Our Common Backyards Grant Application
Our Common Backyards
Application Form FY 2014
Please print double-sided
Please fasten application package with a binder clip, no three-ring or plastic binders!
Municipality: City of Northampton
Contact Person: Ann-Marie Moggio______________________________________________
Agency: Northampton Recreation Department___________________________________
Address: 90 Locust Street_________________________________________________________
Northampton, MA________________________________________________________________
Zip 01060______________________
Telephone (413)587-1043 Fax (413)587-1044
Email: amoggio@northamptonma.gov
Please note: the contact person is the official representative for this project, usually not the
chief municipal officer.
Attach certification of:
The Chief Executive Officer’s legal authorization to execute contracts. This is a resolution, motion,
or similar action that has been duly adopted or passed as an official act of the community's governing
body that authorizes the filing of the applications, including all understandings and assurances
contained therein (this is not a DCS form to be completed); and
1/22/2014 __________________________________________________
Date Signature of Chief Municipal Officer
David J. Narkewicz, Mayor______________________
Name and Title (Typed)
To January 2018_________________________________
Duration of Term
Mailing Address: 210 Main Street______________________________
Northampton, MA 01060______________________
Telephone: (413) 587-1249________________________________
Proposed Project Description #1 (NOTE: We request funding for two sites; 50% of the grant for each.)
Project name #1: Lampron Park
Proposed project completion year: Calendar 2014/Fiscal Year 2015 (Design in FY2014)
Type of project: Playground Spray Park
Project address: Bridge Street at Parsons Street, Northampton
Project acreage: 1 acre
Is the property permanently dedicated for park, playground, or recreation purposes (MGL Chapter 45,
Section 3 or 14)? If not, please submit draft dedication language for DCS review as all projects must be
dedicated for park, playground, or recreation purposes.
Yes No
Dedicated language has been approved by DCS and has been submitted to City Council for approval
(attached).
Briefly describe the proposed project.
Overview: We are proposing to split the grant and our local match to serve two critically needed playgrounds,
one to serve the primary gap in how we serve our dense downtown with its large environmental justice
population (Lampron Park) and one to serve our new recreation complex and the very large number of youth
who flock there, as well as to serve nearby environmental justice populations (Florence Recreation Fields).
Proposed work: We propose a new playground, with some accessible playground equipment, a safe soft
surface, a fence, and landscaping at Lampron Park. The site has been identified but the exact equipment will be
selected in a collaborative design process with the neighborhood within walking distance of the site (which
includes downtown) and with the nearby elementary school neighborhood which draws from a larger area.
Site location: The proposed playground will fill a major gap in Northampton’s urban playgrounds (see Locus
Plan, right). We have smaller playgrounds downtown, on the north side of downtown and the southwest side of
downtown, but no
public playgrounds
on the east side of
downtown, serving
some of the densest
housing in the city.
Locus Plan
The playground will be situated on the western side of Lampron Park to keep it the maximum distance from
heavily traveled and noisy Bridge Street, and separated from the street by a fence. (See Site Plan, right.) This
location will allow it to serve the immediate neighborhood, with dense housing, downtown Northampton, and
the adjacent Bridge Street School.
Environmental Justice Neighborhood: The playground is not within an EJ neighborhood but it is located in
adjacent to several nearby environmental justice neighborhoods and is within easy walking distance of the some
of the city’s highest concentrations of poverty and minority status. In addition, the playground will also serve
the adjacent Bridge Street School, with its very high EJ population. (There are already some playgrounds within
our EJ neighborhoods.)
Environmental equity: There are no other playgrounds close to Lampron Park that serve the same population.
We use a walking distance of 2,100 feet as the maximum distance that most people will use to walk to a
community playground. There are no playgrounds within this distance of the Lampron Park.
The nearest equally high quality playground, Jackson Street School, is 6,500 feet away.
The nearest urban playgrounds, Agnes Fox Fields and Pulaski Park, are 2,800 and 3,100 feet away,
respectectively.
