This picture was taken by a drone for the consulting firm working on field re-design. We’ve spent a lot of time zooming in to see our house. Do you see yours?
Drones-Eye View of Albemarle
Final Design: Gath Pool
On April 25, 2022, the design team BH+A presented a final design for Gath Pool (“Option 4”). Here is an excerpt from their presentation.
Highlights include a walking lane for pool users, zero-entry, splash pad, standard-depth and more lanes for competition.
Four Options: Excerpted Slides from Albemarle Fields Presentation
Here are some slides from the Weston & Sampson presentation on a range of concepts for Albemarle Fields redesign.
Fields and Pool and You
There are two upcoming city meetings about Albemarle – both on zoom.
Attend tonight’s meeting to view the plans for the fields and the pool, but not to make a public comment.
Attend Tuesday of next week to discuss the plans as a community. (Register in advance.)
Bottom line: attend!
We’ll see you there!
Cedar
From Newton Parks, Recreation & Culture:
We are excited to announce two upcoming meetings to introduce preliminary design options for Albemarle Park and to present the Gath Pool project preferred design. The projects will be discussed at the Parks & Recreation Commission’s 4/25 meeting. Please note that there will not be public comment on these topics due to the number of items on the agenda. However, the Department is hosting a community meeting the following week on May 3rd to allow for comments and questions from the public.
Meeting # 1 Parks & Recreation Commission
TONIGHT: April 25, 2022, 7PM
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84511350899
Meeting # 2 Community Meeting: PRC presents Albemarle Fields and Gath Pool
NEXT WEEK: May 3, 2022
6-7:30PM Albemarle Fields; 7:30-9PM Gath Pool Project
Register for the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_msuBmxXuQ7CtMEXwanURoA
Letter to all City Council and Parks & Rec Commission Members
Dear Newton City Councilors and Members of the Parks & Recreation Commission,
As the Board of the nonprofit Friends of Albemarle, we’ve listened to input about the Gath Pool redesign from many key stakeholders, community members and the 1,500+ respondents of our recent survey done in collaboration with the city.
It has led us to one conclusion: we must act on the opportunities in front of us to rebuild Gath before it fails beyond repair while also addressing the clear need for an indoor pool.
We propose two parallel projects:
1. Continue to rebuild an outdoor Gath Pool as planned with funding requested from the CPC. This rebuild should include a competitive structure that promotes athleticism alongside recreation. We also propose that it include the correct anchoring for a bubble should a future determination lead our community to bubble it outside of the summer season.
2. Take the steps necessary to put a community-accessible indoor pool on the CIP. One clear candidate location is Newton South, where the space exists for an addition, and a swim team is waiting to make use of the facility. It is an equitable choice since Newton North already has a pool, allows students swim time during the day, and is currently overtaxed with users including the students at Newton South. We would need to restructure the use of both pools to allow for true community access so that Newton residents are not pressed into a choice of high fees at private pools or nothing. Failing this last point, we propose a Newton Community Recreation Center on the grounds of Newton South that is accessible to both students and community members.
If we don’t recognize the importance of the second project it will undermine the effectiveness of the first project. The time to act is now.
Thank you,
The Board of The Friends of Albemarle
Megan Anapolle, Jacqueline Freeman, Cedar Pruitt
Fields & Pool: Planning Sessions
Monday March 21: 7pm
Albemarle Master Plan and Gath Pool
Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting
Near the beginning of the meeting, PRC will present updated information on the Albemarle Master Plan as well as the connected option of the new Gath Pool designs. This includes a splash pad where the tennis courts currently stand and two pools that connect to each other. Public comment may not be allowed (or it might), but observing the meeting, and then emailing or calling your elected officials once you’re informed is always a good way to voice feedback.
Zoom info: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88119712594
Meeting details including agenda:
Monday March 30: 7pm
Gath Pool Redesign
Newton Design Review Committee Meeting
Attend this meeting to hear more in-depth discussion about the current proposed design for Gath.
