reimagining johnson park: a design proposal for swampscott, ma

Reimagining Johnson Park:

A Design Proposal

for Swampscott, MA

Cantell ● Faye ● Gohringer ● Simons

3

A Design Proposal for Swampscott, MA

Field Project Team

Anna Cantell

Mbacke Faye

Elizabeth Gohringer

Elise Simons

Client

S. Peter Kane

Town of Swampscott, MA

Tufts Team

Christine Cousineau

Kate Ito

Tufts University Department of Urban and Envi-ronmental Policy and Planning, May 2016

Reimagining Johnson Park

4

The Tufts UEP Johnson Park Field Project Team would like to thank the Town of Swampscott for their sup-

port, advice, and feedback throughout the design pro-

cess. Special thanks to Director of Community Devel-

opment S. Peter Kane, the Swampscott Open Space & Recreation Plan Committee, the Swampscott Histori-

cal Commission, the Swampscott Municipal Design

Committee, and the Swampscott Planning Board.

Acknowledgements

5

Table of Contents

Executive Summary 9

I. Introduction 15 UEP Team Client Project Background Project Goals Methodology

II. Site Description 19 The Story of Johnson Park Johnson Park Today Historical Context Open Space and Recreation Accessibility Coastal Environment Vegetation

III. Coastal Park Design Precedents 29

IV. Community Engagement Process 37 Committee Meetings and Interviews Community Meeting

V. Park Design Recommendations 45 A Tour of the Park Summary of Recommendations Access and Circulation Park Amenities and Infrastructure Vegetation

VI. Conclusion 69

Bibliography 71

Appendices 79 A Coastal Flooding & Stormwater Management B Coastal Regulations C Green Infrastructure and Rain Gardens D Soil Quality E Vegetation Options Table F Committee Feedback G Accessibility Notes H Funding Sources

6

List of Figures and Tables

Figures

1. Field Project Team in Johnson Park 15 2. Johnson Park in Relation to a. Boston and b. Swampscott 19 3. Johnson Park Today 19 4. Johnson Park Ground-level views of the site a. b. c. d. 20

5. New Ocean House Resort Hotel, Swampscott, MA 21 6. Beachfront Lawn of New Ocean House Resort Hotel 21 7. New Ocean House Beach and Seawall a. b. c. 22 8. Interrupted Pathways 23

9. Broken Pavement 23 10. Crosswalk between Johnson Park and New Ocean House Path 24 11. Bike rack at Johnson Park 24 12. Aerial and Ground View of New Ocean House Footpath

connecting Johnson Park to Phillips Park Parking Lot a. b. 25 13. Coastal Storms on the Half-moon Bench a. b. 26 14. Johnson Park Lawn 27 15. Beach Bluff Park, Swampscott, MA a. b. 31

16. Eastern Promenade, Portland, ME a. b. c. 32 17. Wheelchair-Accessible Parks and Beaches a. b. 33 18. Lawn on D, Boston, MA 33 19. Burlington, VT a. b. c. 34

20. Pleasure Beach, Bridgeport, CT 35 21. Timeline of Community Engagement for Johnson Park 37 22. Community Meeting Flyer and Neighbors Visited a. b. 39 23. Images from the Community Meeting and Word Cloud a. b. c. 40-41

24. Early Drafts of the Johnson Park Design a. b. 44 25. Aerial View of Johnson Park 45

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26. Johnson Park: Eastern Path Entrance a. b. c. d. e. 46-47 27. Johnson Park: Changing Shelter and Bathroom a. b. 47

28. Johnson Park: Picnic Area 47 29. Johnson Park: Half-moon Bench a. b. c. 48 30. Johnson Park: Rain Garden and Washing Station a. b. 49 31. Johnson Park: Western Entrance to the Park 49

32. Pavement at New Ocean House Resort Hotel 54 33. Berm, Curved Bench, Raised Bed a. b. c. 54-55 34. Revetment Wall Design 56 35. Entrance Sign 56

36. The Pergola, Proposed Tensile Structures, and Flood Bench a. b. c. 57 37. Picnic Table and Umbrella Options a. b. c. d. e. 58-59 38. Aesthetic for Changing Shelter and Bathroom 59 39. Rain Garden a. b. c. 60

40. Topographical Map, Johnson Park 61 41. Informal Boulder Seating 62 42. Bollard Style Bike Rack 62 43. Trash and Recycling Bins 63

44. Raised Bed Vegetation a. b. c. d. 64-65 45. Sidewalk Berm Vegetation a. b. 65 46. Rain Garden Vegetation 66 47. Half-moon Bench Vegetation a. b. 67

48. Pathway Vegetation 68 49. Coastal Green Infrastructure Park Plan 81 50. Rain Garden Diagram and Image a. b. 82

Tables 1. Community Meeting Results 43 2. Vegetation Options Table 84-85

3. Allowable Uses of CPA Funding 91 4. Private Funding Sources 98

9

Executive Summary

Members of the student and client

teams relax in the Half-moon Bench (Elise Simons, December 2015)

Eastern Side of Johnson Park (Elise Simons, April 2016)

Western edge of the park with path, looking south (Elise Simons, April

2016)

The beachfront lawn of New Ocean House Resort Hotel, which would one

day become Johnson Park (Swampscott Historical Commission)

Purpose of Project

The Town of Swampscott asked a team of graduate students (Anna Cantell, Mbacke Faye,

Elizabeth Gohringer, and Elise Simons) in the

Tufts’ department of Urban and Environmental

Policy and Planning (UEP) Field Projects Course to develop a comprehensive proposal for redesigning

Johnson Park, a one-acre coastal park in a

residential neighborhood of Swampscott. While the beach bordering the park is a popular

summertime destination, the park itself is barren

of amenities and people, under-maintained, and

in need of rejuvenation. Once the site of a resort hotel beach access point and swimming pool, it is

now a flat expanse of mowed grass, with one

historic bench structure and no trees, shrubs, or any other vegetation. The Town of Swampscott

intends to turn Johnson Park into an accessible

and welcoming community space, improve the park aesthetic with a minimal increase in park

maintenance, and create an environmentally,

culturally, and historically relevant park, all

without obstructing ocean views for neighborhood residents. The Tufts UEP Field Project Team was

asked to consider existing conditions,

environmental context, neighborhood preferences, and the needs of the community in

the establishment of a new and improved design

for Johnson Park in Swampscott.

Executive Summary

10

View of Johnson Park from Puritan Road, looking south to the ocean

(Anna Cantell, April 2016)

View of the seawall and New Ocean House Beach, looking west (Elise Si-

mons, April 2016)

Image of Community Meeting Flyer

(Tufts Team)

Major Findings

The Team investigated the park’s environmental conditions and history through research,

interviews with various town committees, and an

investigation of coastal park design concepts

through a study of other coastal park precedents. Additionally, feedback from the abutting

neighborhood and Swampscott community at

large was obtained through a Community Meeting at the Swampscott High School on March 10,

2016.

Major findings from these investigations include:

Mobility within the park is limited by

incomplete pathways, which should be redesigned and connected to encourage park

visitors (including joggers, bikers, and

picnickers) and improve access for the elderly and disabled.

