Mission

The Mission of OSPCD Parks & Open Space is to plan and manage the renovation of existing parks and the development of new parks and open spaces for the City of Somerville. Our obligation is to work with neighborhoods and professional consultants to provide the best design and construction of our community parks. We are committed to enhance the City's built environment and create outdoor spaces for active recreation, relaxation, and environmental health in Somerville. Parks and Open Space is part of OSPCD's Division of Transportation and Infrastructure.

 Overview

Over the past few years, Somerville's parks have seen a significant transformation. Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, along with Somerville residents, the Board of Aldermen, OSPCD and Department of Public Works staff are working hard to renovate and maintain the city's parks and playgrounds, and expand open space opportunities across the city. Somerville parks and playgrounds are seen by residents and business persons as a valuable community resource. The City successfully manages 41 parks and recreational fields, in addition to offering community gardens and schoolyard playgrounds. The City of Somerville strives to make the best out of our precious green space. The Mayor's creative renovation and acquisition strategy allows Somerville's parks and open spaces to respond to changing neighborhood needs and offer a diverse array of public spaces for rest, recreation, and community health.

The OSPCD Parks and Open Space team is responsible for oversight of the park renovation projects, managing budgets that include federal, state and city funds, writing the Open Space and Recreation Plan, and administering the street tree planting program that falls within federal funding areas of Somerville. We are part of a larger City team that includes the Departments of Recreation, Public Works, Sustainability and Environment, and Capital Projects - all working towards a vision of a green Somerville. City efforts are guided by several important documents including the Open Space and Recreation Plan, the HUD Consolidated Plan, and the City's Annual Capital Program budget.

Community Path: The City of Somerville has been advocating for the development of the Somerville Community Path, which would connect Belmont, Arlington, Somerville, Cambridge and Boston, for the past decade. The path now extends from Grove Street to Cedar Street in Somerville, complimenting the Alewife Linear Park stretching from Davis Square to Alewife MBTA Station in Cambridge. The next planned phases in Somerville include extensions from Cedar Street to Central Street and eventually from Central Street to Northpoint Section (construction of this portion will be in conjunction with the Green Line Extension in 2014).

Parks Renovation and Expansion Projects: Under Mayor Curtatone, the city has renovated 11 parks and added four new parks totaling 1.5 acres to the city's inventory (effective Dec 2008). Each year additional projects are in the design phase or getting ready for construction. Specific information on these activities can be found under Projects and Photos on this page.

Conservation Commission: The Conservation Commission aims to preserve and protect Somerville's natural environment. This Commission works with Parks and Open Spaces to review the five year "Open Space and Recreation Plan." It also initiated and now oversees the Community Garden Program [CoS:12] in Somerville by hiring a city-wide garden coordinator and establishing Community Garden policies. The commission also has jurisdiction over areas within 25 feet of rivers, including the Mystic River and Alewife Brook, and within 100 feet of wetlands, or any area that affects these bodies of water.

Urban Forest Initiative: The Urban Forest Initiative was formed to raise awareness among residents, business owners, and community groups about the importance of trees in our neighborhoods, and also to encourage residents to consider their relationship to this shared resource. The City of Somerville is committed to improve and increase the city's "green infrastructure" on public sidewalks and open spaces. This Initiative suggests ways that residents can enjoy the rewards of tree care while helping the City improve the health of the urban forest.

 Community Involvement

The City strongly welcomes and encourages community input and involvement. Park community meetings are advertised in the Somerville Journal and listed on Channel 13 (RCN) and Channel 16 (Comcast), our local television access channels. For more information, or to register a concern with a specific park, please call our 311 Customer Service Line by dialing 311 (617-666-3311 outside Somerville)

 Park Use Regulations

Park Hours: All city parks are open to the public from 8:00 A.M. - 10:00 P.M.

Dogs: For a list of parks that allow dogs off leash and on leash, please see the Responsible Dog Ownership in Somerville Brochure link on the right as listed in the Animal Control Department.

Field Use: The use of some fields requires recreational permits, which can be downloaded from the Recreation & Youth Department Web site under Permitting.