to Town Manager Leon Goodwin.

A public performance space, a community porch, a covered patio, shade trees, native plants, a water feature, and a playground with equipment and benches were included in that concept. It was widely approved during the series of information sessions, with the primary concern being parking.

In a meeting of the Dedham Square Planning Committee earlier this month, it was announced that the adjacent Verizon building would no longer be available to combine with the police station. BETA Group, a municipal engineering consultant, was brought in to assess what features the smaller space of about 14,000 square feet could accommodate. The Select Board asked that town staff work to refine the design.

Goodwin said that the two proposals BETA presented at the meeting are "a proof of concept" that tried to integrate features that residents expressly wanted while making it feasible to be passed at the upcoming Town Meeting.

He noted that the square footage also has been reduced because roadwork will not be included that would have allowed the green to expand past the curb line. He also said that grant funding and private donations also may be used to fund the project.

"That's why we had BETA take a look and say what can we fit on the site and how much will it cost at the end of the day," Goodwin continued. "They did show that we can include all of the amenities on site and for what we believe is a reasonable price tag."

The first plan presented had a more modern, edgy feel while the second was more like a quad with some lawn space and the holiday tree in the center.

The first option had several pathways and different types of seating areas. There will be a canopied seating area as well as another bistro-like area with tables and chairs. The community porch would be open on all sides and have electrical and Wi-Fi capabilities. Pathways wound through several small gathering spaces. Another feature proposed was a light sculpture to generate interest. A memorial walkway also was included.

The second option was more traditional, with the holiday tree in the center. There were two areas of lawn space where tables and chairs could be set. The grassy areas could be used for passive recreation. This plan offered more overall gathering space and more paving without the more intimate and varied features of the first option. The community porch, which could double as a stage, would be on the side of the green with its back toward the Verizon building. There are seating walls proposed along the edges.

The price tag for the first proposal, including the demolition of the police station, is $2.3 million. It has 6,600 square feet of lawn. The second option with the building demolition would cost $2.5 million, with 5,160 square feet of lawn.

Select Board member Jim MacDonald said that this was not what he envisioned for a town green. He pointed to Norwood as an example, which has a gazebo at its center.

"When I think of a town green, green is what I really focus on," he said. "What is there that people can sit on? When I look at the options, I would have to say that option two would be a non-starter.

"Too much walkway, too much concrete," he continued. "Too much of everything and not enough of green space."

Two years ago, Jim MacDonald said he would have preferred development on the site. But the work of the Dedham Square Planning Committee made him change his mind and support the town green.

However, he noted that he has received more emails and phone calls about this project during his nearly three decades on the board.

Outgoing Select Board member Sarah MacDonald asked about the prioritizing of the concepts that community members wanted. The team worked to include about a dozen of the features out of 36 suggestions.

While she noted that the first plan had more green space, "there's a lot of stuff that can't move."

"Was there a point where you could have told us you could get more lawn if you don't do these things?" she asked.

The BETA team sought to create a balance between hardscape and landscape. However, the designs are preliminary. In a second phase, a splash pad could be added, as well as other features.

Sarah MacDonald, who voted against the motion, said there were "a lot of unanswered questions" for her, including supply costs and the use of concrete on much of the parcel.

Select Board member Dennis Teehan noted the plans were conceptual in nature. The goal is to come up with a plan that will pass at Town Meeting.

"The major difference between this and what the committee originally recommended is that the size is a little smaller," he said. "And I think that down the road that's something that we could reexamine."

Chair Dimitria Sullivan said a combination of the two plans could work, along with features from the original plan.

"This has proven that this can be a beautiful park," Sullivan said, noting the main concern is the cost.

Teehan asked for funding for a traffic study focused on pedestrian safety and the potential for moving out the curbs.

"I think this is a good first step," Teehan continued.