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Wellington Park

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Wellington Park Survey Results
(July, 1999)

The following is the list of questions from our survey, now arranged in the order of popularity, based on the 1-10 rating system that was designated. The number in parenthesis is that question's total points, out of a possible 300 (We had 30 respondents.). The subnumbers under a lot of the questions are the comments respondents made regarding that particular question.

1. Begin a program of regular park maintenance (287)

2. Clean up the broken glass (269)

  1. This is probably our job.
  2. This should be done immediately!!

3. Ensure trash barrels are emptied weekly (264)

4. Fertilize, re-seed and aerate grass on an annual basis (242)

5. Replace the slide (235)

  1. Near the swings

6. Rebuild the basketball court (235)

7. Repair or remove the water fountain (227) (DONE)

8. Install one or two nice signs with "Wellington Park" on it/them (208)

  1. Signage (+ a bulletin board) will add to pride-of-place and promote neighborhood "ownership" of the space, and therefore better care-taking.)

9. Add a play structure (205)

10. Small climbing structure for young children (204)

  1. this should be big enough for many children to use at once (toddlers - 5 years old) and include a slide.

11. Remove leaves and debris from the entire perimeter at the fence (201)

  1. Regularly

12. Upgrade the swings (201)

13. Eliminate the drainage problem inside the northwest gate (199)

14. New benches. How many and where?: (193)

  1. Two -- near the play area & in the shade of the street trees
  2. Three to four -- near the swings
  3. Three -- along the fence area of Kilburn Road, near the swings
  4. One of the existing ones needs to be reseated in the ground
  5. Three or four spread around the park
  6. Especially if they are near play area for young children
  7. Minimum of three along the north, south and west sides of the park. They should be set back near the edge or fence line to allow for free use of open space.
  8. Two, one near each Kilburn Road entrance
  9. Two -- replacements for those already, uncomfortably, there.
  10. Two -- close to play equipment
  11. Two each -- north and south, around the edge
  12. Replace current ones where they are - on the west side
  13. Several - inside the perimeter of the park
  14. Fine as is
  15. Four around the play area

15. Fence in the play area around the small children's equipment (193)

  1. I am actively against this
  2. I strongly oppose this.
  3. Enclose the area around the swings, picnic table and benches. Perhaps put a water fountain there
  4. Fence in the play structure (surrounded by sand, mulch or other safety ground material).

16. Decrease the grade of the entrance at the southwest corner (it is hazardous with ice in the winter.) (191)

  1. Add a gate

17. Rebuild the tennis court (189)

  1. Not necessarily as a tennis court. It could be used as a track, for skating, more ball-type games, children's car riding, etc.

18. Stop erosion and repair erosion damage to the fence along the sidewalk at the southwest corner of the park (184)

19. Remove the tennis court (178)

  1. I am actively against this.
  2. There's constant hockey play in the tennis court area, so I think it should be left alone.
  3. Remove and replace with the basketball court. Put the kids play area where the basketball court is now.

20. Repair the tennis court fence (171)

  1. Wait until rebuilding the tennis court

21. Picnic tables. How many and where?: (168)

  1. One -- near the play area & in the shade of the street trees
  2. Two to three -- near the swings
  3. Two -- the area near the swings where the hardtop was taken up.
  4. Total of three, though 2 would do
  5. Only if they're shaded by trees
  6. Two maximum, along the middle of the Kilburn Road side
  7. Great! -- a few more
  8. Either near the southwest gate or at the north end
  9. 1-2 in the shade
  10. 1 each, north and south, around the edge
  11. Fine as is
  12. Two around the play area

22. Plant trees (165)

  1. To shade picnic tables, benches and boardgame tables
  2. Place trees to allow for large play areas. Maybe around the play structure.

23. Add a seesaw (160)

  1. Near the swings
  2. Can be unsafe

24. Add a park bulletin board (159)

  1. Near the northwest gate
  2. Near the northwest gate

25. Add a spring horse (156)

26. Install a sand volleyball court (155)

  1. NO!
  2. Suggested locations for this were in the southeast corner, at the south end of the tennis court and centered at the south end of the park.
  3. Yes. More people can use this simultaneously than tennis courts.

