2016 - Fields Master Plan: The City’s Fields Master Plan documented a severe shortage of City-owned recreation fields, restricting athletic recreational opportunities for City youth and residents. The Fields Master Plan identified the Healey Schoolyard property as a good site for a new U12 synthetic turf athletic field.
2017 - Healey Mystic Master Plan: The Friends of the Healey were awarded Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds to develop the Healey Mystic Master Plan as a vision for the transformation of the Healey Schoolyard and surrounding neighborhood. Many of the goals included in that plan are now being adopted for the new Healey Schoolyard renovation.
2018 - Schoolyard Design funds: The Somerville Community Preservation Committee awarded Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds for the development of the design of the new schoolyard.
2018 - Healey Geotech Work: The City conducted a Topographic Survey, Geotechnical survey, and Boring Analysis of the schoolyards subsurface conditions to determine the feasibility of making renovation that could include a new soccer field.
2019 - Additional Design funds: Additional funds needed for the design of the Soccer field were approved by the City Council.
2019 – Design Plans: Warner Larson Associates was selected as the Landscape Architecture team for the project.
2019 – 2 to 5 Playground Improvements: The Playground at the side of the school was updated with new features making it safer and more interesting for the young children who use it. Additional changes including a new rubber safety surface will be incorporated as part of the larger schoolyard renovation.
2020 – January Funding Approval: The Somerville City Council approves the funding needed to construct the new Healey Schoolyard.
2020 – February: The COVID Pandemic causes a one year delay in construction
2020 – July: The Friends Of Healey in Partnership with the Department of Public Space and Urban Forestry apply for and are awarded Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds to renovate the Healey Tot Lot as a stand-alone project.
2021 – February: The Mayor’s Office and the City Council, supported by the advocacy of Ward 4 City Councilor Jesse Clingan, agree to restart the Healey Construction process. The City and Landscape Architects update the plans prior to putting the project out to bid. The Tot Lot is put out to bid as a separate project. It is agreed that the new name will be the Healey Community Play Area.
2021 – March-April: The City and Landscape Architects complete the construction drawing and specifications and put the project out to bid. The Tot Lot project is awarded to Belko Construction
2021 – May: The Healey Schoolyard renovation contract is awarded to Classic Site Solutions. The Tot- Lot renovation begins, with completion expected by September.
2021 – June: The schoolyard construction starts June 21.
Community Process
- Five Community Meetings held at the Healey School and Mystic Housing. Presentations and notes from those meetings are available in the Past Events menu.
- Four Targeted Outreach Meetings including Two Healey School Open Houses, a Mystic Tenants Association Meeting, and the Mystic Housing Picnic.
- Four Meetings with Healey School Teachers and Administrators.
- One meeting with a group of Healey School Students.
- Online Survey (in four Languages), 133 respondents.
To sign up for project updates or for more information, please contact Arn Franzen at 617-625-6600 ext. 2545, or e-mail afranzen@somervillema.gov.
