(Watertown) A new park aimed at inclusivity and accessibility is in the works in Watertown. The Riverside Park Inclusive Recreational Area was envisioned by a dedicated focus group comprising of parents, kids, educators, caregivers, and community stakeholders.
Over multiple collaborative meetings starting last August, the group worked alongside Mayor McFarland, Parks and Recreation staff, and the Landscape Architect firm Parkitecture, to plan and design a fully-inclusive recreation area – a first of its kind for Watertown and the surrounding area.
It will be located off of Hill Street. Steps have already been taken towards realizing the space. The initial design and renderings are in place, thanks in part to a $10,000 grant from the Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation.
Park features include an upper patio area with games and a lounge area for youth and adults, turf and poured surfaces for ease of movement, zero entry access, quiet spaces, a secure fence encircling the playground, and a graded walking path with distance markers for exercise.
The proposed budget for construction is $1.7-million-dollars, all of which will be raised through community support and grants. The goal is to have shovels in the ground next April. Click HERE to make a donation to the project.