27. Add small boardgame tables (152)

  1. Either near the southwest gate or at the north end

28. Paint the trash barrels (147)

  1. Replace with barrels with covers. I've seen them at other dog parks.

29. Use nicer looking vehicle gates at the northwest entrance (134)

  1. Install nicer looking pedestrian gates, as well

30. Add a sandbox (133)

  1. NO
  2. This is a very bad idea. It was a sand pit when my children were young and it was gross. Sanitary upkeep is not possible in a public park.
  3. Problems with animals using it.
  4. Near the southwest gate

31. Remove the basketball court (128)

  1. I am actively against this.
  2. No way

32. Install irrigation system and re-sod the grass (108)

  1. I am actively against this
  2. NO irrigation system! Adamantly against it! We have major problems as abutters on Lindbergh Rd. and Princess Rd. with drainage from the park. We are adamantly against any irrigation system due to serious flooding in the cellars of our homes.
  3. NO! No irrigation
  4. It may make the water problem in the neighborhood worse.

33. Lock the vehicle gate and install a walk-in opening nearby at the northwest corner of the park (Done before the questionnaire was circulated.)

34. Other:

  1. Place pedestrian gate at the other Kilburn Road entrance.
  2. Pave a rollerblade/bike path around the inside perimeter of the fence.
  3. Mow grass regularly, clean up leaves in the fall
  4. Plant some bulbs at entrances or on grassy strip between the park and the road.
  5. Would like to see large open space on the south side of park maintained for dogs to play
  6. Possibly parking on the north side so that the street won't become congested.
  7. Trash can at all three entrances
  8. Install gates at the other two walk-in entrances
  9. There should be a closing time for games, especially basketball in the summer time as well as police visibility.
  10. Do we want some lights near the basketball court so in later months of the year when it gets dark early the park can still be utilized?
  11. My main concerns are safety (fence repairs, glass, water fountain, etc.) and, of course, any kids structures.
  12. There should be one or two prominent signs within the park to remind dog owners that using the park as a "doggie bathroom" will not be tolerated and this law should be enforced as strictly as possible. This is a serious issue as many kids use the park.
  13. I don't think the overall space should be cluttered with too many structures, benches, even trees, etc. as part ofthe charm of the park is the large amount of open space for frolic on the grass -- whether for kids, dogs, informal soccer, baseball, etc. Judicious addition of park benches, maybe one or two picnic tables, anddefinitely some kiddie play structures, seesaw, etc. -- within a very contained area -- is, however, very desirable.
  14. The park is beginning to look inviting already!
  15. Need to keep in mind that we are surrounded by nice children's parks (River St., corner of Elm & Webster, Franklin School (NCSC). FOCUS SHOULD BE ON CITY OF NEWTON FUNDING MOST EXPENSIVE PROJECT, i.e. rebuilding the tennis & basketball courts. How do we verify the federal footprint of West Newton that shows what areas are qualified for federal monies (e.g. NCD Block Grants)? This is West Newton (the flats, not the hill)! Does our mayor know of our Wellington Park concerns?
  16. Sign: "no dogs allowed"
  17. Would like to see the grassy area free of dog feces. Would like to see more signs reminding/warning dog owners to pick up after dogs. Discuss community watch for this problem as well as general safety.
  18. Add more trash cans, if park gets more use.
  19. Clean out the "jungle" in the NE corner, burr bushes, etc. Trim back all growth along the fences.
  20. Simple regular maintenance has already made a great improvement - leaf removal, grass seed - so minor but a nice change
  21. "My family has lived in this neighborhood for over 100 years. When I was a child I spent every summer playing at Wellington with my friends. We had park counselors that kept us busy all day. It's sad to see what has become of our park. I would love my children to have a safe and clean park to play in as I did."

Last Edited on October 5, 1999.

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