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Gold Star Mothers Park Court Renovation

Gold Star Mothers Park court area

The City of Cambridge will be renovating the basketball court area at the Gold Star Mothers Park in East Cambridge. The site currently features a full-court basketball court, an additional half-court basketball court, and a standalone play element. The project will focus on the paved court area, and will consider opportunities for modest improvements such as trees and plantings along the path between the basketball court and Winter Street, and in the planted area north of the courts. 

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Tree Work Expected in Early February

The City's contractor, Cambridge Tree, under the direction of the City Arborist will be on site the week of February 3, 2025. They will provide tree care for maintaining tree health. This will include removing dead wood and pruning back limbs. This work will take place along the north side of the basketball court.

 

 

Expected Construction Activity for January and February

January 2025, weather permitting:

  • Continued site demolition of existing basketball court
  • Drainage piping excavation and installation

February 2025, weather permitting:

  • Area drainage installation
  • Electrical underground excavation and installation

 

 

 

January 15, 2025 - Construction Mobilization this Week

We are excited to announce that JAM Corporation, the construction general contractor for the Gold Star Mothers Park Courts renovation project, will begin mobilization for the court renovation project this week.

You can expect to see them setting up:

  • Temporary construction fencing along the limit of work (this encompasses the court area, entrance way from Winter Street, and path immediately adjacent to the court area). The remainder of the park remains open for use.
  • Erosion and sedimentation controls
  • Tree protection

Temporary construction access will be established off the Winter Street entrance to the park. 

Work is expected to be completed by Fall 2025.

For questions during the construction process, please contact Kristen Kelleher, Community Relations Manager at the Department of Public Works, at kkelleher@cambridgema.gov

January 2025 Project Update

JAM Corporation has been awarded the construction contract for this renovation project. Construction is anticipated to begin in early 2025.

 

Meet the Artist!

We are excited for artist Michael Talbot to create the court mural as part of the Gold Star Mothers Park court renovation project. Now that spring is here, Michael plans to be at the park to observe and connect with people. He hopes to learn about the neighborhood and would love to hear from you!

Weather permitting, Michael plans to be at the park:

  • Monday, May 27th, 10am-12pm
  • Saturday, June 8th, 12pm-2pm
  • Saturday, June 22nd, 12pm-2pm

If you are around, enjoy a nice day in the park and drop in to say hello!

For more information, you can click here to view a project update sent to the project email list on May 22, 2024.

 

Spring Project Updates

 

Click here to view a project update that was sent to the project email list on April 24, 2024. The update covers: 

  • Artist Selected for Court Mural
  • Design Updates and Project Schedule
  • FYI: Site Work this Week

 

Meeting Materials and Recording for October 5 Virtual Meeting

 

Click here to view presentation slides from the October 5 meeting on refined design concepts. 

 

Click here to view a recording of the presentation via Zoom.

Passcode: U72X4?=r

 

 

Virtual Community Meeting on Refined Concepts

The project team held a virtual community meeting to discuss refined concepts for the project and collect feedback. 

The meeting was held on Zoom on:

Thursday, October 5, 2023

5:30PM to 7:00PM

 

Meeting Materials and Recording for July 25 Virtual Meeting

 

Click here to view presentation slides from the July 25 meeting on initial conceptual directions. 

 

Click here to view a recording of the presentation via Zoom.

Passcode: 2=D&@dy9 

 

We'd like to hear from you! Which of the concepts or ideas resonate most with you? Share your feedback with the project team by contacting Gary Chan at gchan@cambridgema.gov.

 

Virtual Community Meeting on Initial Concepts

The project team held a virtual community meeting to discuss the renovation of the paved court area at the Gold Star Mothers Park in East Cambridge. City staff and the design team from Weston & Sampson introduced the project, presented potential conceptual directions for the area, and collected feedback. 

The meeting was held on Zoom on:

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

5:30PM to 7:00PM

 

Initial Questionnaire (now closed)

We asked you for ideas for additional uses and elements our design team should consider as we renovate the court space. This feedback was summarized into themes presented at the July 25 community meeting, and used to guide development of concepts.

 

Anticipated Schedule (as of January 2025): 

Construction will begin in January 2025, with completion and re-opening anticipated in fall 2025. 

 

The City of Cambridge is renovating and making modest improvements to the paved basketball court area at Gold Star Mothers Park. The design is led by Weston & Sampson, and improvements to this area of the park will include:

  • A re-oriented and renovated full court basketball court, with public art court mural by artist Michael Talbot
  • Drainage improvements, de-paving of some existing court area, and replacement of some existing hardscape area with permeable pavement loop path connection to existing park paths
  • Trees and landscape plantings
  • New shade structure and seating areas
  • Updated park infrastructure in the court area (water bottle filler, trash and recycling, pathway lighting, etc.)

For more information, please contact:

Cortney Kirk
Senior Landscape Architect
ckirk@cambridgema.gov, and

Gary Chan
Neighborhood Planner
gchan@cambridgema.gov