Zoom info:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88484697005?pwd=OVV1UVd2UEc4Uy9GSDJMbGpYTjBSUT09
POSTPONED: Albemarle Parking Lesson: Head Out
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED AND NO NEW DATE HAS BEEN SET.
Newton Transportation is hosting an Albemarle Parking Party this Friday 3/18 from 7:30-10:30 AM at the Education Center (Newton Public Schools) parking lot at 100 Walnut Street. This will be an opportunity to learn more about head out angled parking and try it out in your own car! The proposed Albemarle Traffic Calming and Bike Lane project proposes head out angled parking. Please note we cannot provide a car for you to use, so please bring your own, or come with a friend!
Information on the parking party is attached. For more information on the project, please visit: https://www.newtonma.gov/government/planning/transportation-planning/projects/albemarle-traffic-calming-bike-lane
TONIGHT: TRAFFIC CALMING MEETING
Albemarle Traffic Calming and Bike Lane Public Information Session
Public information session from Newton’s Director of Transportation, Nicole Freedman: Thursday March 10 at 5:30 PM via zoom
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87482389468?pwd=N29DcVlUV0lEZWdsS01yUkVNMnQvZz09
Meeting ID: 874 8238 9468
Passcode: 661700
Information on the project, including a copy of the presentation and proposal, will be posted here for review prior to the meeting: https://www.newtonma.gov/government/planning/transportation-planning/projects/albemarle-traffic-calming-bike-lane.
Check out the flyer:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dTZJAgkVLTUHRK16GPr5MLaKTXE8t0w1/view?usp=sharing
Take the Survey!
Your perspective is vital to planning a future vision for Albemarle (fields and park; see definition below). The link below takes you to a survey on your use of Albemarle Park. Please take 10-15 minutes to share insight into your priorities for this important open space in Newton.
https://forms.gle/YSsFfChFSNGo6jpA9
Deadline: Sunday March 13
Details
Who created the survey?
It’s a collaboration between Newton Parks, Recreation and Culture and Friends of Albemarle (a nonprofit which is free and easy to join).
What do we mean by Albemarle?
“Albemarle” is the stretch of open space bordered by Cheesecake Brook and Albemarle Road as it intersects with Watertown Street on one end, and Crafts Street on the other. Newton’s largest middle school, Day Middle School, abuts the field space, which includes the most heavily used athletic field in the city of Newton. Along Albemarle Rd runs Cheesecake Brook, a tributary of the Charles River and a key factor in localized flooding. Next to Day lies Avery Woods. Your experience and use of all of these areas are valuable for us to understand as we consider the future vision for this treasured asset.
Who can take the survey?
Anyone who has a perspective to share on their use of Albemarle.
Can students take it?
Yes!
Can I pass this survey on to others?
Yes, please do!
I’m a parent who spectates, but my family members play certain sports there. Should I fill it out as the parent, or family members?
Please provide a full picture of your family’s use. (i.e. If you watch your daughter play softball, and she will not be filling out the survey, please check “Play Softball” as well as “Sports Spectator”).
Thank you for contributing your voice!
Lights at Murphy? Site Visit Announcement From Parks, Rec and Culture
The Parks and Recreation Commission will be holding an in-person meeting to conduct a site visit for the purpose of evaluating the appropriateness to allow for a light system to be installed on Murphy Field, within Albemarle Park. The light system proposal can be viewed here: https://www.newtonma.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/79913/637783526331030000
The DRAFT meeting minutes of the public hearing in January, (the public hearing was continued to the regular Feb meeting), can be found here:
https://www.newtonma.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/80254/637789588031609345
The meeting will take place on Thursday, February 10th at Murphy Field, (250 Albemarle Rd., Newtonville) with the Commission convening at the Gazebo at 5pm. The discussion at this location is anticipated to take approximately 30 minutes; thereafter the Commission will travel to the Newton Highlands Playground (10 Dedham St., Newton Highlands) for a field light demonstration. All are welcome to attend both parts of the meeting. Meeting minutes will be taken.
If you are interested in this project but are not able to attend the site visit, your comment can be emailed to: parks@newtonma.gov
Friends of Albemarle 