Advocates for the largest open green space in northern Newton, MA
Come jump in! It’s huge and gorgeous and incredibly fun! Opening day on June 24 was a real joy. As will be this entire glorious summer of swimming, splashing, walking and connecting. Check out this great video by Building Commissioner Josh Morse about the redevelopment of Gath!
It’s happening!! It’s really happening!
Next Monday, June 24 at 4pm, Mayor Fuller will meet us all on the steps of Gath to celebrate the opening of the new pool complex. We will swim at this gorgeous new pool, and then…get this…anyone who wants to stay, CAN STAY when Bluefish starts practice at 5pm, because…we will now have 2 pools. (!!) Come join us at 4 to celebrate!
Some construction is still underway, and it’s hard to believe that we made it in time. But just a quick reflection on all the voices that said it would never happen…look what we communities are capable of with determination, communication and collaboration! High fives to all!
Pictures by Building Commissioner Joshua Morse
Newton Building Commissioner Joshua Morse created a great presentation to share an insider’s view of the rapid transformation of Gath Pool from Sept 2023 – May 2024. We love it and are excited to share it! Click the below download button to get the PDF.
*Check out his public FB page for even more up-to-date pictures!
Building Commissioner Josh Morse has been posting some fantastic pictures of the pool construction and shared them with us for posting here.
The pool remains on schedule, with an opening date scheduled for June and the upcoming timeline here:
5/20 – Pool tile, waterline install, pool deck pours, ramps & stairs
5/28 – Pool plaster, spray deck plumbing, pool deck pours
6/3 – Fill and treat pools, waterslide & DB install, spray deck pad, pool deck pours, fence install.
6/10 – Training, shade structures, landscaping, splash pad curing
6/17 – Shade structures, splash pad curing
6/24 – Splash pad rubberized surface install
7/1 – Install splash pad spray features
At the beginning of the spring sports season, we asked the permitting office to please send the below notice to everyone using Albemarle. So far, so great!
***
It’s the spring sports season! More drivers will be coming to Albemarle Road to play at Albemarle and Fessenden.
This road has NEW RULES that all drivers must understand.
Albemarle Road along the field and pool side is now ANGLED BACK-IN PARKING only.
All drivers must provide space for the car in front of them to:
1. Pause
2. **Back up**
3. Take the time to angle in.
Please don’t honk when someone parks!
Please don’t try to pull in forwards.
Click here to learn how to back-in park.
There is now a bike lane on the left side of the road; please watch out for cyclists.
Curious about WHY Albemarle has back-in angled parking?
• Safety! This is a heavily used area with many conflict points and hundreds of school age children using Albemarle. We need to slow cars down, and establish clear paths for cycling and walking.
• Back-in or head-out parking gives drivers a clear view when exiting a parking space. You can practice at Auburndale Cove, and watch the Mayor’s video.
More info here and here
Coming soon to this road: Seasonal speed cushions, flex posts, and a second bridge.
To learn more, join Friends of Albemarle. It’s free and easy!
Thank you for your help,
The Board of Friends of Albemarle
Back-in parking has been very successful at Albemarle during the day when regulars and school employees use it, but what happens when non-local users arrive for games and practices during the weeknight?
We didn’t know what it would be like (and we even sent this email out to all permit holders at Albemarle to make it easier), but it turns out….it’s still very successful. Thank you to everyone, from all the drivers to the Newton DPW, committed to keeping Albemarle safe for all – even when it takes extra effort!
Dear City Council members and Mayor Fuller,
Thank you for considering the growth and improvement of Albemarle fields.
As the board of Friends of Albemarle, a certified 501(c)3 with more than 500 members including a majority of City Council and two state representatives, we want to ensure that you’re aware of our unanimous perspective on the issue of installing 2 acres of synthetic turf at the northern end of the field.
On balance, we find this installation to be the right choice for our community. We think the extremely high volume of traffic on this small field makes it an ideal candidate for synthetic turf. Much like a dirt road is ideal but just can’t support as high a volume of traffic as asphalt, so too this spot of open space needs to support the highest volume of outdoor recreation in all of Newton with more than just grass.
Here is one of our earlier letters to you on the issue.
Rather than relying on the intensive irrigation and chemicals needed to keep a high volume of players able to use this outdoor space, we think synthetic turf could help the environment. Modern turf is permeable and will help manage flooding concerns. Overall, we are in favor of grass and trees and natural outdoor spaces, and are also realistic about supporting a city of 90,000, many of whom need outdoor spaces to play. This will bring us to only 6% synthetic turf of our playing fields in use.
If we delay upgrading Albemarle, we also delay a planned bike and walking path that will create significantly safer conditions at Albemarle, not to mention improved grass fields, wetlands integration and rainwater management, and better lighting that allows for healthy outdoor community recreation.
A couple of last thoughts:
If you’re voting based on environmental concerns, please be sure you’re working with the facts of modern synthetic turf and PFAs as well. PFAs are in everything, including the current grass at Albemarle, and most notably in the takeout containers of Newton. If PFAs are the main reason for lack of support, please consider taking action in areas that are more directly related to harm than playing fields. Newton kids play travel sports on other town’s synthetic fields, and there is no evidence of harm to them. It’s important that we share a set of facts about the modern products so that we can support outdoor recreation in the best way possible.