Tree planting: The site is will be designed this spring, as soon as we get the final approval for the Our Common
Backyards Program. We estimate that we will plant five shade trees as part of the project and additional
shrubbery to soften the appearance of the fence we will install on the site.
State Priority Development or Preservation Areas: Not relevant to this project.
Open Space and Recreation Plan: This project will serve several recommendations from our plan:
Page 144: “Meet special needs of… environmental justice populations and the needs of those with disabilities.”
Page 147: “Add parks, greenspace…on city-owned land…to keep urban and village centers attractive.”
Page 149: “Maximum use of recreation space with affordable and quality programs for youth…Make capital
improvements…of recreation facilities…provide …recreation opportunities for individuals of all ages,
socioeconomic levels, and physical abilities…
Page 149: “Use open space and recreation to ensure that the urban and village centers are attractive places to
live, work, and visit.”
Page 159: “Having sufficient land for active recreation is critical to helping create healthy lifestyles.
Project budget: Preferred--Lampron Park receives 50% of funds (see also Florence Fields in Project #2)
Our Common Backyards CPA & donations Total
Design $ 12,500 $ 12,500
Construction: playground, surface, fence, $ 87,500 $ 25,000 $112,500
landscaping
Total $100,000 $ 25,000 $125,000
Alternative: Lampron Park receives 100% of funds
Our Common Backyards CPA & donations Total
Design $ 20,000 $ 20,000
Construction (playground, surface, fence, $180,000 $ 50,000 $230,000
landscaping)
Total $200,000 $ 50,000 $250,000
Proposed Project Description #2 (NOTE: We request funding for two sites; 50% of the grant for each.)
Project name #2: Florence Recreation Fields
Proposed project completion year: Calendar 2014/Fiscal Year 2015 (Design in FY2014)
Type of project: Playground Spray Park
Project address: Meadow Street and Spring Street, village of Florence, Northampton
Project acreage: 24 acres
Is the property permanently dedicated for park, playground, or recreation purposes (MGL Chapter 45,
Section 3 or 14)? If not, please submit draft dedication language for DCS review as all projects must be
dedicated for park, playground, or recreation purposes.
Yes No
Briefly describe the proposed project.
Overview: We are proposing to split the grant and our local match to serve two critically needed playgrounds,
one to serve the primary gap in how we serve our dense downtown with its large environmental justice
population (Lampron Park) and one to serve our new recreation complex and the very large number of youth
who flock there, as well as to serve nearby environmental justice populations (Florence Recreation Fields).
Proposed work: Our Common Backyards will pay for a new playground, with some accessible playground
equipment, a safe soft surface, and landscaping at Florence Recreation Fields. The site was set aside for a
playground as part of the development of a recreation complex, but to date there has not been funds to develop
the playground. The exact equipment will be selected in a collaborative design process with the neighborhood
within walking distance of the site and with the various recreation leagues and their families that use the site.
Site location: The proposed playground will serve what will become the most heavily used recreation area in
the city. This will be
the city’s first large
playgrounds at any
recreation area
where league sports
take place and at
Locus Plan
the same time it will
also serve the
nearby
neighborhoods (see
Locus Plan, right).
The playground will be situated on the southerly side of Florence Recreation Fields to keep it the closest
distance of immediately adjacent scattered site affordable housing, a nearby larger public housing complex, the
Florence Community Gardens, and the shortest distance from the village of Florence. (See Site Plan, right.) This
location will allow it to serve the immediate neighborhoods and also serve families using other facilities at the
Florence Recreation Fields.
Environmental Justice Neighborhood: The playground is not within an EJ neighborhood but it immediately
adjacent to scattered site affordable housing and a long walk from a larger public housing project that is
isolated from any other park and playground in the city (both sites owned by the Northampton Housing
Authority). In addition, the league sports that will also be at Florence Recreation Fields serve the Northampton
EJ populations.
Environmental equity: There are no other playgrounds close to Florence Recreation Fields.
The nearest high quality playground, Look Park, is 7,200 feet away.
Other small playgrounds, Maines Field being the closest, are not much closer at 5,200 feet.
Tree planting: The site is will be designed this spring, as soon as we get the final approval for the Our Common
Backyards Program. We estimate that we will plant five shade trees as part of the project.
