Fuller Brook Executive Summary - Town of Wellesley

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Fuller Brook Park Preservation Project Wellesley, Massachusetts Segment 1: Dover Road to Grove Street Segment 2: Grove Street to State Street Segment 3: Hunnewell Field Segment 4: Paine Street to Maugus Avenue Project Area Public Information & Participation The FBPCC developed an extensive public participation strategy for Phase 2 to communicate the issues, alternatives and recommendations for the Park and ensure a sufficient community dialogue. Key components of the public information process include: A website (www.wellesleyma.gov/Fullerbrook) dedicated to providing background and current information about the evolving project; An extensive email distribution list used for regular communication with interested residents; Stakeholder interviews with nine Town departments, commissions and committees (Historical Commission, Planning Department, School Department, Recreation Department, Department of Public Works/Parks, DPW/ Engineering, Trails Committee, Natural Resources Commission, Wetlands Protection Committee); Three sets of public meetings to solicit community feedback: • September 15-16, 2010: Issues, Opportunities & Goals • October 27- 28, November 7, 2010: Options • December 15-16, 2010: Recommendations Public feedback and comments were provided through verbal questions and responses recorded at public meetings, written communication, and email; Targeted updates and communication with abutters and other interested parties undertaken by the FBPCC. Public Process & Feedback The first set of public meetings presented project issues, opportunities and goals including design criteria building on the guiding principles of the Master Plan. The second set of public meetings presented a wide range of options for the treatment of the Park’s vegetation, stream course and bank, boundary and path. The third set of public meetings sought public feedback to refine the overall recommendations for park improvements. This process yielded some important information and feedback that greatly influenced the final design recommendations. The FBPCC, NRC, and consultant team carefully reviewed all comments to understand the needs and wants of the community and to address public concerns. Many respondents, though not all, expressed a strong desire to retain a naturalistic, permeable path, particularly in Segment 1, with a narrower width than had been recommended in the Master Plan. All options to potentially re-route the path to address slope stabilization, wet conditions, universal access, or other issues were carefully scrutinized by the community so that the final design recommendations were further revised even after the last public meeting to reflect this additional input. Despite the cost and complicated implementation, many residents supported the concept of removing the concrete curbing in the stream bed and reestablishing a more natural character along the stream bank. Residents greatly reinforced the goals for Fuller Brook Park by articulating those qualities they value most, such as the Park’s naturalistic character, views of the two brooks, and the winding path. Flooding and drainage continue to be a concern for abutters and regular users of the path, so that the Preliminary Design Plans propose substantial improvements to address this issue in support of other infrastructure improvements to be undertaken by the DPW as part of the Stormwater Master Plan Update. The Phase 2 Preliminary Design project considered the current condition of Fuller Brook Park related to the character, vegetation, stream and bank, and path for each of the four segments. This was followed by developing a series of options and alternatives to address a range of issues apparent in the park, from invasive species to universal access. Based on public feedback and review by the FBPCC, the final recommendations for these features provide the foundation for work to be completed in Phases 3 and 4. 2
Executive Summary Phase 2: Preliminary Design Park History & Significance From its inception, Fuller Brook Park was intended to serve two purposes: aiding in stormwater management (drainage) and providing valuable public green space (path). 1 In 1897, the Wellesley Park Commission hired the landscape architecture firm Olmsted, Olmsted & Eliot to provide recommendations for the creation of a series of parks to be laid out in the Town. John Charles Olmsted and Warren Manning, who had been working on plans for the Muddy River in Boston and Brookline, provided specific recommendations related to Fuller Brook Park. In 1899, the Town began acquiring the land necessary for Fuller Brook Park. Landscape architect Warren Manning is credited with the development of plans for the 2 ½-mile long park after he left the Olmsted firm. The Park was neglected during World War II, resulting in gradually deteriorating conditions. During the mid-20 th century, work focused on mediating the evident disrepair. By the late 1950s drainage had become a substantial issue and the Massachusetts Department of Public Works implemented significant changes to address this within the Park, which resulted in the straightening of the water course, removal of vegetation along the stream edge and the addition of concrete curbing along the stream edge from Dover Road to Grove Street. 2 These changes greatly affected the naturalistic character of Fuller Brook Park. Since then, Wellesley has continued to carry out improvements to maintain the functionality of the Park while also recapturing its natural character. This included the addition of plantings, path improvements and the reconstruction of bridges. Beginning roughly in the 1970s, efforts have focused on finding a balance between the need to adequately accommodate stormwater and drainage issues while also providing the residents of Wellesley with a scenic green space. 3 Stream bank plantings, a meandering brook and pedestrian paths defined the scenic park experience along the Muddy River in the Emerald Necklace Park System, the precedent for Fuller Brook Park (courtesy NPS, Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site). The Town continued to acquire additional lands over the course of the ensuing years, as well as implementing improvements such as work on the brook, stabilization of the stream bank with willows and birches, and the planting of over 400 trees. In 1910, the Town began implementation of a central sewer system and hired engineer Ernest Bowditch to make recommendations for additional land acquisition for Fuller Brook Park to aid in the construction of infrastructure. This work was completed by 1921. Through the 1930s, increased residential development necessitated additional work to improve the drainage and stormwater capacity of Fuller Brook. In 1936, the Town constructed a new high school at the south edge of what is now known as Hunnewell Field. Up until this time, Fuller Brook Park extended through Hunnewell Field, connecting with Caroline Brook to the east. Concrete curbs and steep turf banks considerably altered the naturalistic character of Fuller Brook Park in the 1950s. Collapsed concrete liners now impede water flow throughout Segment 1 and contribute to bank erosion. 3
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Fuller Brook Executive Summary - Town of Wellesley

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