Planning for the Penniman Road Play Area improvements is underway after the Boston Parks and Recreation Department presented three design concepts at the project’s second community meeting on Wednesday night.
Held at the Josephine Fiorentino Community Center, this design meeting comes after the first community meeting in September, where residents shared concerns about issues surrounding the park, such as circulation difficulties due to fencing, limited seating, and insufficient organized and dedicated spaces. Based on community input, the city reviewed several designs throughout the fall.
“One of the bits of feedback we got in the first meeting was that, overall, the park felt a little disconnected,” said Max Sell, a project manager for Boston Parks and Recreation.
“I think one of our big drivers is trying to make that feel, not so much little pieces but one cohesive park, ” said Sell.
At the meeting, developers introduced three redesigns of the Penniman Road Play Area: “Refresh, Trade, Shuffle.” “Refresh” involves small changes to the park’s outlay; “Trade” switches the locations of the basketball court and lawn; and “Shuffle” moves the community garden from the middle of the park to the north side.
All concepts will result in the community park’s full refresh in equipment and material, including “maintaining healthy trees” and adding new ones for shade. The project addresses previous complaints, such as including more seating areas and using the park area to “maximize play opportunities.”
“I love it. It’s about time,” said Kin Chow, a long-time Allston resident.
Chow believes the renovation on Penniman Road Play Area is long overdue. The play area was last updated more than 20 years ago in 2004.
“I think it’ll make it a more welcoming space. Right now, the equipment is showing its age, so if you have new equipment in there, better equipment, I think more kids will come, and hopefully more adults will come as well,” said Chow.
As the project is advancing through its planning stage, residents believe this renovation will change the perception of Allston as a community of only young adults who are transient, but a diverse community of all generations, including families with children.
“One of the issues we have in Allston is that there tends to be a preconceived notion that the only people that live here are young people,” said Mike Dorgan, an Allston resident of 30 years.
“I think the focus is on a park that has a play area and has attention to children and also not just children but other people as well,” said Dorgan.
Based on the feedback from the meeting, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department will undergo design reiteration throughout the rest of the winter. They are expected to host the third meeting in the spring, where developers will present the basic layout of the chosen concept and ultimately reach their final decision. ■
