A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Numbers 19-70 and 19-98, regarding restoration and clean up of the Jerry's Pond area

City of Cambridge Department of Public Works Owen O'Riordan, Commissioner 147 Hampshire Street Cambridge, MA 02139 theworks@cambridgema.gov Voice: [phone removed] TDD: [phone removed] August 27, 2019, To: Louis DePasquale City Manager From: Owen O’Riordan Re: Awaiting Reports 19-70 and 19-98, regarding Public Works taking measures to plant grasses, flowers, and otherwise add greenery, beautify and cleanup areas suggested in the order. The City is committed to continuing to make improvements in and around the Jerry’s Pond, Comeau Field and the Russell field area of the city. In the recent past the City has completed significant athletic field improvements at Russell Field, has designed and worked with the MBTA to improve the flooded access pathway to the MBTA headhouse at Russell Field and has reconstructed the bus shelter at Rindge Avenue and the Comeau parking lot.

In response to two previous council orders from earlier this year ( responses were dated April 30th and June 19th) DPW placed three additional Big Belly compactors (making 4 in total) around Comeau field, adjacent to the bus stop and the parking lot. The Department has continued to collect the bins and any domestic refuse left in the area on a nightly basis as well as conducting street sweepings on a weekly basis in this parking lot. Finally, in an effort to further deter rodent activity, the Department has also installed signs along the fence adjacent to Jerry’s Pond indicating that people should not feed the birds, ducks and geese that populate the area and has worked with our Inspectional Services Department to identify harbage locations and has increased the extent to which rodent control is ongoing within the area. Specific to the above referenced awaiting reports the Department of Public Works and the Community Development Department have conducted a number of site walks so as to determine what can be done in the short term and what needs to be considered specific to long term improvements along both Rindge Avenue and in the community areas north of Rindge Avenue adjacent to Jerry’s Pond, Comeau field and along and adjacent to the pathway leading to the Alewife T Station headhouse. Some of this work will need to be done by state agencies, namely; the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, (the MBTA) and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) while as other improvements can be taken on by City Departments, some of which can be executed immediately while as other may take some additional time to complete.

Rindge Ave: The property owner of 402 Rindge Avenue is presently in the process of placing new plantings behind the wood post fencing on the outbound side of Rindge Avenue heading toward the Alewife Brook Partkway. The remainder of the area associated with this property and adjacent to Rindge Avenue is relatively tidy and not in need of significant maintenasnce by this property owner On the opposite side of the street between the Alewife Brook Parkway and the edge of Jerry’s Pond, the Department of Public Works has reached out to DCR to ask that they consider removing the fencing at this location and to open up this area a little more, allowing for easier access and maintenance. The Department of Public Works has indicated to DCR that they would be willing to maintain this area if such could happen. The area along the edge of Jerry’s Pond has also been cleaned up by WR Grace the pond property owner. Their work included trimming the growth around the pond itself as well as weeding the sidewalk adjacent to the pond. Additional improvement have also been considered as one moves further east along Rindge Avenue toward the McCrehan pool entrance and the Jefferson Park housing complex. At this time The Traffic Department expects to restripe the crosswalk to the pool later this fall thus making it more visible to both pedestrians and vehicles as they approach the area.

Furthermore, having reviewed the area on the northern side of the street immediately in front of Comeau Field with members of our Urban Forestry and Parks Department it is felt that leaving this area as it is is important and provides considerable benefit to the row of mature linden trees growing along this back of sidewalk area. Linden Trees have shallow root systems and we are concerned that by overplanting this area the health of the trees may be impacted. The Department is committed to maintaining the mulch in this area and ensuring that it is properly maintained and free from litter. (One of the new Big Belly’s is immediatyely adjacent to it). The Alewife Brook Parkway Planting oppurtunities were assessed at the small island at the itersection of Rindge Avenue and the Alewife Brook Parkway. Similar to other depaving projects that the City has completed over the last number of years, we would like to excavate this area and plant some grasses in the space and create a more inviting entrance onto Rindge Avenue as a result. A request for consideration has been sent to DCR and we are presently awaiting a response from them. There is some concern specific to the verticality of any plantings and the extent such may interfere with visibility associated with traffic turning right and northbound onto the Alewife Brook Parkway. DPW has also requested that DCR review the condition of the haunching on the Alewife Brook parkway bridge where significant spalling has occurred. Immediately adjacent to the spalled haunching the City’s Sanitation crew has removed the graffitti that covered the abutment pillars on either side of the railroad bridge and we will continue to keep an eye on this area as we move forward.

Jerry’s Pond Area and the Pathway to the Russell Field Clubhouse and the T Station headhouse. DPW and CDD have identified numerous locations where opportunities exist for a considerable number of additional trees as one walks between Rindge Avenue and the entrance to MBTA property at the back of the bleachers at Russell field. Within the parking lot area itself, it is proposed to plant several trees on the turn-around island. In conjunction with this it may be appropriate to place some large boulders in this area as well to better protect the trees and indeed protect the curb edges that have been damaged by bus turning movements. Given the scale of space and the location of the enclosed bus shelter on Rindge Avenue, a larger scale information kiosk and seating area is not recommended in this location in the near term. However, we will continue to look at other locations and opportunities to provide information relative to the rich history of the area etc. to the public as they walk through the area. The detention pond was also identified as an area that needed attention in the policy order and it has been cleaned and the drainage rip wrap has been repaired and will continue to be maintained and checked by the Department of Public Works moving forward. As one moves further into the park there are also larger lawn areas along the path where dense clusters of trees forming small groves could also be planted. This includes an existing lawn area between the path and Comeau Field, and indeed additional lawn areas as one approaches the Russell Field field house itself. DPW proposes to begin a program of planting in these areas starting in the spring of 2020 and continuing for a period of three to five years thereafter. Finally, The MBTA has been requested by the City to remove the dead sycamore trees in the MBTA T Plaza adjacent to the headhouse. While It is unknown as to whether there is an operating irrigating system in place at this location. We have asked the MBTA to consider replanting at this location immediately thereafter and put in place appropriate procedures to properly maintain such.