FINAL FY16 CPC Community Path Design Recommendation — File 201528

JOSEPH A. CURTATONE MAYOR COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE FY16 FUNDING RECOMMENDATION FOR DESIGN FOR THE PRESERVATION, REHABILITATION, RESTORATION AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SOMERVILLE COMMUNITY PATH, CITY OF SOMERVILLE & FRIENDS OF THE COMMUNITY PATH PROJECT DESCRIPTION This project will provide resources for the City of Somerville Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, in partnership with the Friends of the Community Path, to conduct a design study to determine effective interventions to improve drainage on the Path, such as rain gardens and bioswales, to explore the feasibility of creating additional community garden plots, develop signage for Path etiquette and way finding, and options for siting an interpretive display of railroad artifacts. ELIGIBILITY The proposed project will preserve, rehabilitate and restore open space and recreational land. It also seeks to preserve historic railroad artifacts by developing plans for an interpretive display on the Path. The Somerville Historic Preservation Committee determined that the railroad artifacts are historically significant. RECOMMENDED FUNDING On April 28, 2016 by a vote of 6-0 the Community Preservation Committee recommended appropriating $75,000 for this project from the open space and recreation land reserve budget to the control of the City of Somerville Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development Transportation and Infrastructure Division for the overall purposes summarized in this document. Project Budget Expenses Amount Study $75,000 Total $75,000 Sources CPA open space/recreation land and historic resources funds- requested $75,000 Total $75,000 CITY OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE 1

JOSEPH A. CURTATONE MAYOR ALIGNMENT WITH FY16 COMMUNITY PRESERVATION PLAN In alignment with the Community Preservation Plan, the proposed project will rehabilitate and restore existing recreational land and creatively and coherently combine multiple uses that meet community need. If additional community garden plots are added, it will also expand urban agriculture opportunities. FUNDING CONDITIONS 1. The RFP for hiring the design firm shall include a requirement that the firm have experience working with community groups, with a preference for firms that are familiar with the Somerville community (or similar cities/towns). 2. The Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development and the Friends of the Community Path will involve the Conservation Commission in the discussion and in all decisions regarding the addition of community gardens on the Community Path. 3. The Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development and the Friends of the Community Path will involve the Historic Preservation Commission in the discussion and in all decisions regarding the historical interpretive display of railroad artifacts. The full proposal is available at: http://www.somervillema.gov/cpa/projects/2016 2