Kennedy School Playground Renovation

Kennedy School Playground Renovation Project Round Table Discussion – Inclusivity 6:00pm Friday 1/16

The Public Space and Urban Forestry department is hosting a round table discussion to review and discuss the type of play equipment proposed at the site and determine which features will accomplish the goals of making this space inclusive. This meeting will be hybrid, but attendees are highly encouraged to attend in person due to some of the limitations of the hybrid features of the space.

When: 6pm Friday, January 16^th, 2026

Where: Tufts Administration Building Atrium Conference Room (2^nd floor near room 204) at the Tufts Administration Building 167 Holland St, Somerville, MA 02144

Virtual Attendance Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eers2xU7R0ySzGgrmmFFPQ

The Kennedy School PTA is hosting Coffee Hours in the Kennedy School Cafeteria Tuesday 1/12/2026 @ 8:30am, where the Public Space& Urban Forestry Department will be there to discuss the Kennedy School Playground Renovation project, and answer any questions.


Engagement to Date:

School-Based Engagement

• Numerous meetings with school administrators

• Preliminary presentation to school staff

• Shadowing teachers during recess to observe playground use

• Flyering at the school during various pick-up and drop-off times

Family & Community Events

• Tabling and sharing project information at multiple school events, including:

  • Back-to-School Night

  • Parent-Teacher Conferences

  • PTA Harvest Fair

    • Daytime event for students with additional needs

    • Afterschool full-class event

  • Holiday Concerts (Tuesday and Wednesday performances)

Community Meetings

• Community Meeting #1 (December)

Surveys & Feedback

• Teacher-specific survey

• Community Survey #1

• Community Survey #2, based on the first conceptual design

  • Nearly 250 responses collected

Funding & Advocacy

• CPA (Community Preservation Act) funding outreach

• Letters of support

CLOSED - 1/5/2026
Thank you all for taking the time to complete this survey, we received roughly 250 responses that we will now review.

Please take the second survey based on the first round of schematic designs!

Link Here: https://linktr.ee/KennedySchoolSurvey

The project team received great feedback, both at our first public meeting and through the first online survey. Thank you for helping us identify your priorities for this project! If you missed the meeting or want to see larger views of the plans, a recording is available on the right hand side of the project's SomerVoice page.

The three initial concepts presented are shown above. Since pieces of each plan can be combined in the preferred design, we'd like you to consider these plans as a "kit of parts." The following pages ask questions about how you feel each of several key elements works best.

Join Us for the First Public Community Meeting!
City staff invite you to attend a virtual community meeting for the Kennedy School Playground Renovations project.

This session will:

• Introduce community members to the project
• Share research and interviews conducted with school staff, public commenters, and city departments
• Present preliminary design ideas
• Gather your input to help guide the direction of the playground design

Date: Tuesday December 2
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Online (Zoom)

If you’re unable to attend, a recording of the meeting and a follow-up survey will be posted afterward so you can still share your feedback.

Meeting Registration:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7mRwJiz5QhmaWu_wXUcaYQ

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids or reasonable modifications should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov.

The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter in your language for free. To request an interpreter, please contact us at languageaccess@somervillema.gov or call 311 (617-666-3311) at least 7 days in advance of this event.

Take the Community Survey for the Kennedy Schoolyard Renovations!

We want to hear from you! The City of Somerville invites all community members to take the first survey for the Kennedy Schoolyard Renovations. Your input will help shape the design and ensure that the new schoolyard meets the needs of students, families, and neighbors.

Take the survey: https://linktr.ee/KennedySchoolSurvey

Translated versions are available to ensure everyone can participate.

If you have any questions, need assistance, or require the survey in another format, please contact the Project Manager, Jon Bronenkant, at JBronenkant@somervillema.gov.

Thank you for helping us create a better schoolyard for our community!

The City of Somerville’s Public Space and Urban Forestry Division will be requesting construction funding for the Kennedy Schoolyard Playground Renovation Project at the upcoming Community Preservation Committee (CPC) meeting on October 22.

This project aims to revitalize and improve the playground space at the Kennedy School, creating a safer, more engaging environment for students and the surrounding community.

We invite community members to show their support! Submit a Comment Online

Submit a comment in support of the project using the online form linked below:

Submit a Comment

The City of Somerville is working to create its first inclusive playground at the Kennedy School. This location has been identified as an ideal site for such a project due to the school’s specialized SEEK and SKIP programs, which cater to children with diverse learning needs.

The design of the new playground will focus on creating a universally designed, sensory-rich environment that allows children to develop physically, socially, and emotionally. The goal is to create an engaging space that provides the “just-right level of challenge,” offering opportunities for children to succeed while also meeting a variety of needs and interests. This will go beyond the minimum accessibility standards set by the ADA to ensure the playground accommodates not only children with physical disabilities but also those with social and emotional needs.

What Makes It Inclusive?

Inclusive design prioritizes the creation of environments that are accessible, engaging, and equitable for children of all abilities. This includes providing sensory play experiences, adaptive equipment, and spaces that foster social interaction. These playgrounds are built to ensure that every child can participate, no matter their abilities.

Examples of Similar Inclusive Playgrounds:

• McGlynn School Playground

• Cambridge Universal Playground

• Waltham Universal Playground

Learn More About Inclusive Playground Design:

• 7 Principles of Inclusive Playground Design

• Inclusive Playgrounds Network

• Kompan Inclusive Playground Equipment

• Universal Playgrounds by ASLA

Over the past few months, the City has been collaborating with school administration and key city departments to kick off the engagement process, initially focusing on internal members of the school community. In the coming weeks, these efforts will broaden to include school staff, parents, students, and the wider public.

As part of these efforts, you'll begin to see a variety of events aimed at gathering feedback from parents and the public about the space. Upcoming events include:

• Kennedy Back to School Night – September 25th, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Pick-up and Drop-off Tabling – Weekly
• Ward 5 Community Meeting – October 7th, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
• A public survey will also be opening in the next few weeks, inviting input from the community. Be sure to visit the website for more details and updates on the survey release.
• Parent Teacher Conferences – November 18th

In parallel with the public meetings, city staff will meet with school staff during their professional development days and hold office hours to continue refining a design that meets the school’s needs.

The Kennedy Schoolyard Renovation project received additional funding through the Community Preservation Act (CPA) last week, thanks to the support of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC). This grant has enabled the City to move forward with the project, including contracting with the selected firm. We’re pleased to announce that CBA Landscape Architects LLC of Cambridge has been awarded the contract, and we are currently finalizing the necessary paperwork. An internal kickoff meeting will take place soon, followed by the release of a finalized public engagement strategy.