May 1, 2025: Opening is set! Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 10am

February 27, 2025: Funding for the comfort station/restrooms was approved by the city council, and funding for the phase 2 design of recreation amenities is before the city council. Progress is being made quickly. The playground also received two awards from the Massachusetts Recreation and Parks Association. This is great recognition for all the design, thought and hard work put into this playground. Opening is expected in late March, Eversource is still working to bury power lines on the property and the spray park will be completed when weather allows.

February 20, 2025: We are excited to announce that 200 Trapelo Road received two awards! The 2025 Massachusetts Recreation and Parks Association's Regional Agency of the Year Design of Facility and the Commercial Partner Award. See HERE for details.

February 3, 2025: Finance committee discussed and approved requests for $36k for environmental surveys at Withington and Farrell Halls at 200 Trapelo, and $236k to renovate Trapelo Cottage for use as restrooms for the playground. Full council must approve on February 10, 2025.

January 27, 2025: Finance committee received requests for $36k for environmental surveys at Withington and Farrell Halls at 200 Trapelo, and $236k to renovate Trapelo Cottage for use as restrooms for the playground.

January 18, 2025: A three-alarm fire took place at the Chipman Building. This was later deteremined to be arson and an investigation has begin. See photos HERE.

December 23, 2024: A loan authorization for $1.03m for design services for the Howe and Admin buildings at 200 Trapelo Rd was approved by the city council.

December 2, 2024: Two change orders to the 200 Trapelo Universal Playground project totaling $403k were approved. One was for additional drainage and erosion control and the second was for Eversource and water and sewer work. The law department is involved and are trying to recoup some of these funds from design errors. The work will not delay the project and it will also support the buildings that have been bid for lease.

October 7, 2024: Playground equipment is being installed, mini golf course near completion. See aerial photos for the great progress being made.

September 8, 2024: The construction progress continues and the universal playground and other rec amenities are taking shape. Please see drone photos on the aerial photo page, the area looks great. Three bids were received for three buildings:

• North Building: Bid submitted by OFI to construct an adult daycare facility

• Dolan Hall: Bid submitted by Caritas Communities for veterans housing. 28 housing units and offices to provide services to veterans in need.

• North Nurses Building: OFI also submitted this bid for housing for disabled adults aged 22+. 

May 26, 2024: New aerial photos and drone flyover added HERE

May 20, 2024: The city council finance committee approved $533k to renovate the interior of the Cardinal Cottage on Trapelo Road. This building will provide two, two-bedroom affordable units that will be given out by lottery to those that qualify. The funding will come from the housing trust funds and community development block grants. Due the historical nature of the building, the expenses have been significant. The first floor unit will be fully-accessible. 

May 7, 2024: Waltham Channel/WCAC news article regarding vandalism of construction equipment and police enforcement of trespassing at the site of the universal playground. Click HERE.

May 2, 2024: Conservation Commission meeting notes below. Meeting was held May 2, 2024 and no evidence of jurisdictional wetlands were found. Previously, ConComm Chair Philip Moser raised this review by a third party wetlands expert to be positive. The meeting minutes are HERE and pasted below in green italics:

• Potential Violation at 190 Trapelo Road (Fernald)

Chase Bernier, Wetland Scientist from SWCA, was present to discuss the wetland assessment report and findings at this location. Mr. Bernier noted the location, at the intersection of Trapelo Road and Cherry Lane (the former Fernald driveway) and then described numerous documentary resources that were available and used. These include site reports and maps from Mass DEP, NRCS soil mapping, national wetlands inventory maps, FEMA floodplains, USGS topographic maps, and historic aerial imagery. They also dug several sample pits for soil testing. He presented images to highlight the location and note testing locations.

Part of the site, downgradient (southeast) has already been excavated. Testing could not be done there, so adjacent areas to the east were used. SWCA concluded that there is a wetland, but it is not a jurisdictional resource. It does not meet Approved 5-16-2024 the definition of BVW. There is a channel, but no flow. The channel was probably built for drainage of some kind. They considered if it might be ILSF but did not have a surveyor available to make the necessary calculation. They do not believe it qualifies. It would need to have at least ¼ acre-feet of storage and appears to be too small. Discussion. Mr. Moser noted that the city GIS coordinator confirmed that this area was one that Mr. Moser asked to add to the system around 2020.

If this is not a jurisdictional area, the map will need to be updated. Mr. Donovan noted and read aloud a portion of the report (page 5) describing the area’s likely previous development and specifying the measurements of the area, “approximately 325 linear feet, approximately 175 linear feet previously disturbed by ongoing activities.” Speculation that this was a swale built to prevent flooding in the previous Shriver Center area. Mr. Bernier noted that it is marked as an intermittent stream on the map. He could not locate any pipes, culverts, etc. that would flow into or out of the area. Mr. Doyle summarized the conclusions that this is not a wetland. Mr. Bernier clarified that ecologically it functions as a wetland, but from a regulatory standpoint it is not a regulated wetland. The commission understood this distinction.

Mr. Doyle asked if it might qualify as a vernal pool. Mr. Bernier confirmed that it is not certified as such and that indicators are not there. It could in some ways appear to be a vernal pool, but it would not have enough depth to function as one. Mr. Dufromont noted that this might have been constructed to prevent flooding in the residential neighborhood to the east, and asked if the ongoing construction could disrupt that. Mr. Bernier did not believe so, as the basin currently being built would have more capacity. Mr. Donovan stated that the decision to build the basin acknowledges water in the area, but not a jurisdictional resource.

