This email went to our officials, but they need to hear from us.
You can weigh in on the fence by taking the city's survey below (by Nov. 28th) or you can meet with the DPW representative Chris Neil, Community Relations Mgr. at the playground this Friday on Halloween from 7:30-3:00 pm.
Raymond Park Survey - Public Works - Home <http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/OurServices/Engineering/WeeklyConstru ctionHighlights/RaymondParkSurvey>
Raymond Park Survey - Public Works - Home <http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/OurServices/Engineering/WeeklyConstru ctionHighlights/RaymondParkSurvey> A notice was sent to the community regarding a proposed fence. Due to the feedback, we have launched a community survey and we respectfully ask you to take 5 minutes to answer these questions. View on www.cambridgema.gov <http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/OurServices/Engineering/WeeklyConstru ctionHighlights/RaymondParkSurvey>
From: Ruth Ryals <rryals@comcast.net> Date: Thursday, October 30, 2014 at 11:55 AM To: <dmaher@cambridgema.gov>, <council@cambridgema.gov> Cc: N'HOOD ASS'N PORTER SQ <psna@portersquare.net>, "Kelley, Craig" <ckelley@cambridgema.gov>, <dcarlone@cambridgema.gov>, <mmcgovern@cambridgema.gov>, <lcheung@cambridgema.gov>, "Smith, Jefferson" <jsmith@cambridgema.gov>, Alice Wolf <alice@alicewolf.org> Subject: Re: [PSNA] Raymond Park Fence
Dear councillors, How did we go from a park for families and kids to redesigning and restricting it to an even smaller/less open playground, so dogs can run in the park? Rather than downsize our park, perhaps we should close the park to dogs? At the very least enforce the leash rules? And for that matter the traffic laws? Ruth
Ruth Ryals 115 Upland Rd. 617-547-6453 From: Vera Hoffman <twins@darkcove.net> Date: Thursday, October 30, 2014 at 10:57 AM To: N'HOOD ASS'N PORTER SQ <psna@portersquare.net> Subject: Re: [PSNA] Raymond Park Fence
We also live across the street from Raymond Park and we have three small children. We spend many hours in Raymond Park year round and my children have learned to walk, climb, scoot and sled there. Setting the dogs aside, I am in favor of fencing in the playground - or putting gates / childproof stiles on all the park entrances - purely from a safety perspective.
Like many other parents of young children - especially those with multiple children - I have often had to chase one of my twins to keep them safely inside the park. On two occasions one of my then <3 year old twins suddenly took off and ran all the way out of the playground and on to the street. I had to abandon the other twin and chase after the escapee. Being pregnant at the time made it very difficult for me to catch them. On the first occasion they fortunately turned at the entrance but ran a good way down Walden Street and would have disappeared into a side street / been hit by a car if it hadn't been for a dog walker coming the other way who caught them and turned them around. On the second occasion I was able to catch them just outside the park entrance. Fortunately the other twin didn't take off in the opposite direction while I was chasing the first. Over a year later I still shudder at the thought of what could have happened if the child had run out into traffic.
We have lived near the Walden / Raymond intersection for fourteen years and have had a front row seat for the many traffic accidents that have happened here. Memorable incidents include the SUV that landed in the hedge with airbags exploded, and the police cruiser that had its bumper ripped off by another vehicle. Earlier this year an adult jogger/pedestrian was hit and seriously injured at the mid-block crosswalk by the park entrance. On a regular basis our sitters or I encounter cars that do not stop at the stop sign or jump the gun without waiting for children who are mid-crosswalk. This is not a safe street - between the traffic and the (imo smaller but significant) risk from off-leash dogs the playground should certainly be completely enclosed.
To my mind the question is not whether a fence and gates should be erected but where they should be erected. There are two other options not on the current poll from the city: 1) put gates / stiles on all park entrances and provide a fenced area for dogs 2) put the fence slightly below the hill's watershed on the playground side of the hill
Option 1 would provide a clear space for dogs away from the playground and playing fields; it should be accompanied by strict enforcement of the leashing requirement. Gates on the playground entrances would address the traffic safety issue (I would prefer turnstiles or a similar solution that couldn't inadvertently be left open). Option 2 would provide a safe area in the playground while maintaining a good sledding hill, providing access to a gentle slope for children in the playground, and picnic/spectating spots for those focused on the fields. I honestly don't like the cycling / scooting loop at Raymond Park because of the large blind area behind the hill and ability for children to rapidly reach the ungated entrances. A scooting loop is desirable but could be made by encircling the "big kids" side of the playground with a paved track.
