Kennedy School Playground Renovation

The City of Somerville has taken an exciting step forward in the development of the Kennedy Playground, a project aimed at creating a welcoming and accessible play space for children and families of all abilities. In the late winter, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a qualified Landscape Architecture firm to lead the design process. The RFP generated strong interest, resulting in five (5) proposals submitted by firms with experience in inclusive and community-centered design.

Following a comprehensive review process, the City’s evaluation team carefully assessed all submissions based on qualifications, design philosophy, relevant experience, and understanding of the project goals. After narrowing the field, two firms were invited to participate in interviews to further explore their vision and approach. Based on these interviews and overall evaluations, the City identified a preferred firm that aligns strongly with the project's values and objectives.

A formal offer has been extended, and contract negotiations are currently in progress. We anticipate finalizing and executing the contract by early May. Once the design contract is in place, the next phase of the project will begin: community engagement.

Your Voice Matters!
Community input will play a central role in shaping the design of the Kennedy Playground. The City will host opportunities for residents and School community members to share their ideas, concerns, and priorities to ensure the playground reflects the diverse needs of the Somerville community. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, educator, accessibility advocate, or simply a neighbor with a passion for public spaces, your feedback will help guide the vision for this important site.

Stay connected for upcoming engagement events, design workshops, and surveys. Updates will be posted here and on the City’s Instagram page, @SomervilleParks, so be sure to follow along.

As part of the project, we are conducting soil testing to analyze the composition of the soil on the site. This testing is important because it will help us determine the correct method for disposing of any soil that might need to be removed during construction. Additionally, the soil testing will give us valuable information about the structural integrity of the soil, which is crucial for ensuring that the ground can support the planned construction.

A Licensed Site Professional (LSP) is overseeing this process. An LSP is a qualified professional who is licensed to evaluate and manage environmental issues related to sites, such as soil contamination, disposal, and site remediation. They play a key role in ensuring that the construction site is safe and compliant with environmental regulations. The LSP will guide us in determining how to handle any potential environmental concerns and ensure that all necessary precautions are taken during the project.

The schedule will be as follows:

Friday April 11th – Dig-safe will come and mark the site with chalk spray paint in preparation for the soil samples. We have advised them to complete the work before 8am, but let me know if there’s a better time for them to do this work.

Friday April 18th & Monday April 21st - Based on the drillers availability we like to perform the pre-clearance with the vacuumed truck on Friday the 18th and the drilling would follow on that Monday the 21st. The work will take the crew all day Monday.

You may have noticed some activity around the Kennedy School recently. Over the past few weeks, the City has enlisted a team of professional surveyors to conduct a detailed topographic survey of the existing site. This crucial step marks the beginning of the design process for the much-anticipated Kennedy School playground renovation.

The survey is essential as it will provide designers with the necessary data to refine initial concepts and develop a comprehensive design for the new playground space. The team is employing a combination of traditional field surveying methods along with advanced drone technology to map the area accurately. This dual approach will ensure a thorough understanding of the site's topography and features.

The surveying work is scheduled to take place over the course of March and April. During this time, you may see surveyors working on the ground and drones capturing aerial images. This information will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the playground and helping create a vibrant, functional space for the community.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as this important work progresses.

All proposals can be found on our Purchasing website under the “Closed Bid Section” Because we are still reviewing these The City cannot answer any specific questions that are not publicly available on this webpage. We are currently conducting interviews and reviewing applications.

https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/finance/purchasing/bids/rfq-25-45