Mr. Moser noted that he instigated this review and accepts the conclusion. He asked for clarification, noting that Mr. Chmiel [the applicant’s wetland scientist] and Mr. Bernier reached the same conclusion but through different methodology, with discrepancies and contradiction on some details (directional flow and scour, for example). Mr. Bernier agreed that they had used different indicators but that the conclusion was the same. He added that streams are not a resource area under the WPA, and the resource area determination (bank, BVW, etc.) could be approached from different angles. He worked backwards, looking for resource area indicators in the area, moving toward the feature; Mr. Chmiel might have worked in the other direction [noting the non-jurisdictional stream, then moving outward while looking for resource indicators]. The end result is essentially the same. Mr. Bernier leans more heavily on soil indicators, as hydrology and vegetation can sometimes “lie.”

Soils are a more reliable long-term indicator. Mr. Moser asked a technical question about the hydrologic gradient. Mr. Bernier clarified that both a gradient and flow are required. There are no signs of flow, although a very heavy storm might result in some overflow. The downgradient to the east has no wetland indicators. Mr. Moser asked if there would be a general rule to keep in mind as an indicator, but Mr. Bernier conceded it is done on a case-by-case basis. He suggested that defined banks and scour would be good indicators, both of which are absent here. Mr. Moser again noted that he initiated this review in the belief that this was a jurisdictional wetland which the commission had a duty to protect. He acknowledged that those who believed otherwise, including Ms. Champion, Mr. Chmiel, Mr. Hambardzumian, and Ms. Hebert, were correct, and he apologized for any unnecessary stress this caused. He thanked the commission for supporting him and undertaking this outside review, and Mr. Sbordone for his even-tempered and neutral approach. He believes that while he may have lost some credibility over this, the commission as a whole maintained or increased credibility by making this review to resolve the issue using appropriate science.

Ms. Champion noted a similar situation in the past and felt the expense of the review was money well spent. She raised the issue that DEP 85-2 had not been clarified [this involves the definition of ILSF]. Although no survey was completed, Mr. Moser agreed with Mr. Bernier’s estimate and Mr. Chmiel’s assertion that the area is not large enough to qualify as ILSF. Mr. Doyle observed that despite the ruling on jurisdiction, excavation in this area seems to quickly hit groundwater, so there is a water situation, even if the cause is artesian or similar. He asked if this could ever create a jurisdictional issue. Mr. Bernier noted that WPA jurisdiction only applies when there is a lake, stream, ocean, or other waterbody, or a large enough ILSF. Groundwater would be insufficient. He added that under a bylaw, which many towns have, ILSF of any size might be made jurisdictional. Waltham does not have such a bylaw.

Mr. Moser made a 3-part motion: (1) That the commission issue an ORAD to accept the determination of both wetland scientists that this is not a jurisdictional wetland. (2) Request that Ms. Sullivan work with the city GIS coordinator to update the map. (3) That the commission authorize Ms. Sullivan to include a cover letter with the ORAD, to be sent to all parties involved, that there will be no enforcement action due to the area being non-jurisdictional. Mr. Doyle seconded.

In favor: Sbordone, Doyle, Moser, Donovan, Andrews, Champion, Dufromont. Motion passed.

Mr. Sbordone thanked everyone, noting that this has been a drawn-out process. He appreciated Mr. Moser’s passion. Mr. Moser added that there has been a lot of public interest in this project. He acknowledged that many people want this project to proceed while others do not, and there will probably be people on both sides who are upset with him, first for delaying this project then for allowing it to continue. He stressed that science and regulation, not politics, drive the commission’s decisions. He is proud that the commission did its due diligence and reached a decision based on the science.

April 20, 2024: Reports of vandalism in the form of break-ins at the construction site of the universal playground. Equipment damaged, trespassing. Please note that 190 Trapelo is an active construction site and is closed to the public.

April 17, 2024: Bidding processes for the five buildings was canceled and is being reworked. Awaiting details on why and how. Check city purchasing website for up-to-date information.

April 16, 2024: Click for article from Boston.com with comments from city councilors and two former councilors. 16.6 acres of 200 total acres will be a universal playground. Many differences of opinion.

April 4 2024: 190 Trapelo was before the Waltham Conservation Commission regarding wetlands protection. Philip Moser provided photos and documentation HERE. ConComm believes there is a potential jurisdictional area at the property.

April 4, 2024: HIPAA breach notification. The state dept of developmental services received a data breach report in January 2024. You can read that HERE. WGBH has also been publishing articles about this property, the article about the patient privacy breach and report is HERE.

April 2, 2024: Article published in The Justice, from Brandeis University states that Waltham is failing to preserve the legacy of the Walter E Fernald Development Legacy. Quotes by Waltham residents Diana Young, former CPA member, Alex Green, former Waltham Historical Commission member, and Brian Parcival, who was hired by Waltham to photograph the site

April 2, 2024: Coming out of the March 27 Citizen Input Meeting, I started researching the claims of unmarked graves at 190 Trapelo Road. I quickly realized this will be a long process. I haven't yet been able to prove or disprove that there are unmarked graves, yet. But some data is trickling in slowly. I'll post it here.

March 29, 2024: Several people asked for specific documentation on the MWRA tunnel project as it relates to 190 Trapelo Road. Please read this documention from the mayor, dated February 7, 2024. The MWRA is drafting a temporary easement plan and a land-taking plan.

March 27, 2024: City Council Citizen's Input Hearing can be viewed on WCAC here.

Feb 27, 2024: WGBH article on families in search of Fernald records from the state. Alex Green, of Waltham, to publish biography of Walter E. Fernald. Sen Barrett, of Lexington, files bill to open records.