In both cases it would be appropriate for the city to erect "no unleashed dogs" signs in the playground, as well as signs forbidding dogs from going into the sand area and wood chips since small children inevitably mouth these. Imo for both health and safety reasons it is not appropriate for unleashed dogs to be in the playground at any time.
Vera
On Oct 30, 2014, at 8:00 AM, Adam Brod wrote:
I live across the street from Raymond Park, and as the father of two young children, I have to chime in and say that I support having a fence. It can be a challenge keeping an eye on two kids playing in different sections of the playground. I would feel much safer if I knew one of them couldn't run off out-of-site over the hill and then into traffic. We also frequently have off-leash dogs in the tot lot and finding little land mines left behind by them isn't uncommon. I'm not aware of any dog biting incidents, but it does make me nervous when an errant dog runs off leash outside the 6-9am windows.
I realize there are compromises to having a fence including shutting off half of the sledding paths, cutting off the bike/scooter circuit, making kids and adults open and close a gate, etc, but in my mind those are all small compared to the safety concerns.
-Adam
On Wed, Oct 29, 2014 at 6:10 PM, Alice Wolf <alice@alicewolf.org> wrote:
Kathy
Thank you for bringing this issue and survey to our attention. It is very important for the neighborhood.
I have to share with this list serve that the first city neighborhood meeting I ever attended related to Raymond Park. It was in the late 1960s and, no, I was not 5 years old. I was afraid that my young children would have their heads split open on large granite rocks that were placed near the toddler lot. Others had the same fears and that was why the meeting was held. It was a very divisive meeting where one elected official worked hard to divide the community for his own political purposes. Hopefully no present day ppl would behave that way!
Best wishes
Alice
Alice Wolf
617-868-WOLF (9653)
Sent from my iPad Thanks Ruth. I agree. And have filed my thoughts on line.
From: Neighbors [mailto:neighbors-bounces@buenavistasocialclub.org] On Behalf Of Ruth Ryals Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2014 1:17 AM To: neighbors@buenavistasocialclub.org Subject: [Neighbors] FW: [PSNA] Raymond Park Fence
This is a bad idea, I think. Please go online and weigh in about installing a fence across part of Raymond Park.Ruth
From: Sharon Stichter <sharonstichter@comcast.net> Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at 3:05 PM To: <psna@portersquare.net> Subject: Re: [PSNA] Raymond Park Fence
I agree with the points made in this post. I walk in Raymond Park frequently. I enjoy the flowing land forms and open space, a respite from the confines of the city. A fence would not be in keeping with the design, and would fragment the space. I have expressed my views via the city survey. But where is this proposal coming from? Has there really been any SERIOUS incident? Dog owners have a responsibility to keep their animals under control. We should not have to sacrifice a lovely design because of some irresponsible owners.
Sharon Stichter
Walden St. On Oct 29, 2014, at 10:10 AM, Kathy Dalton <kd@well.com> wrote:
The city (DPW) is proposing to install a fence at Raymond Park to separate the playground and hill from the field and rest of the park. As a parent and a neighborhood resident I am quite opposed to it.
Here is what I have to say about the proposed fence: I used Raymond park when my child was a toddler & still at 11. The berm & other features are naturally self-enclosing. I felt secure there even when she was a toddler. I value that she has a large park to play in without gates or fences--rare for a city kid and valuable! The little hill is a much-used little kid sledding spot In summer kids run and roll up & down the hill. Both fencing options would put an end to this year round free play. (Kids sled down to the path not towards playground obstacles. A dog might stray into the kid area now and again. Has this been a serious problem--a rash of children being bitten by dogs? I don't think so. If there is, the problem is the DOG. The city might clarify that problem dogs must be under control.
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