POR 2025-138
Asked the City Manager to work with the Department of Public Works, the Department of Public Health, and any relevant environmental consultants to provide a comprehensive report on Gold Star Mothers Memorial Park
Voted yes (9), unanimous
Burhan Azeem
Marc McGovern
Patty Nolan
Sumbul Siddiqui
Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler
Paul F. Toner
Ayesha M. Wilson
Cathie Zusy
E. Denise Simmons
The item's path through the council, every recorded step. How the request pipeline works
O-1
On September 10, 2025, the City announced that environmental testing at Gold Star Mothers Memorial Park, conducted as part of a court renovation project, revealed confirmed contamination in multiple areas of the park, including the playground and recreational zones; and
The contaminants identified, which are consistent with historical uses of the site and/or urban fill, have resulted in the closure of the entire park for public safety until soil remediation can be completed; and
This situation has understandably raised significant concerns among families and other residents about soil safety in parks across Cambridge, particularly in other playgrounds frequented by children; and
Residents are seeking clarity on how and when soil testing is conducted, what contaminants are being tested for, what thresholds determine whether remediation is necessary, and what proactive measures the City is taking to ensure that similar hazards are not present in other City parks and playgrounds; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the Department of Public Works, the Department of Public Health, and any relevant environmental consultants to provide a comprehensive report to the City Council, in a timely manner, detailing:
The full testing protocols used at Gold Star Mothers Park, including metrics, thresholds, and contaminants screened;
The timeline and strategy for full-site testing and remediation at Gold Star Mothers Park;
Whether other parks and playgrounds across Cambridge have undergone soil testing in recent years, and if so, the dates, locations, and results of such testing;
The City’s current policies or best practices regarding routine soil testing in public parks, including frequency, scope, and public notification procedures; and
Any recommendations for establishing a clear, citywide standard for environmental testing of playgrounds and other parklands going forward.