The site appearance should be improved.

Some historical elements of the park — such as the Half-moon Bench and original paving —

should be maintained and restored due to

cultural and historical value, while other elements should be removed to improve the

appearance of the space.

Passive recreation (i.e. sitting, picnicking,

walking, jogging, dog-walking, view-gazing,

and socializing) are preferred uses for the

park.

Preservation of the ocean view is paramount,

but some shaded areas should be incorporated in ways that will not needlessly block the view

of the ocean.

Executive Summary

11

Image of Word Cloud based on Com-munity Meeting brainstorming presentations (Wordle.net)

Swampscott Residents brainstorm at Community Meeting (Courtesy of Peter Kane, March 2016)

Vegetation in the park should be geared toward

ecological appropriateness, minimal maintenance,

and maximum aesthetic value.

Preferred park amenities include seating and

picnicking areas, a bathroom and changing room

for the beach, a foot washing station for beachgoers, trash and recycling bins, a dog bag

dispenser, bike racks, park signs and a message

board, and a historic plaque for the Half-moon Bench.

Park access is limited by the lack of available

parking — access to and awareness of the nearby parking lot should be improved.

The high level of park and neighborhood flooding during coastal storms is not adequately mitigated

by the seawall between the beach and the park;

other coastal and stormwater management techniques should be considered.

The likelihood of sea level rise due to climate

change in the next 30 - 50 years is high enough to merit strategic use of coastal flooding mitigation

techniques and green infrastructure design.

Executive Summary

12

Johnson Park, Swampscott: current conditions (top) and proposed design (bottom) (The Field Project Team)

Executive Summary

13

Half-moon Bench from the main path

Picnic Area

Rain Garden

Major Recommendations

Based on these findings, the following recommendations will be made to the Town of

Swampscott as part of the design proposal:

Incorporate green infrastructure design techniques, including a vegetated berm and rain

garden, to mitigate coastal flooding in the park.

Conduct a soil analysis to determine the best

vegetation options.

Incorporate raised beds and berms with flood- and

salt-tolerant vegetation to improve the park’s

aesthetics, mitigate flooding issues, reduce

pollution, improve road safety, create a cohesive space, and lessen maintenance requirements.

Connect and improve the pathways to and within the park to facilitate access and improve

circulation for all park users.

Restore the Half-moon Bench and historic tile paving from the New Ocean House Resort Hotel.

Include removable tensile structures, reminiscent of the pergola from the New Ocean House Resort

Hotel, over the Eastern Path to provide shade.

Provide restrooms and changing areas for

beachgoers.

Maintain open lawn space for recreational and aesthetic purposes.

Incorporate formal and informal seating areas for picnicking and view-gazing.

East Entrance to the Park

View over Half-moon Bench, looking East

Executive Summary

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I. Introduction

Tufts UEP Team

Anna Cantell, Mbacke Faye, Elizabeth Gohringer, and Elise Simons, four MA candidates at Tufts University in

the Field Projects course of the Urban and Environ-

mental Policy and Planning (UEP) department, make

up the Johnson Park Field Project Team. The team worked collaboratively on park research, committee

interviews, and community engagement, as well as

the design process and recommendations.

Client

Swampscott Director of Community Development S.

Peter Kane proposed the Johnson Park Design Project to Tufts University. The Swampscott Open Space &

Recreation Plan Committee, Historical Commission,

Municipal Design Committee, and Planning Board were all key stakeholders in the research and design pro-

cess.

Project Background

Swampscott is a 3.01 square mile coastal town with

4.3 miles of highly economically and culturally valua-

ble coastal shoreline. This shoreline includes Johnson Park, a one acre area of open space abutting a popu-

lar beach in a residential neighborhood. Once the

front lawn of a resort hotel, the park has become an under-maintained lawn with concrete and stone frag-

ments from the former hotel’s swimming pool. Besides

being aesthetically underwhelming, the park does not

function as a usable or welcoming community space. Though neighbors do not want their view blocked,

they do regret the lack of any sort of shade, seating,

or recreation within the park. The nearby parking lot

Swampscott Facts

Date settled: 1629

Date of Founding: 1852

Size: 3.01 mi2

Distance from Boston: 13

miles

Population: 13,787

Demographics: 94% white

Median Age: 44

Median Household Income:

$93,000

Figure 1. Field Project Team in John-son Park (Anna Cantell, April 2016)

Introduction

16

is difficult to find or access, while the pathways with-in the park lack direction or cohesion. During storms,

the seawall does not adequately protect the park or

neighborhood from floods. Due to these issues, and

the town’s commitment in its 2013 Open Space and Recreation Plan to revitalizing and improving the

town’s open spaces, the Town of Swampscott ap-

proached the Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning department at Tufts University to develop a

proposal for a new and improved Johnson Park.

Project Goals

The main goal of the project was to develop a park

design proposal for the Swampscott Planning Depart-

ment. The Field Project Team was asked to consider existing conditions, environmental context, neighbor-

hood preferences, and the needs of the community in

the establishment of a new and improved design for Johnson Park in Swampscott. While some general rec-

ommendations were made for improving access to the

nearby parking lot and beach, the focus of the design

proposal was on the one-acre site of Johnson Park.

The Field Project Team considered the following ques-

tions in compiling a design proposal for the one-acre site of Johnson Park:

How can we design an environmentally-sustainable park that also accounts for the wishes and needs of

the community and neighborhood?

What are the opportunities for flood risk mitigation

and environmental sustainability in the park?

How can we address and increase park accessibil-ity?

Introduction

17

Which recreational or cultural facilities are most

desired by the community and can they be provid-

ed at the park?

How can the varying desires of the community be

best incorporated into one cohesive design?

Methodology

The design process began with a review of literature

and resources relevant to Swampscott and Johnson Park, followed by meetings and interviews with town

committees and board members, in order to learn

about the park and the needs of the town (Chapter

II). Research continued with a literature review of coastal park design considerations and park prece-

dents to be used as design models (Chapter III).

On March 10, 2016, the Field Project Team and Client

co-led a community meeting at the Swampscott High

School to engage the Swampscott community and

Johnson Park neighborhood in the design process. On April 20, 2016, the Team met with the Client and rep-

resentatives of several Swampscott town committees

to review the park design in more detail. While providing usable community open space, improving

park accessibility and mobility for all ages, and ensur-

ing a low-cost, low-maintenance, and aesthetically-pleasing design were priorities of the Client, major

concerns of the community included preserving the

ocean view and beach access, creating an open and

attractive gathering space, and mitigating flood risks from the park’s proximity to the ocean. Feedback

from each group was integrated into the final design.

Chapter IV discusses the community engagement pro-cess in more detail.

Introduction

18

The final design was modeled using SketchUp soft-ware; images from the model and accompanying text

recommendations can be found in Chapter V. Addi-

tional research and information on coastal water man-

agement techniques and regulations, green infrastruc-ture strategies, soil quality and vegetation options,

accessibility, funding sources, and feedback from the

Town of Swampscott have been detailed in the re-port’s Appendix.

