Divisions & Programs

Dana Park Improvements

What's Happening Now
Project Background
Project Goals
Relevant Documents
Photo Gallery
For More Information

What's Happening Now

Dana Park is located on Magazine Street between Corporal McTernan and Lawrence Streets in the Cambridgeport neighborhood. Park renovations were completed in 2004.

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Project Background

The City of Cambridge conducted a series of three community meetings to plan for the renovation of Dana Park. The public meetings took place between April and November of 2003, and were all well attended. Community Development Department staff presented background information on neighborhood demographics, open space needs analysis, relevant open space studies, and several preliminary concept plans. CDD staff also met with representatives from other city departments such as Public Works, Electrical, Animal Control, and the Arts Council, in order to coordinate the design of the renovated park, and ensure consistency with other department's policies and practices. Neighborhood residents, park users, and other interested residents commented on current park use, neighborhood open space needs, and the desired future use of the park.

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Project Goals

Based on comments received at the first meeting, CDD staff developed a set of goals to guide the design of the renovated park.

To preserve and enhance the existing park, the organization of spaces and distribution of active and passive activities. Maintain the park as a social gathering place for diverse individuals and groups.
Embrace Dana Square as a destination park, which is important to the entire neighborhood, and is a unique natural and recreation resource. It should therefore be uniquely beautiful and convey a feeling of permanence. Dana Park has been and should remain a mature urban park.
Don't "over civilize it". Upgrade park furniture, fencing and equipment, while maintaining and increasing open space, trees, plantings, hills, and natural materials, which often disappear from an urban park.
Bring park into conformance with minimum federal child safety and ADA accessibility standards and to exceed those minimum standards where possible.
Good design starts with public safety. The new lighting plan should be carefully considered, appropriate, and must work together with existing and new plantings to maintain clear views into and throughout park. Lighting, an emergency call box, and comprehensive regulatory signs all contribute to feeling safer.
Design in collaboration with the Department of Public Works (DPW) so that the park can be maintained. The lights, park furniture, play equipment etc. are consistent with what the City is able to maintain, and has a proven track record of longevity.

After careful consideration of comments received by residents, several modifications to draft concept plans, and coordination among various City departments, Community Development Department staff developed the final design for the renovated Dana Park.

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Relevant Documents

The following links will bring you to documents concerning the Dana Park plan. These files are in PDF format and require use of the free Adobe Acrobat viewer.

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Photo Gallery

Here you will find a collection of photos of the finished park. Select a photo or the caption beneath to view a larger version of the picture.


Play Equipment	Paths and Bench	Pergola

Tot Play Area	Basketball Court	Path and Bench

For More Information

If you would like additional information please contact Taha Jennings by phone
617/349-4603 or by email at tjennings@cambridgema.gov. The Community Development Department TTY line is 617/349-4621.

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