More info on PFAs in our air, food, water, takeout containers and more is here: https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained
Newton North concerns –
Day Middle School gets out at 2:20 and has practice on the Albemarle until 4. North gets out at 4 and will have practice until around 6. After that, and on weekends, this synthetic turf will be the only one that is accessible to the community in all of Newton. Albemarle has an extremely broad and diverse group of users, of all ages, and sports, too. To be able to play cricket, football, soccer, etc – even on days when the ground is wet and other fields are closed – allows Newton to have an amenity that most of our surrounding communities already enjoy. Let’s go for it!
Thank you!
The Board of Friends of Albemarle
The Honorable Jake Auchincloss
Washington, DC, 20515-2104
Re: FY25 Community Project Funding Application
Dear U.S. Representative Auchincloss,
As President of the Friends of Albemarle, I support the City of Newton’s application for FY25 Community Project Funding for the Albemarle Stormwater and Phosphorus Control Project. Friends of Albemarle is a 501(c)3 nonprofit with more than 500 members representing all 8 wards of the city, including half of city council and several state representatives. Our mission is to advocate for this crucial asset that is the largest swath of open space in Newton north of the Pike. Please join us – and spread the word!
This project allows Newton to reduce nutrient pollution entering the Charles River through Cheesecake Brook which cause harmful algal blooms and negatively impacts ecosystem health within the watershed. It also addresses the increasing threat of localized flooding throughout the Albemarle Corridor by increasing flood storage and reducing total runoff volume.
As demonstrated in recent years, the threat of climate change brings ever increasing storm intensity and frequency. The proposed green and gray infrastructure in this project will help capture, treat, and infiltrate stormwater runoff, furthering the City’s MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) improvement efforts as required under the Clean Water Act.
We thank the City of Newton for prioritizing resilience planning and taking proactive steps to address the challenges posed by climate change. I am confident that the successful implementation of this project will strengthen our community’s climate resilience as well as the public’s use and enjoyment of a valued natural space that is Cheesecake Brook and the Albemarle Corridor.
Sincerely,
Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Manager
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
May 2, 2024
Re: RFR ENV 25 MVP 01 – Letter of Support for Flood Storage and Bank Restoration Along Cheesecake Brook
Dear _________,
I am writing to express support for the City of Newton’s application for the FY2025 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant to implement flood storage beneath the proposed Craft Street playing field and bank restoration along Cheesecake Brook. I am president of Friends of Albemarle, a 501(c)3 nonprofit with more than 500 members representing all 8 wards of the city, including half of city council and several state representatives. Our mission is to advocate for this crucial 17-acre asset that is the largest swath of open space in Newton north of the Pike.
Albemarle’s future is fully interdependent with that of Cheesecake Brook, a vulnerable area that requires proactive measures in mitigating the impacts of climate change, particularly in vulnerable areas such as Cheesecake Brook.
Cheesecake Brook, as a tributary of the Charles River, plays a significant role in the fabric of Newton, providing valuable access to nature and a place to walk and relax for residents. However, the increasing frequency and severity of flooding events pose a significant threat to the health, safety, and well-being of our community members and infrastructure.
We agree that the City of Newton must prioritize resilience planning and take proactive steps to address the challenges posed by climate change. I am confident that the successful implementation of this project will strengthen our community’s resilience as well as the public’s use and enjoyment of a valued natural space.
I urge the review committee to give full consideration to the City of Newton’s application for the FY2025 MVP Action Grant. This investment in resilience will yield long-term benefits for our community and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future for all residents in our community.
Sincerely,
May 2, 2024
Re: RFR ENV 25 MVP 01 – Letter of Support for Flood Storage and Bank Restoration Along Cheesecake
Brook
Dear Ms. ———,
I am writing to express support for the City of Newton’s application for the FY2025 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant to implement flood storage beneath the proposed Craft Street playing field and bank restoration along Cheesecake Brook. I am president of Friends of Albemarle, a 501(c)3 nonprofit with more than 500 members representing all 8 wards of the city, including half of city council and several state representatives. Our mission is to advocate for this crucial 17-acre asset that is the largest swath of open space in Newton north of the Pike.
Albemarle’s future is fully interdependent with that of Cheesecake Brook, a vulnerable area that requires proactive measures in mitigating the impacts of climate change, particularly in vulnerable areas such as Cheesecake Brook.
Cheesecake Brook, as a tributary of the Charles River, plays a significant role in the fabric of Newton, providing valuable access to nature and a place to walk and relax for residents. However, the increasing frequency and severity of flooding events pose a significant threat to the health, safety, and well-being of our community members and infrastructure.
We agree that the City of Newton must prioritize resilience planning and take proactive steps to address the challenges posed by climate change. I am confident that the successful implementation of this project will strengthen our community’s resilience as well as the public’s use and enjoyment of a valued natural space.
We urge the review committee to give full consideration to the City of Newton’s application for the FY2025 MVP Action Grant. This investment in resilience will yield long-term benefits for our community and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future for all residents in our community.
Sincerely,
President, Friends of Albemarle
Friends of Albemarle