Introduction

19

II. Site Description

The Story of Johnson Park

Swampscott is a 17th century coastal town 13 miles north of Boston (Figure 2a), with a population of

13,787 as of 2010. The heart of Swampscott is its 4.3

miles of coastal shoreline, including beaches, down-

town esplanades, and residential neighborhoods with lovely coastal views.

Coastal open spaces, such as Johnson Park (Figure 2b), have been given special priority for rehabilitation

and improvement by the Town of Swampscott, due to

their community importance. The Town’s 2013 Open Space & Recreation Plan specifically emphasizes

maintaining, improving, and expanding open space

and recreation facilities, especially in coastal areas,

as they are central to the Town’s identity, health, and environmental sustainability.

Johnson Park’s history and current recreational popu-larity makes it an iconic element of the Swampscott

landscape. Issues with the park’s accessibility and cir-

culation, coastal flooding, and lack of vegetative vari-

ety or aesthetic appeal were identified and then ad-dressed over the course of the project.

The following chapter is an overview of the relevant history, context, and culture of the park space today,

including its accessibility, coastal environment, recre-

ational uses, and existing vegetation. This chapter fo-cuses on the elements of the park that should be pre-

served, improved, or changed; subsequent chapters

will explore techniques for achieving these objec-

tives.

Figure 2b. Johnson Park in Swamp-scott (GIS, Mbacke Faye)

Figure 2a. Swampscott in relation to Boston (Google Maps)

Figure 3. Johnson Park between Puri-tan Road and New Ocean House Beach; the Half-moon Bench is in the center of the image, in white (Mbacke Faye, Google Earth, Febru-ary 2016)

Site Description

20

Johnson Park Today

Johnson Park, a one-acre coastal park in a residential neighborhood, is a 15-minute walk from the town cen-

ter. The park abuts the popular New Ocean House

Beach on one side and residential homes on the other

(Figure 3). It is a highly valued piece of public open space for Swampscott residents due to its popular

beach, lovely views of the ocean, and quiet residen-

tial location.

While New Ocean House Beach is a popular summer-

time destination, the park itself is barren, under-maintained, and in need of rejuvenation. Once part

of the popular New Ocean House Beach Resort Hotel,

it is now a flat expanse of mowed grass, with one his-

toric structure (an all-white Half-moon Bench), and no trees, shrubs, or any other vegetation. The park is no-

table for its disconnected slabs of pavement, worn

down pathways, and lack of vegetative variety. The Half-moon Bench itself, a proud symbol of the town’s

history, is crumbling and in need of repair (Figures 4a-

d).

Historical Context

Swampscott’s long and rich history has heavily influ-

enced the local community that enjoys Johnson Park today. Previously inhabited by the Naumkeags, a sub-

group of the Pawtucket Tribe, the area was one of the

earliest European settlements in 1629. During the 18th and 19th centuries, booming fishing and shoe manufac-

turing industries fueled the town’s growth.

Figure 4a. Random slabs of pavement in Johnson Park (Elise Simons, April

2016)

Figure 4b. Path along the western edge of the park, looking south (Elise

Simons, April 2016)

Figure 4c. Lack of vegetative variety (Elise Simons, April 2016)

Figure 4d. Close-up of Half-moon Bench (Elise Simons, April 2016)

Site Description

21

Swampscott transitioned into an elite summer resort community in the mid-19th century (DCR 2005). By

this time, the North Shore of Massachusetts had be-

come a resort destination for many wealthy and influ-

ential guests. Swampscott became a popular location for the resort hotel industry because of its proximity

to Boston. Johnson Park has special historical signifi-

cance as the former location of a grand summertime resort hotel called New Ocean House (Figure 5).

The first New Ocean House was built in 1835 on Phil-lips Point in Swampscott. The hotel was an elite, luxu-

rious destination that received patrons from around

the country and throughout the world. The town of

Swampscott experienced an influx of wealthy resi-dents who built summer mansions, and the hotel be-

came a centerpiece to Swampscott’s cultural identity.

The hotel burned three times; the last New Ocean House Resort Hotel was built in 1884 following two

previous fires in 1864 and 1882. Its beachfront lawn,

swimming pool, and shaded pergola would one day be-come the site of Johnson Park (Figure 6).

By the mid-20th century, the town of Swampscott had

become a quiet, coastal suburb (DCR 2005). When the last New Ocean House Resort Hotel burnt down in

1969, the Town of Swampscott purchased the beach-

front property in order to preserve it as open space for the community, renaming the park after prominent

local resident Richard B. Johnson (Town of Swamp-

scott Open Space & Recreation Plan 2013).

Because of the historical and cultural importance of

what remains of the New Ocean House Resort Hotel to

the Swampscott community, Swampscott residents and committees voiced strong support for restoring

the Half-moon Bench and exploring ways to honor and

commemorate the park’s history, as described in Chapter V.

Figure 5. New Ocean House Resort Hotel, Swampscott, MA (NOBLE Digi-

tal Heritage)

Figure 6. The beachfront lawn of the New Ocean House Resort Hotel,

which would one day become Johnson Park (Swampscott Historical Commis-

sion)

Site Description

22

Open Space & Recreation

As Swampscott is a largely built-out town with limited

open space, public spaces like Johnson Park are in

high demand. Swampscott’s most recent Open Space & Recreation Plan (2013) identified the maintenance,

expansion, and improvement of open green space and

recreational areas as one of the town’s top priorities. In keeping with the goals of the Plan, the redesign of

Johnson Park will lead to improved beach access,

more ocean views, increased recreation opportuni-

ties, and a space that embodies the town’s aesthetic and character.

Johnson Park is a popular destination for passive rec-reation activities, such as biking, jogging, walking,

picnicking, dog walking, and view-gazing. Due to its

small size, it is unlikely to become a destination for more active recreation (including playgrounds, since

one is already being considered at neighboring Polis-

son Park or Phillips Park). Instead, the design for

Johnson Park should prioritize improving beach ac-cess, encouraging passive recreation, and creating a

more aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable space.

The town seawall separates Johnson Park from New

Ocean House Beach, also referred to as Eiseman’s

Beach, which is a popular destination on summer weekends for swimmers, surfers, and sunbathers

(Figure 7a, b, and c). According to the Swampscott

Recreation Department, which provides a lifeguard

each summer, the beach is popular for families be-cause it is quieter and calmer than other beaches in

Swampscott (Open Space & Recreation Plan 2013).

Revitalizing Johnson Park with improved access, and additional amenities will allow beachgoers to find

even more enjoyment in the space.

Figure 7a, b, and c. View of the sea-wall and New Ocean House Beach,

looking east (top, middle) and west (bottom) (Anna Cantell & Elise Si-

mons, April 2016)

Site Description

23

Perhaps the most popular attraction at Johnson Park is the open scenic view of the ocean. Ocean views are a

key element of Swampscott’s identity, a major attrac-

tion for residents, businesses, and visitors, and a boon

for the Swampscott community’s overall quality of life. It is due to the economic and cultural value of

these ocean vistas that the Town of Swampscott has

made preservation of coastal public open space a pri-ority (Open Space & Recreation Plan 2013). Maintain-

ing the open view of the ocean is therefore a key driv-

er in the design process.

