SOMERVILLE’S EDWARD LEATHERS PARK WINS 2012 BLSA LANDSCAPE DESIGN AWARD

SOMERVILLE - On April 26, 2012, the City of Somerville

and landscape architecture firm Reed Hilderbrand received a Merit Award in the

Parks and Recreation Facilities category for Edward Leathers Community Park, a

one-acre park located on Walnut Street between Medford Street and Pearl Street.

The award was bestowed by the Boston Society of Landscape Architects and marks

the third year in a row the City has been recognized by the BSLA for landscape

design; Albion and Grimmons Park were honored in 2010 and

2011, respectively.  Somerville is one of

only 11 communities statewide to receive a Merit Award in 2012.

"We are extremely proud of our parks and open spaces in

Somerville, particularly when we are able to work with talented and creative

partners like Reed Hilderbrand, to transform vacant parcels into useable green

space for our residents," said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone.  "In the most densely populated community in

New England, green space is a valuable commodity, and we are honored to be

recognized for the innovative and sustainable design of Ed Leathers Park, and thankful to have such a great

partner in Reed Hilderbrand."

The Ed Leathers Park project, completed in 2008,

transformed a vacant lot into a heavily utilized community park that incorporates

design elements for all ages, including a walking/biking path, trees and other

landscape elements, an off-leash dog area, and open green space for active

play.  Design specifications included

durable and child-safe materials, such as rubberized play surfaces now common

in playground design throughout the City of Somerville.

Together with the City's Office of Strategic Planning and

Community Development, Reed Hilderbrand led the design process from conceptual

design to completion and conducted extensive public approvals along the way. Dynamic

workshops with multiple constituencies laid the groundwork for the park's

conceptual design. Because of the inclusive and spirited nature of the public

meeting process and the quality of the final result, the neighborhood has embraced

the park, joining the City in ongoing maintenance efforts .

Since

2004, the City of Somerville has renovated or added more than 20 parks

throughout the City, including the award-winning Albion, Ed Leathers and

Grimmons Parks.  Chuckie Harris Park on Cross

Street in East Somerville is scheduled to break ground this spring, while

Morse-Kelley and Dickerman Parks will reopen after their respective renovations

later this month.