Forest River Pool and Mack Park Food Farm Recommendations o�ONDI7A�O
�w CITY OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS
Kimberley L. Driscoll, Mayor
Community Preservation Committee
120 WASHINGTON STREET ♦ SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970
TELE: 978-619-5685 ♦ FAx: 978-740-0404
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Jane A. Guy, Assistant Community Development Director
on behalf of the Community Preservation Committee
DATE: February 10, 2021
RE: CPC Recommendation for CPA Funding
At its meeting of February 9, 2021, the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) voted to
recommend Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding:
1. For the Forest River Outdoor Recreation and Nature Center in the amount of
$175,000 from the CPA Fund Balance; and,
2. For increased funding for the Mack Park Food Farm in the amount of $15,000 from
the CPA Fund Balance.
In compliance with MGL c.44B, the City Council is requested to take one of the following
actions on each funding recommendation:
• Approve recommendation of the CPC
• Reject recommendation of the CPC
• Reduce amount recommended by the CPC
Thank you for your consideration.
APPLICANT: City of Salem Park & Recreation Commission
PROJECT TITLE: Forest River Outdoor Recreation & Nature Center
PROJECT LOCATION: Forest River Park
CPA CATEGORY: Recreational Land: Rehabilitation/Restoration
CPC RECOMMENDED CPA FUNDING: $175,000
CPC RECOMMENDED SOURCE: $175,000 Fund Balance
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The City of Salem Park and
Recreation Commission
has requested additional
funding for construction
costs for the Forest River
Outdoor Recreation and
Nature Center at Forest
River Park.
% The project includes the
rehabilitation of the existing
4,268 SF bathhouse and a
. .�..�- complete replacement of
the existing pool. The
bathhouse building will
house changing rooms, a
concession area and a
community room. A
separate building will be
provided for the filtration,
electrical and lifeguard
spaces. The replacement of
the existing pool with a
4,910 SF combination lap
and recreational pool, a
2,260 SF separate kiddie
pool with minimum depth,
and a 2,400 SF splash pad adjacent to the bathhouse will accommodate a total of 478
bathers. Also, the project includes the reclamation of part of the natural cove site by moving
the proposed pool to higher ground (approximately 6-feet higher) and extending the
shoreline walkway which will go beyond the pool. Under-utilized tennis courts and a
deteriorated parking area to the west of the pool will be reconfigured to accommodate
parking for staff and a vehicle-drop off area. A proposed lawn area and wildflower area
where the tennis courts currently exist would be a site for temporary activities for the
summer months including a tent for summer camps. The pool access road will be upgraded,
and an adjacent pedestrian path will be constructed to connect with the new parking area at
the entrance of the park with accessible parking. The new paths will create an
unencumbered and accessible walkway along the shoreline with educational signage. The
project will be zero net energy (solar panels will produce more power than is used annually)
and will meet Sustainable SITES certification through integration of native plants, green
infrastructure, and reduced impervious surfaces.
FUNDING/TIMELINE:
The City of Salem is requesting $175k for allocation in February so that we can sign contracts
for the project in order to open the pool this summer. The current project has funding to start
the utilities and road, site work, and pool, however, the final amendment for the project would
be the bathhouse, landscaping, paths, educational signage, education art and water interactive
"splash" pad, accessible parking, and pool safety and other equipment. If we wait until June to
approve the CPA, that will not be soon enough. Securing this CPA now means that portions of
the work noted above critical to opening the pool can move forward, while the City secures the
remaining grant funding. The project is $13.1M, and the City has secured $12.14M. The City is
seeking a Land and Water Conservation Grant for $750k. The net amount, $210k, the City is
requesting $175k from CPA, and the rest will be from donations.
The project is underway but is short approximately $1 M dollars to complete. This request will
allow the portions related to the pool and bathhouse to move forward so that they can be open
this fall. The City is applying for state and federal funding for the remaining gaps, which would
go to finalizing paths, splash pad, art, educational signage, and other portions of the project not
directly related to opening of the pool.
The Forest River Outdoor Recreation & Nature Center will provide pools, art/interactive splash
pad, community room, passive and active recreation areas, as well as restored coastal areas.
CPA funds would enable final amendments related to the bathhouse, paths, landscaping,
educational signage, art, water interactive splash pad, and accessible parking to move forward
in construction in order for the project to be completed this summer/fall.
CPC RECOMMENDATION:
The Community Preservation Committee voted 5 in favor and 1 opposed, with Moriarty in
opposition, with Greel abstaining, to recommend funding this application at $175,000 from the
CPA Fund Balance.
APPLICANT: City of Salem Board of health
PROJECT TITLE: Mack Park Food Farm
PROJECT LOCATION: Mack Park
CPA CATEGORY: Recreational Land: Rehabilitation/Restoration
CPC RECOMMENDED CPA FUNDING: $15,000
CPC RECOMMENDED SOURCE: $15,000 Fund Balance
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
oos The City of Salem Board of
FOOD FOREST NATURAL 14ADE GROTTO ORE91
WETLAND health has requested an
increase in CPA funding for the
`OODFOR`9T Mack Park Food Farm in order
Foeo FORasr
to purchase and construct a 26
Wfi tea o OPEN SPACE URBAN FARM x 28 hoop house and an 8 x 10
o `
N � walk-in cooler by April 1, 2021
G G r < * J FOOD FOREST The Mack Park Food Farm
produced nearly 7,000 pounds
of produce in the 2020 growing
FOOD FOREST season. A hoop house (similar
FOOD FOREST PERENNIAL POLLINATORS to a green house in that it is a
0 temporary structure with no
foundation, but without an
electrical heating element) will
extend both the spring and fall growing season, potentially increasing harvests by thousands of
pounds for the 2021 growing season. It will also allow the start of the majority of plants from
seeds rather than purchasing seedlings, which will result in significant cost-savings.
One of the challenges the project faced in 2020 was the lack of on-site refrigeration and
storage. As a result, time and resources were spent transporting produce to multiple sites for
refrigerated storage, as other organization could only provide limited space. This will become
more of a challenge as our harvests increase and the food forest is planted. Having a walk-in
cooler will eliminate the need to transport produce for storage, saving time and resources. It
will extend the shelf-life of the produce as the food that is harvested can immediately be put into
storage. It will also reduce food waste, as produce can be harvested more frequently if we are
not dependent on other organizations for storage space.
The proposal and budget has been reviewed and approved by the Parks and Recreation and
Building Departments. The remaining costs will be covered by what is left of our existing
funding.
CPC RECOMMENDATION:
The Community Preservation Committee voted 6 in favor and 1 opposed, with Moriarty in
opposition, to recommend additional funding for this project at $15,000 from the CPA Fund
Balance.