Accessibility

Pathways and Connections

Accessibility issues are a critical element of Johnson Park’s current state. Existing conditions include inter-

rupted pathways and broken pavement (Figure 8). A

large amount of pavement directly behind the seawall and in front of the Half-moon Bench has broken off

into large chunks, revealing the original stone pavers

beneath (Figure 9). Additionally, the existing path-

ways in the park are narrow and do not allow two visi-tors to pass each other side-by-side comfortably.

These issues create an obstacle for visitors with mobil-ity issues, wheelchairs, walkers, or strollers. Accord-

ing to the Swampscott Open Space & Recreation Plan

(2013), over 50% of the community is 45 years or old-er, and the median age is increasing. It is therefore

important to account for this age group in the design

of open spaces, and this includes providing wheelchair

-friendly pathways and ample seating.

Handicap accessibility is an issue of great concern.

Currently, the only access points to the beach from the park is by way of two old staircases, which clearly

Figure 8. Interrupted pathway in Johnson Park (Elise Simons, April

2016)

Figure 9. Broken Pavement, John-son Park (Elise Simons, December

2015)

Site Description

24

are not handicap-friendly. Parking is not allowed on Puritan Road, posing a challenge to someone who may

not be able to walk for long distances, and the narrow,

interrupted pathways mentioned above do not meet

ADA standards.

Walking and biking are both important travel modes

for Johnson Park visitors. There is a pedestrian cross-ing on Puritan Road, connecting the park to the nearby

parking lot (Figure 10). Puritan Road does have side-

walks on both sides of the street. During site visits, families, joggers, and dog-walkers were all observed

utilizing the sidewalks while approaching the park.

Many joggers enjoy making a quick loop around the

park while taking in the ocean views before continuing down the street.

The existing bike racks at the park are unsightly; they are covered in rust and do not create a welcoming

place to lock up one’s bike (Figure 11). Recent town

surveys and planning documents have illustrated that walking and biking are very important to the residents

of Swampscott, so bike racks and paths should be a

priority (Swampscott Community Survey: Results and

Analysis 2012 and Open Space & Recreation Plan 2013).

There are no public restrooms at Johnson Park, nor within close walking distance of the park.

Phillips Park Parking Lot

An unpaved parking lot off of Humphrey Street, known

as the Phillips Park Parking Lot, is available for motor-

ists to use when driving to the park or beach (Figure 12a, next page). Unfortunately, there is no signage in

the parking lot indicating the direction to Johnson

Park, nor is there signage at Johnson Park to indicate

Figure 11. Bike Rack at Johnson Park (Elise Simons, December 2015)

Figure 10. View looking west; cross-walk across Puritan Road leads to

path along wooden fence to Phillips Park Parking Lot (Google Street

Views, April 2016)

Site Description

25

that there is a parking lot nearby. In order to access Johnson Park from the parking lot, visitors must walk

down a very uneven and multi-pronged pathway, offi-

cially known as the New Ocean House Footpath, that

is a mixture of dirt, gravel and tree roots (Figure 12b). Navigating a wheelchair or stroller on this pathway

from the parking lot to the beach would be nearly im-

possible. The Town of Swampscott’s Open Space & Recreation Plan paints a very clear picture of the

challenges this pathway presents to visitors:

“A winding footpath through scrub vegetation

on slightly undulating terrain makes up this

right-of-way. The path runs from Puritan Road

to Humphrey Street and was originally part of the New Ocean House grounds. Largely hidden,

it is a pedestrian cut through from Phillips Park

to the beach. Comprised of low spots and wet areas, there is trash and debris found strewn

through (out the) area since it is not main-

tained.” (Open Space & Recreation Plan 2013, 72)

Figure 12a. Aerial view of the path-way between Johnson Park and the Phillips Park Parking Lot (Google Earth with graphics, Mbacke Faye, February 2016)

Figure 12b. Footpath to Phillips Park Parking Lot (Tufts Team, April 2016)

Site Description

26

The parking lot is adjacent to the Swampscott High

School athletic fields and is used for spectator parking

during games. The lot is not level and is prone to

flooding during heavy rain, particularly near the en-trance to the path to the park.

Beach parking in Phillips Park Parking Lot is not free; visitors must obtain a beach parking sticker in ad-

vance. Rules and prices vary based on resident versus

nonresident status ("Swampscott Beach Parking Stick-ers" 2016).

Coastal Environment

Seawall & New Ocean House Beach

New Ocean House Beach, also referred to as Eiseman’s

Beach, is separated from the abutting Johnson Park by

a seawall. The neighborhood abutting Johnson Park has reported that the seawall does not sufficiently

prevent flooding of the park and neighborhood during

winter storms (Figure 13a and b). A risk assessment

study conducted by Kleinfelder, an environmental consultant group, indicated that the current seawall,

most likely built in the early 20th century, is increas-

ingly vulnerable to coastal flooding for the year 2030 and 2070 due to potential sea level rise from climate

change projections (Kleinfelder 2015). With park and

town flooding already occurring and likely to increase over the next decades, it is important to consider

coastal ecology and flood mitigation in the new design

of Johnson Park. See Appendix A for more information

on coastal flooding issues related to Johnson Park.

Figure 13a and b. Coastal Storms blast over the seawall and reach the Half-moon Bench in Winter 2015 (Courtesy of a Puritan Road Resi-dent)

Site Description

27

Figure 14. The Johnson Park Lawn (Mbacke Faye, April 2016)

Vegetation

Johnson Park is a flat, one-acre expanse of lawn, with no trees, shrubs, or small plants that could provide

shade, habitat, or food for wildlife (Figure 14). The

soil quality is uncertain, but assumed to be relatively

poor (for more on Johnson Park soils, see Appendix D). Since most of the area surrounding the Park is oc-

cupied by single-family homes with abundant trees

and shrubs, the absence of flora in Johnson Park makes it stand out as a visual and ecological contrast

to its surroundings. The Johnson Park design proposal

recommends plantings that are ecologically beneficial and appropriate for New England coastal sites, as well

as historically evocative of the New Ocean House Re-

sort Hotel.

Conclusion

The history, context, and culture of the park space

today, including its accessibility, coastal environ-ment, recreational uses, and existing vegetation, is

crucial to understand in order to design a park that is

environmentally sensitive, historically commemora-

tive, and in keeping with the character of the com-munity. The goal of this design project is to create an

improved recreational space that is appropriate and

relevant to the needs of Swampscott, so that Swamp-scott residents will want to use it. The next chapter

explores coastal park design strategies that balance

the needs of the people with the environmental needs of the space.

Site Description

29

In examining the current conditions of Johnson Park and its surroundings, as discussed in the previous

chapter, the Team identified four major elements of

the park that necessitated further research:

1. Addressing coastal and environmental is-

sues, including flooding and lack of environ-

mentally appropriate vegetation

2. Commemorating the historical and cultural

context of the space, including the New Ocean House Resort Hotel and Half-moon

Bench

3. Improving accessibility and opportunities for passive recreation, including pathways

and seating areas

4. Engaging the community in the design and

creation of an aesthetically pleasing, cohe-

sive, and enjoyable community space

Our research methodology in addressing these four

major topics included repeated interviews with sever-

al Swampscott Committees as well as a Community Meeting, all of which are discussed in Chapter IV.