State Priority Development or Preservation Areas: Not relevant to this project.
Open Space and Recreation Plan: This project will serve several recommendations from our plan:
Page 144: “Meet special needs of… environmental justice populations and the needs of those with disabilities.”
Page 147: “Add parks, greenspace…on city-owned land…to keep urban and village centers attractive.”
Page 149: “Maximum use of recreation space with affordable and quality programs for youth…Make capital
improvements…of recreation facilities…provide …recreation opportunities for individuals of all ages,
socioeconomic levels, and physical abilities…
Page 149: “Use open space and recreation to ensure that the urban and village centers are attractive places to
live, work, and visit.”
Page 159: “Having sufficient land for active recreation is critical to helping create healthy lifestyles.
Page 160: “Developing [Florence] recreation area, consistent with the 2010 Berkshire Design Master Plan, is the
top recreation priority for the City.”
Project budget: Preferred—Florence Fields receives 50% of funds (see also Lampron Park in Project #1)
Our Common Backyards CPA & donations Total
Design $ 12,500 $ 12,500
Construction: playground, surface, $ 87,500 $ 25,000 $112,500
landscaping
Total $100,000 $ 25,000 $125,000
Alternative: Florence Fields receives 100% of funds
Our Common Backyards CPA & donations Total
Design $ 20,000 $ 20,000
Construction (playground, surface, $180,000 $ 50,000 $230,000
landscaping)
Total $200,000 $ 50,000 $250,000
Attachment: City Council order to permanently dedicate Lampron Park for parks and recreation and to
fund both projects in anticipation of state reimbursement (after contract is approved).
February 6, 2014
Upon the recommendation of Mayor Narkewicz
BE IT ORDERED
WHEREAS, The Open Space and Recreation Plan: 2011-2018 recommends expanding Recreation opportunities
throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, The Massachusetts Our Common Backyards Grant provides up to $200,000 reimbursement for
playground and splash park improvements and is a reimbursement program which requires that the City
demonstrate that it has all of the funds necessary to make the required improvements; and
WHEREAS, The City’s priorities are developing a new playgrounds at Lampron Park, off Bridge Street near
downtown, and at Florence Recreation Fields, near Florence; and
WHEREAS, The grant will require up to a $50,000 local match, for which Community Preservation Funds are being
applied for;
WHEREAS, Transferring Lampron Park, located off Bridge Street and Parsons Street, to the care and custody of the
Recreation will ensure that it is permanently protected for parks and recreation purposes, consistent with
Open Space, Recreation and Multi-Use Plan: 2011-2018, and create new eligibility for grant
improvements to the parks; and
WHEREAS, Any transfer of Lampron Park will leave out the small portion of land on Parsons Street that is not part of
the active park and that is needed for a safe school bus loop; and
WHEREAS, Florence Recreation Fields is already under the jurisdiction of the Northampton Recreation Commission
and is already permanently dedicated to park and recreation purposes;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDERED,
That the Mayor is authorized to transfer the fee title and the care and custody of Lampron Park, excepting a small portion
along Parsons Street, to the City of Northampton through its Recreation Commission for park and recreation purposes,
under the provisions of MGL Chapter 45, Section 14, Northampton City Ordinance 22-60, and consistent with Article 97 of
the Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution.
Further, that City Council appropriates and authorizes the City Treasurer, with the approval of the Mayor, to borrow
$250,000, under M.G.L. c.44 §8C, or any other enabling authority, for the purpose of developing new playgrounds at
Lampron Park and/or the Florence Fields Recreation Area;
Further that the Recreation Commission is authorized to file on behalf of the City of Northampton any and all applications
deemed necessary for grants and /or reimbursements from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts deemed necessary under
the Our Common Backyards Program and/or any others in any way connected with the scope of this Article, and the
Northampton Recreation Commission and the Mayor be authorized to enter into all agreements and execute any and all
instruments as may be necessary on behalf of the City of Northampton to affect said improvements.
That any other grants and donations be allowed to be accepted and expended for these playground purposes.