…Last updated October 13, 2020
In the mid 1960’s, the
Town of Hudson MA, through its Park Commission developed the property currently
known as Centennial Beach for use as a Park, Beach and Recreation Purposes.
Over the last fifty years the site has been home to the local Town Beach
serving both residents and non-residents during the summer months. Site
amenities over the years have included: playground, swings, picnic tables,
outdoor showers, docks, designated bathing and fishing areas. Facility programs
have revolved around a robust swim program servicing approximately 300
participants each summer. The site currently consists of a 350 shoreline, a 0.8
acre sandy beach area and a 0.6 acre shaded picnic area, bathhouse and parking
area.
In 2014-2015, Recreation officials
worked with a civil engineer, landscape designer and architect to design a
concept plan for site improvements. The concept plan aimed to remedy and
improve the dilapidated bathhouse, accessibility issues, failing storm water management
systems and the lack of erosion controls that have left the facility in poor
condition. The concept plans were reviewed by the Park Commission and other town
departments such as Police, Fire, Public Works, Building Inspections and Planning
for input and suggestions. Using the initial concept plans, cost estimates for
improvements were projected to be approximately $1.2 million.
At the May 2015 Town Meeting, with an
initial concept plan and cost estimates in hand the Park Commission – Division of
Recreation requested and received Community Preservation funding in the amount
of $100K for the purpose of securing a design firm that would create a final design
based on the concept plan, prepare all permitting and construction documents,
assist in bidding the project and handle construction oversight to complete the
project. On October 16, 2018, the Town of Hudson entered into a contract with
the firm Weston and Sampson for DESIGN SERVICES
related to Centennial Beach renovations.
The Hudson Park Commission -
Division of Recreation intends to submit a full funding request to the
Community Preservation Committee (CPC) at their meeting to be held on January
10, 2019. If the application is supported by the CPC, the allocation of CPC funds
would then require final approval by way of a favorable vote at the May 2019 Annual
Town Meeting. Should Town Meeting vote in favor of this funding request,
project funds would be available as early as July 2019.
Note: The Community Preservation
Committee in conjunction with the Community Preservation Act (CPA) which
was adopted by the Town of Hudson on November 20th, 2006.
The Park Commission will be soliciting public input via the meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 10, 2019 (see below). It is also anticipated that additional meetings/public hearings may take place throughout the final design process involving departments and committees such as that the Conservation Commission, Planning Department and the Internal Traffic Committee. Note: All meetings will be posted below as the dates, times and locations become available.
Public input has also been collected
thru email correspondence between community members and the Division of Recreation
staff, as well as thru previous Community Outreach performed in 2018 (Online
Community Survey, completed Spring of 2018 and Community Innovation Session,
held in June 2018).
CLICK HERE to see input other community member have already provided. Although we encourage residents to share their thoughts and ideas with moving forward, please note that the ideas and suggestions listed within have already been shared with the our Designer and will be taken into consideration.
-Any NEW public project input received during the Park Commission meeting held on January 9th has been added to our list located in the Public Input section above.
-At the Community Preservation Committee meeting held on January 10th, the CPC voted to support our project, as well as our request for funding to be used for the future construction phase of the Centennial Beach Renovation Project. The CPC will submit warrant articles for consideration at the May Town Meeting, as the next step in securing final approval of the CPC funds for our project.
-Over the next several months, the Centennial Beach Renovation Project Building Committee (consisting of the Director of Recreation, Director of Public Works and a Park Commissioner) will continue to work with Weston & Sampson to bring the existing plans to a final design. We expect that this project will go before the Conservation Committee and the Planning Board for comment in the coming months and once those meeting dates are determined we will post them below.
-We thank everyone for their support to date, we look forward to continuing the work to complete this project for the benefit of our community and encourage everyone to attend Town Meeting in May.
April 19, 2019 Update:
April 4: Conservation Commission reviewed project and permitting level plans. Conservation Commission requested additional details on some items and continued Public Hearing until April 18. Commission was supportive of the project as presented.
April 16: Planning Board reviewed the project and permitting level plans. Planning Board requested additional details on some items and continued Public Hearing until June 4. Planning Board was supportive of the project as presented.