Additionally, the team conducted an extensive review of coastal park design strategies and literature to in-

form the design process. More extensive research re-

sults on coastal park design strategies are available in

the Appendices; this chapter summarizes our re-search.

Research into these four main elements was aided by the identification and study of several “park prece-

dents,” or parks of similar location, context, aesthet-

ic, or design need to Johnson Park, as identified on the left. These precedents informed the final design,

III. Coastal Park Design Precedents

Research Elements:

1. Coastal Concerns

Park Precedent: Beach Bluff

Park, Swampscott, MA

2. History and Culture

Park Precedent: Eastern Promenade, Portland, ME

3. Improving Accessibility

Park Precedent: Ashland State Park, MA

4. Community Engagement

& Aesthetics

Park Precedent: Lawn on D, Boston, MA

Park Precedent: Burlington, VT

Park Precedent: Pleasure Beach, Bridgeport, CT

Coastal Park Design Precedents

30

and have been integrated into the chapter as design examples for each of the four major research ele-

ments. While some precedents, such as Burlington, VT

and the Eastern Promenade, overlapped multiple re-

search elements, they have been grouped into the most relevant category for this chapter.

Coastal Concerns

Many parks have been designed only for aesthetic and recreational pleasure, with little attention paid to the

ecological health of the landscape. However, more

recent design techniques have embraced the reali-zation that aesthetic design rules are only relevant

after a space’s underlying ecological needs are ac-

counted for (Hough 1995). A successful and environ-

mentally sustainable park, especially in a volatile loca-tion such as a coastline, attends to the environmental

needs of the landscape.

According to the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone

Management (CZM), storms and tides make the Massa-

chusetts coastline a constantly shifting landscape,

which leaves coastal parks prone to storm damage, erosion, and flooding, even when seawalls are present.

CZM’s series of StormSmart Coasts Factsheets detail

how ecologically attentive landscaping, including the use of rain gardens and the minimization of lawn

space, can stabilize and mitigate flooding of coastal

banks while providing a buffer against ocean pollution and contamination, creating a wildlife habitat for

coastal birds and wildlife, and lessening park mainte-

nance (StormSmart Coasts 2009). In 2014, the US EPA

released a green infrastructure handbook to help mu-nicipalities plan for coastal stormwater management

in Massachusetts (USEPA 2014). See Appendices A, B,

and C for more information on coastal flooding and stormwater management, coastal regulations, and

green infrastructure.


31

Precedent for Coastal Concerns:

Beach Bluff Park, Swampscott, MA

Beach Bluff Park, located approximately two miles

from Johnson Park in Swampscott, provides a good ex-

ample of a park designed for Swampscott’s unique coastal environment. Similar to Johnson Park, Beach

Bluff Park is situated along the Atlantic Ocean and ex-

periences frequent coastal storms. To address this is-sue, the Clifton Improvement Association has incorpo-

rated a new revetment wall to withstand varying lev-

els of wave energy, especially during winter storms, to protect the park (Figure 15a). The association also

planted vegetation, such as beach grasses, suitable for

withstanding coastal flooding and storm impacts. An-

other important design element of this park relevant to the Tufts Team project is the inclusion of meander-

ing walkways and benches that encourage quiet enjoy-

ment of the ocean (Clifton Improvement Association 2015) (Figure 15b).

History and Culture

Historically, many coastal parks were designed with broad lawns and boulevards directly abutting the

beach line. The cultural appreciation of a handsome

park from which to enjoy a stunning ocean vista often superseded any attention to the ecological needs of

the area. While maintaining the environmental health

of a park is important, especially by a beach, it is equally important to balance that ecological sensitivi-

ty with respect for the historical and cultural context

that the park carries. Johnson Park is not Beach Bluff

Park; our goal was to design an environmentally mind-ful park space, but also to remain true to the histori-

cal layout of the park, including tile paving, straight

paths, and the Half-moon Bench.

Figure 15a. Revetment Wall at Beach Bluff Park (Tufts Team,

April 2016)

Figure 15b. Beach Bluff Park Plant-ings & Walkway (Clifton Improve-

ment Association)


32

Precedent for History and Culture:

Eastern Promenade, Portland, ME

The Eastern Promenade (“the Prom”) is a 68-acre

oceanfront park adjacent to the residential Munjoy Hill

in Portland, ME (Figure 16a). Though significantly larg-er and more urban than Johnson Park, it is similar in

both design and context: a grassy expanse of histori-

cally and culturally important open space abutting a popular beach and a residential neighborhood. Similar

to Swampscott’s goals for Johnson Park, the City of

Portland recently rehabilitated the Eastern Promenade to increase accessibility, provide more open space for

“passive recreation,” and evoke the historic Eastern

Promenade design of the early 20th century (Eastern

Promenade Master Plan 2004). The plan is a useful re-source for the rehabilitation of historic coastal parks.

Portland’s approach to redesigning Fort Allen Park on

the eastern edge of the Prom, for example, provided insight into creating a 21st century park that echoes

the space’s historical design while also appealing to

the modern aesthetic and providing opportunities for outdoor recreation (Figure 16b and c).

Improving Accessibility

Since many Swampscott residents, whether they are

handicapped, elderly, or babies in strollers, depend on

wheel-accessible spaces, our review included a search for coastal parks that integrate wheelchair access. The

ADA has specifications for path widths and grades (ADA

Standards for Accessible Design 2010). While Johnson

Park is relatively flat, ADA standards do specify that paths should be level, smooth, and no steeper than

1:20 inches (5% grade). This limits usable materials for

Figure 16a. Map of the Eastern Prom-enade (Eastern Promenade Map and Guide)

Figure 16b. Fort Allen, 1891 (Eastern Promenade Master Plan

2004)

Figure 16c. Fort Allen Park, Present Day (Google Maps, February 2016)


33

pathways, as many commonly-used permeable coastal materials (gravel, shells, etc.) would not be appropri-

ate. The ADA also specifies a minimum of 36-inch

widths per lane (for a public path, 72 inches or more

to allow for two-way traffic). Since the Town of Swampscott may also need to use the paths for

maintenance vehicles, a 9 ft. minimum width was re-

quested by Director of Community Development Peter Kane. See Appendix G for more details.

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation lists parks and beaches that have already

made great strides in increasing accessibility through

the incorporation of ramped beach entrances, con-

crete viewing platforms, and beach wheelchairs (Figure 17a) (“Accessible Beaches” 2016). Ashland

State Park, for example, provides platforms for ocean

viewing and a ramp to the ocean (Figure 17b).

Community Engagement

& Aesthetics

A park designed for a community must reflect that

community’s needs, interests, and sense of style. In-teracting with key community representatives, stake-

holders, government and community groups, and the

community itself is a crucial element of the design process. Swampscott committee and community mem-

bers had strong and sometimes varied opinions about

the best uses and aesthetics for Johnson Park, as de-tailed in Chapter V.

