SUNDERLAND — The design phase for making accessibility improvements at Riverside Park is moving forward.
At a Selectboard meeting this week, engineers for the structural design — which includes the restrooms, a kayak kiosk and storage sheds — as well as engineers for the landscape design presented their plans for improvements at the 8-acre park on School Street.
“We’re in the design phase, which goes up to June 30 of this year, but we need to get the designs in to be approved from the PARC (Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities) program,” explained Town Administrator Geoff Kravitz. “So that’s what we’re working toward now.”
The project also includes developing an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-accessible path down the boat ramp connecting to the river walk, and digging a well to install an irrigation system.
The estimated $278,000 project is being funded in part by a $185,840 PARC grant awarded last year, according to Kravitz. Additionally, he said, Annual Town Meeting voters last year approved Sunderland Public Library’s request for Community Preservation Act funds to help finance a kayak kiosk in a shaded structure, as well as sheds to replace the recreation shed and Sunderland Youth Baseball shed.
Carlos Nieto of Berkshire Design said the firm has identified what type of well it needs and designed the irrigation system.
“We know how much water we really need for the right system, so we can ask well companies to come in to give us some quotes,” Nieto said.
As for the walking path, he said rather than having a walkway on the right side of the boat ramp, it would be on the left instead.
“It allows us to have a more shallow slope at the beginning of the actual walkway,” he said. “When it was on the opposite side, it was steeper because it’s the inside of a curve.”
He added that the gate to the walkway, which was initially going to be relocated, could remain where it was.
“It’s a brand new gate, and it’s pretty expensive,” he said. “We didn’t want to spend any money on a gate that’s recently been installed.”
Selectboard members expressed support for the proposed revisions to the design.
“It should have less site impact with this change,” said Selectboard member Scott Bergeron.
Selectboard Chair David Pierce added that the change would be better for people who use wheelchairs.
“It’s a win-win all around,” he said.
Naomi Darling, owner of Naomi Darling Architecture — which was contracted to design the “built structures” — said the goal for the renovated bathroom, the kayak kiosk and storage shed is to be consistent.
“One of the things we’re really trying to do is to tie all of the built projects together so it really feels like a cohesive park and everything speaks the same architectural language, and looks like it belongs together.”
The bathroom will keep the same footprint, Darling said, while the interior is reconfigured to include two ADA-compliant stalls. The plumbing will also be replaced.
“We were able to determine with the help of the inspector that the structure, for the most part, is sound in the existing building,” she said.
In total, the restroom will have four gender-neutral stalls (with sinks). The design for the exterior of the structure also now includes a drinking fountain and bottle filler. Ray Mann, also of Naomi Darling Architecture, added that the company is “definitely specifying low-water fixtures.”
Following the design phase, which goes through this June, the construction phase can begin and continue through June 2022.
“The feel of it is wonderful,” Bergeron said following the engineers’ presentations. “I think the work is top notch and I look forward to seeing it implemented.”
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne
Riverside Park_Overall Site Plan by Mary Byrne on Scribd