Earlier this month, Harry Sanders, President of Friends of Edmands Park, led a group of City Councilors and neighbors on a tour of the parkland’s problem areas. Among the negative issues afflicting the 33-acre property are the impact of a polyethylene liner under the former skating lake, damaged stormwater infrastructure, flooding from the Park onto abutting residential areas, and suspected phosphorus discharge.
Mr. Sanders documented previous federal and state initiatives to alleviate flooding and preserve the skating pond that are no longer effective in protecting the park and its neighbors. He later provided Fig City News with background information on the history of the park and these efforts.
City Councilors Marc Laredo, Tarik Lucas, Emily Norton, and Julia Malakie examined the swampy area above and around the liner, and the cataract designed to direct water into drains and the Charles River. Mr. Sanders pointed to the fragmenting liner, quite visible along the edge of what is now a swamp.
Two abutting neighbors who live on Westchester Road described the aftermath of a 2022 snowstorm, when water poured over the stone wall separating their properties from the Park. One of the abutters said that the water flooded his basement and garage, causing substantial damage. He and his neighbor spent hours clearing debris from the drains to allow water to pass into them rather than over the walls, but they were not always successful.
It is not clear to the Friends of Edmands Park, nor to the City Councilors, which City agencies actually have responsibility for the Park’s maintenance. The Councilors have docketed an item (283-23), referred to the Public Facilities Committee, “requesting a discussion with the Department of Public Works, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Conservation Commission regarding the condition of, and potential improvements to the stormwater infrastructure in Edmands Park.
In response to questions from Fig City News about the Park’s oversight, Jonathan Yeo, Newton’s Chief Operating Officer, responded:
Edmands Park, with its rich history, is a beloved park for Newtonians to walk trails, enjoy nature and be outdoors.
We are paying a lot of attention to Edmands Park. The area needs major stormwater culvert replacements and realignments and stream improvements. We are actively working on a holistic plan to address these needs as well as Edmands Pond outlet control structure improvements. We’re doing the plan in conjunction with important and related work on providing flood mitigation and reduction of phosphorus, all of which also relates to Newton’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit (a.k.a., NPDES “MS4” permit) with the US Environmental Agency (EPA). We also have placed the “Edmands Pond Drainage Basin” project on Newton’s Capital Improvement Plan.
Our team is currently working with stormwater consultants Woodward & Curran on a Citywide stormwater management plan. They are analyzing Edmands Pond and additional potential sites for phosphorous realignments, stream improvements and outlet control structure improvements.
Mayor Fuller, City staff, the Parks, Recreation & Culture Department, the Department of Public Works, as well as the Conservation Commission will be working closely with our consultants, the Friends of Edmands Park, and the neighborhood as we plan the many facets (and likely phases) of this project.
We look forward to providing an update to the City Council on these plans in October at the Public Facilities Committee.