Update on the Gold Star Mothers Memorial Park

Gold Star Mothers Memorial Park In-person Community Meeting (October 7, 2025)

The City will be hosting an in-person Community Meeting on Thursday, October 16, 2025 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Millers River Apartments, 15 Lambert Street, in the Community Room.

As part of the Gold Star Mothers Park Court Renovation Project, the City conducted environmental testing of park soils. Initial results identified contamination beneath the former basketball court. Follow-up testing has now confirmed that similar contaminants are present in multiple areas throughout the park.

The focus of this meeting will be to review the soil testing results and discuss anticipated next steps.

Representatives from the City and Cambridge Department of Public Health will be available to share information and answer questions.

Visit the Project webpage at https://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/Projects/Parks/goldstarmothersparkcourtrenovation

If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact: Kristen Kelleher at kkelleher@cambridgema.gov / 617-349-4825.

View the full Community Meeting flyer here.

Notice to the Community: Updates for Gold Star Mothers Memorial Park (September 10, 2025)

As part of the Gold Star Mothers Park Court Renovation Project, the City conducted environmental testing of park soils. Initial results identified contamination beneath the former basketball court. Follow-up testing has now confirmed that similar contaminants are present in multiple areas throughout the park. The contaminants identified were largely typical of historic uses of the site and / or urban fill used in construction and landscaping in urban areas.

Park Closure

As a safety precaution, the entire park including the playground, most asphalt paths, and all recreational areas will be closed until soil remediation can be completed.

Access

• The paved path adjacent to the Simoni Memorial Rink building will remain open to the public.

• All other areas of the park will be closed during this period.

• To explore alternative parks and playgrounds throughout the City visit the Parks and Playgrounds Interactive Map: www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/parks/parksmap

Next Steps

• Soil testing will continue in additional areas of the park to fully assess conditions.
• Test results will continue to be made publicly available.
• As new information becomes available, updates will be shared through the project website, on-site postings, community notifications, and the project email list.
• DPW will continue to maintain the park including lawn maintenance and cleanups.
• The City is working with environmental consultants and regulators to develop and implement a soil
  remediation plan. At this time, the specific timeframe for remediation and reopening is not yet known.

Visit www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/Projects/Parks/goldstarmothersparkcourtrenovation for more information about the project and to sign up for the email list.

If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact: Kristen Kelleher at kkelleher@cambridgema.gov / 617-349-4825

Notice to the Community: Updates for Gold Star Mothers Memorial Park (August 5, 2025)

As part of the Goldstar Mothers Park Court Renovation Project, the City conducted routine environmental testing, which identified some soil contamination that will require revised construction plans. The contaminants identified were largely typical of historic uses of the site and / or urban fill used in construction and landscaping in urban areas.

As a safety precaution, the City will undertake further testing in the park. This will impact different areas of the park as follows:

• The timeline for the basketball court construction project will be extended to allow for appropriate remediation of the soil.

• The playing fields will be closed to allow for soil testing to assess conditions. Staff is coordinating directly with recreational permit holders.

• The playground will remain open. As part of an extensive renovation in 2005, this area sits atop a significant bed (18”) of clean fill. The area will be tested as part of the overall project but will otherwise remain open.

• The asphalt paths through the park will remain open.

• The Summer Food Program will continue to run Monday through Friday; breakfast meals will be served from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. and lunch meals will be served from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the playground area.

Updates will be provided through the project website, on-site at the park, community notifications and the project email list.

Visit https://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/Projects/Parks/goldstarmothersparkcourtrenovation for more information about the project and to sign up for the email list. 

If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact: Kristen Kelleher at kkelleher@cambridgema.gov / 617-349-4825