To give a hint of the Swampscott community’s aes-

thetic preferences, Director of Community Develop-ment Peter Kane referred us to the Lawn on D (Figure

18), a highly interactive and recreational urban park

Figure 17a. Wheelchair-accessible beach (MassParks)

Figure 17b. Ashland State Park, MA is considered a wheelchair-

accessible beach because of its ramp and concrete platform at the

water’s edge (MassParks)

Figure 18. Lawn on D (Project for Public Spaces)


34

in Boston. While the moveable games and lawn furni-ture would be destroyed or damaged by coastal wind

and rain, the large recreational lawn, picnic area with

temporary covering, and large paths for strolling pro-

vided some inspiration for the design process. Such recommendations provided a picture of the aesthetic

preferences of the Swampscott community.

Precedent for Community Engagement &

Aesthetics: Town of Burlington, VT

Burlington, VT provides a strong example of a small,

New England city that has undergone city-wide, parks-

specific master plans within the past three years. The comprehensive approach that Burlington applied to

evaluating its open space and other community re-

sources is a useful resource for others performing com-

munity engagement work. Reading through the Burling-ton Bike Path Plan offered a view into what inspired

their own design process. Images in the plan (Figure 19

a - c) informed certain aspects of the redesign for Johnson Park (City of Burlington 2015). Materials such

as the weathered wood in the benches and raised bed

gardens provide a similar aesthetic visual style to what is being proposed for elements in the redesign for

Johnson Park. Furthermore, it is important to see Bur-

lington’s examples of the various uses of edges outlin-

ing and delineating different spaces as part of the Johnson Park visioning process.

Figure 19c. Native Riparian Plantings (City of Burlington 2015)

Figure 19a. Weathered metal benches (City of Burlington 2015)

Figure 19b. Native Riparian Plant-ings (City of Burlington 2015)


35

Figure 20. Images of gathering spac-es from Pleasure Beach Park, Bridgeport, CT (Stantec Consulting)

Precedent for Community Engagement &

Aesthetics: Pleasure Beach, Bridgeport, CT

Pleasure Beach Park is the largest portion of the Con-

necticut barrier beach peninsula, and as such is sur-rounded on three sides by water. Pleasure Beach Park

is different in terms of site shape and land structure

from Johnson Park, but they both share the goal of meeting community’s needs by incorporating different

types of outdoor gathering spaces. Pleasure Beach in-

cludes an open-lawn gathering pavilion, playground, and picnic area, with shade and partial shade cano-

pies, in order to provide an array of gathering loca-

tions in different areas of the park (Figure 20). In the

same sense, Johnson Park envisions creating different gathering spaces to reinforce community interac-

tion while in the site.

Conclusion

All the coastal parks studied for this project empha-

sized the importance of reflecting the needs of the

community in the park design, in order to ensure that the park would serve its purpose and be effectively

woven into the community fabric. As explored in the

next chapter, most of the design process focused not on examining other parks and communities, but on

consulting with stakeholders and residents for the

community most relevant to this park: the Town of Swampscott.


37

The previous chapter details the four main research elements that most informed the design process for

Johnson Park: coastal environment, historical context,

accessibility, and designing for the community. The

fourth element, community engagement, requires more than research of literature or park precedents;

it requires active engagement with town stakeholders

and the greater community. This chapter details the community engagement process that took place over

the course of the semester.

Engagement with the Town of Swampscott and the

Swampscott community was a crucial element of the

design process. Interviews and meetings with town

committees and board members informed the park design process and made a thorough review of the site

and related literature, much of which was provided by

the Town, possible. A community meeting in March, and the process leading up to it, actively engaged the

community and encouraged participation in the design

process. A final meeting with several town committee representatives in April led to a final design for the

project. This chapter details how, in addition to more

general research, the expertise of Swampscott resi-

dents and stakeholders informed the final design.

IV. Community Engagement Process

April 20

Final

Committee

Meeting

March 10

Community

Meeting

February

10

Open Space

Committee

February

28

Visited park

abutters

Historical

Commission

March 1 March 7

Beautification

Committee

February

22

Planning

Board

Municipal

Design

Committee

April 6

Department

of Recreation

Disability

Commission

Figure 21. Timeline of Community Engagement for Johnson Park (Tufts Team)

Community Engagement Process

38

Committee Meetings and

Interviews

Beginning in February 2016, the Field Project Team

reached out to the Swampscott Open Space & Recrea-

tion Plan Committee, Historical Commission, Municipal

Design Committee, and Planning Board in order to glean recommendations and ideas on what the town

committees considered most relevant, doable, and po-

tentially beneficial to the community if implemented in Johnson Park. Additionally, team members reached

out to the Swampscott Disability Commission, Recrea-

tion Department, Harbor and Waterfront Advisory

Committee, and Public Works Department for further advice on park design decisions.

The Swampscott town committees expressed the most interest in restoring the Half-moon Bench, providing

shade and seating, improving park signage, adding a

bathroom, and providing handicap parking. Various committee members also suggested improved vegeta-

tion, planting beds, picnic spaces, green infrastruc-

ture, a foot washing station, moveable lawn furniture,

and a shade pergola. More detailed recommendations and notes from these meetings are listed in Appendix

F. While some of these recommendations were not im-

plementable (moveable lawn furniture, for example, could easily be carried away by wind or rain), many of

these suggestions became major focal points of the

park design. Because committee members had a more thorough understanding of the current park culture —

the importance to Swampscott parents of having a

bathroom on-site and not in the nearby parking lot, for

example — they were best suited to guide, redirect, veto, or approve our design concepts.


39

On April 20th, the Field Project Team presented the preliminary design proposal for Johnson Park to Direc-

tor of Community Development Peter Kane and repre-

sentatives from the Board of Selectmen, Open Space &

Recreation Plan Committee, Historical Commission, Municipal Design Committee, Disability Commission,

and Recreation Department. Their feedback on the de-

sign draft was incorporated into the final design pro-posal, as seen in Chapter V.

Community Meeting

Preparation From the beginning, it was clear that conducting a

community meeting in conjunction with the Town of

Swampscott was essential to the design process. It was important that the interests of the community be re-

flected in the final design, and that community mem-

bers felt some attachment to and ownership of the de-

sign process. The community meeting was an oppor-tunity to hear directly from local stakeholders and res-

Figure 22b. Some of the neighbors visited in preparation for the Com-munity Meeting, highlighted in or-ange (Courtesy of Pete Kane, Febru-ary 2016)

Figure 22a. Community Meeting Flyer (Tufts Team)


40

idents of Swampscott about community needs, wishes, and aesthetic preferences.

In preparation for this event, a flyer advertising the

meeting was posted on the Town of Swampscott web-site and community Facebook group “For the Love of

Swampscott” (Figure 22a, see previous page). The

Field Project Team visited Swampscott on February 28th, 2016 and personally invited residents that live

directly around Johnson Park to the community meet-

ing (Figure 22b, see previous page). Through this pro-cess, the Team made contact with the park abutters

and gave them an opportunity to voice any concerns

about potential changes to the park, in case they were

not able to attend the meeting directly. A flyer was left at each home with details about the community

meeting and who to contact for more information; the

flyer was also posted at local stores on Humphrey Street and in Vinnin Square. Overall, the Field Project

Team visited approximately 24 houses and spoke with

seven residents about their preferences for the park design. The in-person conversations that took place

were very affirmative of certain park design elements

already mentioned by other stakeholders, such as im-

proving the landscaping, restoring the Half-moon Bench, and preserving the view of the ocean.

