LYNNFIELD — Department of Public Works Director John Scenna approached the Select Board to update them on some of the projects that go beyond the day-to-day work they’ve completed, are working on, and will work on in the future.
The DPW is currently working at Glen Meadow, a project that will be “substantially complete,” with a delivery of sod that they’ll be installing.
“Glen Meadow is a Little League park… We made improvements to the infield, which were much needed. This was fully funded from an earmark we were able to get with (Rep.) Brad Jones and Sen. Brendan Crighton,” he said.
He noted that a lot of the improvements made are for the safety of the players. A batting tunnel was also made for the kids to warm up in.
The DPW also worked with the PE teachers of the middle school, who developed a health and wellness room concept.
“It’s to introduce students at the middle school to the concept of working out and how that impacts your mental wellness and shows them how to use elliptical equipment, how to use some other equipment,” he said.
This project was also funded through an earmark with the state, and the DPW took a storage room off the main gym and turned it into a small fitness center, with equipment set to be delivered on July 23.
Scenna continued that, as part of this project, they also turned an unused locker room into a storage area.
“We opened bids for the new roof at the library. We’re scheduling a preconstruction meeting with that contractor. We expect that project to start in a couple of weeks. Substantial completion by contract is by June 15. So that should be a project that is going to quickly start and quickly be completed,” he said.
The contractor will have to maintain two means of egress for patrons, as they plan to keep the building open throughout construction.
“The project appears to be well within the budget we created for it,” Scenna said, noting that they’ll probably be able to complete additional work once the project is complete.
The DPW is also partnering with the Summer Street School PTO for playground renovations.
“We also signed a contract last week for the demolition of the south fire station. So, that was part of the public safety funding. We took that out for strategic fiscal reasons. But we were able to put it back in and fund it through the program,” Scenna said, with work planned to start on Tuesday.
After some interior work is completed, the building will be demolished and turned into a parking lot.
“This past weekend, we took the interim, temporary, town hall space down… We left some of it in place for future use, and the other part we’re working with the senior center to repurpose it for their dance program and some other items that they want to put back in that room,” he said.
Scenna said an upcoming project has been discussed for a decade.
“Building a press box at Newhall. It’s more than just a place to call a game. I think a press box opens the possibility for Lynnfield to host district games. The kids of Lynnfield always had to travel out… They never had a home game,” he said.
Little League is funding the project on its own and has hired a contractor. The DPW has worked with the program on the design to ensure it is up to code, and Scenna believes it will be in place by the summer.
“So, what’s happening right now… There was always sidewalks at some point in time on Walnut Street. Those sidewalks needed some desperate repair. If we did all of Walnut Street all at once, that would be an entire year’s worth of money. So we phased Walnut Street into a Multiyear Improvement Program,” he said.
The DPW’s first goal was making pedestrian travel safe again with the new sidewalk work.
