FINAL CPC FY18 Recommendation Community Growing Center — File 205505

COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE FY18 FUNDING RECOMMENDATION FOR SOMERVILLE COMMUNITY GROWING CENTER REHABILITATION AND RESTORATION IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT, FRIENDS OF THE COMMUNITY GROWING CENTER PROJECT DESCRIPTION This project will implement the hardscape elements of the rehabilitation of the Community Growing Center from the CPA funded design. ELIGIBILITY Recreational Land: The Community Growing Center provides passive recreation and communal community gardens. RECOMMENDED FUNDING- PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION On March 28, 2018 by a vote of 6-0 the Community Preservation Committee recommended appropriating $350,000 for this project from the undesignated reserve budget to the control of the Friends of the Community Growing Center for the overall purposes summarized in this document. Project Budget Expenses Amount Study $0 Soft costs $0 Construction $515,345 Total $515,345 Sources CPA recreation land funds- requested $445,345 Other sources- in-kind, Somerville High School $70,000 Total $515,345 JOSEPH A. CURTATONE MAYOR CITY OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

ALIGNMENT WITH FY18 COMMUNITY PRESERVATION PLAN The Community Preservation Plan prioritizes rehabilitating existing recreation land according to need, expanding urban agriculture, and creatively and coherently combining multiple uses that meet community need. FUNDING CONDITIONS 1. Upon commencement of the Project and as appropriate, the City of Somerville agrees to post a sign stating that the project was funded through the City of Somerville’s Community Preservation Act program. 2. The Grantee agrees to work collaboratively on the project with the City's Parks and Open Space Office. 3. The Grantee will negotiate a public access agreement for the Community Growing Center with the Community Preservation Committee. MEASURES OF SUCCESS The goals of this project are for the Growing Center to: • Be a safe, accessible place for all, greatly expanding the recreational accessibility and inclusivity of the place • Provide safe and stable infrastructure, incorporating sustainable design principles and practices that can be implemented by volunteers • Benefit the current residents using the space and expand access to more residents • Allow the Friends’ volunteers to invest their time and expanded fundraising to complete the ‘softscape’ and green factors of the redesign plans • Reestablishing the Growing Center as a volunteer managed urban hub Success will be measured through: • Increased square footage of ADA accessible pathways and platforms • Increased square footage of baby stroller/wheelchair friendly features • Increased seating/meeting options and locations for the enjoyment of the site • Increased cubic feet for storage • Increased hours safely open to the public per year • Increased seasonal extension of annual growing area allowing greater production • Increased usage of the space The full proposal is available at: https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/community- preservation-act/2018-cpa-projects