Process The Johnson Park community meeting took place on

March 10th, 2016, at the Swampscott High School, fa-cilitated by the Tufts UEP team and attended by ap-

proximately 40 residents. Peter Kane, Swampscott Di-

rector of Community Development, provided a brief

introduction of the project to participants, who then broke into small groups to brainstorm design ideas and

requests for Johnson Park (Figure 23a). After about 25

minutes of group discussion, a member of each group presented their ideas to the entire room (Figure 23b).

Figure 23b. Swampscott Residents present their thoughts at Communi-ty Meeting (Courtesy of Peter Kane, March 2016)

Figure 23a. Swampscott Residents brainstorm at Community Meeting (Courtesy of Peter Kane, March 2016)


41

A question and answer period followed the group presentations. Overall, the community meeting was a

successful event that allowed the residents of Swamp-

scott to participate in shaping the final design pro-

posal. The feedback from the community was integral to the generation of the final design (Figure 23c).

Community Meeting Results The community meeting highlighted many of the com-

mon concerns among Swampscott residents (Table 1,

see page 43), including the desire for a public re-

stroom and a washing area for removing beach sand. The addition of low-level plantings was a popular sug-

gestion, although residents voiced their concern about

the ability of the town to maintain plants adequately. Residents were especially worried about extreme

storms which do cause the park, as well as Puritan

Figure 23c. Word Cloud based on Community Meeting brainstorming presentations (Wordle.net)


42

Road, to flood. Several attendees mentioned that a significant environmental condition at Johnson Park is

the risk of flooding from coastal storms; one partici-

pant even brought photographs. Therefore, any pro-

posed design plans for Johnson Park will need to incor-porate elements that can accommodate and withstand

the impacts of coastal flooding, such as salt-tolerant

vegetation and bolted picnic benches that can’t be washed away.

Benches, picnic tables, and additional gathering spac-es were mentioned frequently. The majority of groups

also wanted the park to remain largely open space,

because it is so widely used by families with young

children who like to play there. The idea of adding a playground had mixed support, but the town is already

considering a playground just down the street at near-

by Polisson Park or Phillips Park. At least two groups wanted to see the Half-moon Bench restored with a

historical plaque; only one suggested it be removed.

Issues around accessibility and safety were two other

common themes, with many groups mentioning the

need for improved pathways both in the park itself and

leading to the parking lot. The need for overall im-proved wheelchair accessibility was mentioned several

times. Groups also liked the idea of adding a knee wall

along the street side of the park, to provide a low-level barrier between children and the road while re-

directing flood waters back to the ocean.


43

Table

1.

Com

munit

y M

eeti

ng R

esu

lts

(Tuft

s Team

)


44

Brainstorming:

Bringing it all together

After weeks of research, interviews, and community

consultation, the Field Project Team began compiling

ideas into a cohesive plan following the Swampscott

Community Meeting. Early brainstorming sessions in-volved reviewing committee interview notes, reading

through feedback from the community meeting, and

creating sketches of potential park designs based on these ideas (Figure 24a and b). After weeks of re-

peated improvements and drafts, the Field Project

Team began modeling the proposed plan using

SketchUp software. A preliminary SketchUp model was presented to the Town of Swampscott on April

20; feedback from this meeting was incorporated into

the final SketchUp model, which is presented in Chapter V.

Figure 24a and b. White board draw-ing from the team’s first brainstorm-

ing session, March 21, 2016, and a later design session on April 13 (Elise

Simons, Spring 2016)


45

V. Park Design Recommendations

In April 2016, the Field Project Team compiled all de-sign ideas from research, interviews, community

meeting feedback, and design brainstorming sessions

to construct a model of the new Johnson Park with

SketchUp software (Figure 25). The following pages provide a tour of the park design via SketchUp model

images, followed by more detailed explanations of

the design elements.

A Tour of the Park

Phillips Park Parking Lot no longer floods. The puddle at the entrance to the New Ocean House Footpath has

been filled in, so wheelchair-bound visitors will have

no trouble reaching the path from their handicapped parking spot. New Ocean House Footpath has been

paved with smooth and permeable white stone dust;

what used to be two crumbling paths is now one clean, wide path bordered by trees.

Figure 25. Site Plan of Redesigned Johnson Park

Park Design Recommendations

46

Figure 26a. East Entrance to the Park

You enter the park through the Eastern Path (Figure 26a-b). There is an entrance sign, contributed by the

Swampscott Municipal Design Committee, and a Town

Message Board at the Entrance (Figure 26c-d). The

wide, tiled path is bordered by benches on one side and flowers on the other (Figure 26e, next page).

The path is shaded by a structure of tensile fabric, reminiscent of both boat sails and the pergola that

once stood here during the days of the New Ocean

House Resort Hotel. The fabric sheets are removable, so that the view of the ocean is not permanently ob-

structed, and stretch far enough to provide shade to

the surrounding lawn, where park visitors and beach

goers often like to sit. You can see curved benches built into the raised bed at the side of the park,

where shrubs and small fruit trees provide gentle

shade.

Look to your left when you reach the seawall, and you

will see a rounded tile patio at the Eastern Beach En-trance. There is a changing shelter and bathroom in-

side a simple wooden structure, as well as a smaller

wooden pen for the trash and recycling. Though you

Figure 26b. East Entrance to the Park

Figure 26c. Entrance Sign

Figure 26d. Message Board


47

Figure 27a. Changing shelter, bath-room and eastern beach entrance

can’t see it from here, there is a ramp leading down to the beach (Figure 27a and b).

Instead of going down to the beach, however, you

turn right, and follow the tile pathway into the picnic area. The platform is gently raised and scattered with

rounded picnic tables underneath umbrellas (Figure

28). There is a ramp on one side for wheelchairs and strollers to access, and some of the picnic tables are

wheelchair-accessible as well. Coastal vegetation has

been planted around the curve of the platform, leav-ing room for a person to exit from the platform onto

the lawn. You sit under the shade of the umbrella,

Figure 26e. View under removable tensile structures

Figure 27b. Changing shelter, bath-room and trash and recycling bins

Figure 28. Picnic Area


48

briefly, to watch some children playing kickball on the

lawn, before returning to the main path.

Beyond the picnic area, the Half-moon Bench stands

fully restored, the centerpiece of Johnson Park (Figure

29a-c); lilacs are growing over the edges, reaching

gently toward the people seated on the bench. Behind

the bench is a plaque commemorating its history; a

wide path leads out of the park, bordered with plants.

Beneath your feet is original and restored colorful tile

from the New Ocean House Resort Hotel, running par-

allel to the seawall and stretching from one end of the

park to the other. A jogger passes you on the left; the

pathways in this park make an informal loop around

the park that joggers can enjoy as well as people out

for a stroll.

