Boston's busy Hammond Pond Parkway is getting a facelift to the tune of $11.3 million, aimed at improving safety and access for those on foot or wheels. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has announced the commencement of the construction project that will reshape the pathway between Beacon Street and Route 9 in Newton, enhancing connections to green spaces like the Hammond Pond Reservation and Webster Conservation Area. Slated for completion in 2025, this initiative promises a fresh and friendlier interface with nature to the local community.
"This project will make this busy road safer for the community, while increasing green space for recreation and promoting sustainable transportation," DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo stated, throwing support behind this extensive overhaul. Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller echoed this sentiment, lauding the investment by the state and the DCR Commissioner in improving access to Newton’s two largest open green spaces and revitalizing the roads along this one-mile stretch. Down the road, the parkway is expected to transform into a safer haven for local pedestrians and cyclists, fraught with plantings and repaved surfaces, according to a state press release.
Starting with Phase 1, the DCR will shrink the four-lane roadway to two lanes and introduce a plethora of safety features. These include new traffic signals, historic lighting, guardrails, and secure crossings at major points. The redesign goes further, unveiling a 12-foot shared-use path for cyclists and pedestrians on the west side and a smaller, 4-foot walking path on the east. Designed to push the envelope of safety, these paths will be segregated by a substantial strip of native greenery from the vehicular thoroughfare.
"Many of us in the community have long advocated improved access for walkers and bicyclists along Hammond Pond Parkway in this beautiful section of the city," Rep. Ruth Balser conveyed, enthusiastic about the plan that purports to forge stronger community conservation areas while supporting eco-friendly transit. Sen. Cindy Creem also chimed in, cheering the Healey Administration's move to facilitate pedestrian and bicycle access to the parkway's recreational spaces and underscore the imperative of greener transportation to meet climate change targets.
Fostering a participatory process, the DCR engaged with various community groups, like the Newton Conservation Commission, to feed local stakeholder input into the project’s design. With a focus on conservation and ecological integrity, the final design reflects a collective vision set to cohere with the existing natural expanse of the area. For updates and more details about the project, interested parties are invited to visit the DCR's dedicated project webpage.