April 18: Conservation Commission re-opened and continued the public hearing from April 4, relative to the Beach project. Weston & Sampson provided the Commission with responses to all questions/concerns raised. Discussion followed. The Conservation Commission voted to support our project subject to planning board approval, as required. Conservation Commission continued public hearing to June 6 (earliest meeting following June 4 Planning Board meeting).
We encourage anyone interested in learning more about this project to contact Steven Santos, Director of Recreation as well as attend the Annual Town Meeting on May 6th.
Articles 26 and 27 both passed at May Town Meeting. The next steps are to finalize construction documents and put the project out to bid. We hope to complete both of these this summer.
PROJECT MEETINGS
-Wednesday, January 9th - Park Commission Meeting, 7:30 pm, Town Hall - Board of Selectmen's Hearing Room
-Thursday, January 10th - Community Preservation Committee Meeting, 7:00 pm, Town Hall - Auditorium
-Thursday, April 4th - Conservation Commission, 7:00pm, Town Hall
-Tuesday, April 16th - Planning Board, 7:00pm, Town Hall - Board of Selectman's Hearing Room
-Thursday, April 18th - Conservation Commission, 7:00pm, Town Hall
-Monday, May 6th - Annual May Town Meeting, 7:30 pm, Hudson High School - Auditorium; Articles 26,& 27
-Tuesday, June 4th - Planning Board, 7:00pm, Town Hall - Board of Selectman's Hearing Room
-Thursday, June 6th - Conservation Commission, 7:00pm, Town Hall
December 5, 2019 Update
....
February 2020
Project Update
As a means to keep the community informed, below is a summary of the events
that have occurred between June 2019 and February 2020:
June 4, 2019 Planning Board Meeting:
Information requested during the previous public hearing was
not yet available; therefore we requested a continuation to July 16, 2019, which
was granted. This continuation subsequently
pushed back the previously scheduled meeting with the Conservation Commission
that had been set for June 6, 2019 (note: As part of the Site plan Review process,
the Conservation Commission public hearing cannot be closed until the Planning
Board completes their review/public hearing).
June 7, 2019:
Weston & Sampson assesses existing building at beach for
renovations as planned.
June 26, 2019:
Weston & Sampson project team determine and notify Hudson
Recreation that renovation of existing building is not a feasible and suggest
that a new structure be installed in its place. This change leads to unexpected
project cost increases and further design development.
July 7, 2019:
Another continuation request of the Planning Boards public
hearing was submitted due to the unanticipated project changes involving the existing
building (“ unexpected structural deficiencies found in the existing building”).
The request for continuation was granted and moved the public hearing from July
16, 2019 to August 20, 2019.
August 20, 2019:
Panning Board reviews, approves and sets Orders of
Conditions based on the design plans presented. Note: Plans as presented still
required some refinement of the buildings and final building cost estimates had
not yet been received. The final step in
Site Plan Review is to attend earliest available Conservation Commission
meeting.
September 12, 2019:
Conservation Commission reviews, approves and sets Orders of
Conditions based on the design plans presented. Note: Plans as presented still required some refinement
of the buildings and final building cost estimates had not yet been received. This completes the Site Plan review process.
September 2019:
Minor building refinements are completed to meet program
needs.
October 30, 2019:
Final Building cost estimates are received and incorporated
into total project cost estimate. Overall project cost estimate is over budget
by approximately $250-$300K. The majority of the project costs lie in the
buildings and it is decided to consider other building options and/or prefab manufacturers.
November 2019 to January 2020:
An alternative prefab building manufacturer with more favorable
pricing is secured. Buildings are
designed based on previous renderings.
January to February 2020:
Minor plan revisions are suggested (permeable pavers/asphalt
relocation and building realignment within site).
February 14, 2020:
Awaiting for final designs and cost estimates from current
prefab building manufacturer. Once the buildings are finalized and assuming
cost estimates are within budget, buildings will be incorporated into the plans.
Plans will be considered final and bid docs will be prepared.
Moving forward… we hope to put the project out to bid in April 2020. The majority of the work completed between late August 2020 and May 31, 2021. We are also considering separating out some minor project components to be completed prior to the beach opening in the summer of 2020.
Board of Selectmen approved the contract with M.J. Cataldo in the amount of $895K.