You have at last reached the Western Side of the park, where a brightly planted rain garden serves as a catch-

ment area for ocean and rainwater during coastal

storms. In the summer, the rain garden is a pleasant

place to sit, and a reminder of the saltwater pool that

Figure 29a. Half-moon Bench from the West

Figure 29b. Half-moon Bench from the main path

Figure 29c. View over Half-moon Bench, looking East


49

was once a part of this park (Figure 30a). Boulders

reminiscent of the rocky outcroppings of the beach be-

low have been artfully placed around the garden; chil-dren can play on these, but currently an elderly cou-

ple is sitting on one of the rocks to watch the ocean

waves.

At the western edge of the seawall is one of two en-

trances to the beach; this entrance features a faucet

for washing your feet of sand after a stroll on the beach, and the water flows from the faucet into the

rain garden (Figure 30b). You run into a friend here

locking up a bike to the park’s bike rack, and the two of you visit the beach together.

When you emerge from the beach and have washed your feet of sand, you leave the park by the Western

Path. There are beautiful perennials growing in the

raised bed beside you; rest in one of the curved benches facing the ocean, and look back upon the

park you have visited (Figure 31). Your view of the

ocean is unobstructed, and you can still smell lilacs on the breeze. This is Johnson Park.

Figure 30a. Rain Garden

Figure 30b. Washing station and Western Entrance to the beach

Figure 31. Western Entrance to the Park


50

Summary of Recommendations

The Field Project Team makes the following major

recommendations to the Town of Swampscott for re-

designing Johnson Park:

Fully restore the Half-moon Bench with decora-

tive plantings and a historical plaque to com-

memorate the bench’s historical significance.

Integrate curved spaces and structures wherev-

er possible, to evoke the spirit of the Half-moon

Bench.

Widen and connect the four pathways in the

park, and restore the original tile pavers, in or-

der to create more inviting park entrances, im-

prove access, and encourage jogging through

the park.

Create a shaded area over the eastern path and

lawn using removable tensile fabric, reminis-

cent of the historic pergola that once stood

over that path, and install benches underneath.

Place a rounded, slightly raised, and formalized

picnic area with shade and seating on the East-

ern Side of the park.

Include a tile patio at the Eastern Beach En-

trance with a bathroom and changing shelter, as

well as a ramp down to the beach.


51

Install a rain garden on the Western Side of the

park to retain water during storms, and inte-

grate salt-tolerant plants and informal boulder

seating organically into the design; a foot wash-

ing station can flow into the garden from the

Western Beach Entrance.

Increase signage by moving the message board

to the park entrance and adding a park name

sign from the Municipal Design Committee.

Place raised beds with rounded benches along

the edges of the park to create shade and pro-

vide seating with views of the ocean.

Complete a soil test for the park and, according

to the results, select appropriate perennials

and beach grasses for the path borders and pic-

nic area. The vegetated berm along the side-

walk, raised beds, and rain garden will be

planted in new soil.

Install trash and recycling bins at either side of

the park near the ocean entrances, screened by

wooden shelters. The dog bag dispenser should

be left at the Western Path Entrance.

The remaining sections of this chapter describe in

more detail the components of these recommenda-

tions.


52

Access and Circulation

Site Access

Bike Lanes

Johnson Park is already visited by many bicyclists. The

town plans to add bike lanes on nearby Humphrey Street, which will likely generate greater overall bike

traffic in the neighborhood. New bike racks should be

installed to accommodate these visitors.

Swampscott’s Open Space & Recreation Plan identifies

the need to create a Green Corridor Network, which

they describe as “a green network...that recreational walkers and bicyclists, both townspeople and tourists,

can enjoy [including] green connectors to open spac-

es, recreation facilities, beaches and rail trans-

it” (Open Space & Recreation Plan 2013, 85). In ac-cordance with this goal, it is recommended that

“sharrows” be added to Puritan Road to connect the

dedicated bike lanes on Humphrey Street to Johnson Park (see appendix G for a discussion of sharrows.)

Phillips Park Parking Lot and New Ocean House Path

It is strongly recommended that the Town of Swamp-

scott make some improvements to the parking lot in

order to improve access for Johnson Park visitors. The parking lot should be leveled-out, so that a heavy rain

does not create flooding in the parking lot, and the

town should consider drainage methods to address this issue. Additionally, the town may choose to pave the

parking lot, in which case there are a myriad of more

environmentally friendly options to consider instead of

asphalt, such as permeable or pervious pavement.


53

The Swampscott Disability Commission recommends the addition of four handicap-reserved parking spaces,

marked by signs and located as close as possible to the

park pathway (New Ocean House Footpath), to accom-

modate the needs of elderly and handicapped park vis-itors. It is worth noting that if the parking lot is paved

and striped, ADA standards for accessible design re-

quire that one out of every 25 marked spaces be desig-nated as handicap accessible ("Accessible Parking |

ADA National Network" 2016).

Finally, the importance of improving the New Ocean

House Footpath, leading from the parking lot to the

park, cannot be over-stated. The current pathway

does not serve the needs of members of the communi-ty who have mobility issues. The multi-pronged path

should be changed to one path. Choice of materials

will depend on the aesthetic preferences and needs as determined by the town, especially given the heavy

vegetation and marshy nature of the area. A popular

choice for trails is crushed stone, which can be de-signed to meet ADA Guidelines (Boone 2016).

Site Circulation To improve the overall flow and experience of the

park circulation, paths should be widened, connected,

and re-paved. All paths should be wide enough to comfortably accommodate two people in wheelchairs

side-by-side, as well as occasional maintenance vehi-

cles.

The center pathway, which leads to the Half-moon

Bench, should establish the bench as the focal point of

the park, drawing the rest of the park together; as the main path, it should be 11’ wide. The original tile path

along the seawall will be fully restored. The two side

paths, 9’ wide, will provide an uninterrupted experi-


54

ence for any user who parks in the Phillips Park Park-ing Lot, walks down the New Ocean House Footpath,

enters through the Eastern Path, walks to and along

the seawall, and exits by the Western Path. This cre-

ates continuous flow through the park, as well as an enjoyable jogging loop.

All pathways, the picnic area, and the patio area by the Eastern Beach Entrance should be paved with the

same material. Town feedback recommended excava-

tion and restoration of the original stone pavers by the seawall, which are currently covered in asphalt

(Figure 32). New pavers will need to be used for the

side and central pathways, which should resemble the

original pavers as closely as possible. The town should consult with the Historical Commission around recom-

mendations for restoration of the pavers.

Park Infrastructure and Amenities

The residents of Swampscott expressed a strong desire

for the park to remain mostly open space, and the de-sign reflects this intention. While much of the park

will remain recreational lawn, the following section

details additions to the park to provide increased seat-ing, improved accessibility, and a more enjoyable park

experience. This section is divided geographically:

Park Borders, The Eastern Side, Half-moon Bench, and The Western Side.

Park Borders To create definition for the space, three of the bor-

ders of the park will be marked with raised, vegetated plantings: a berm alongside the sidewalk (Figure 33a),

and a raised bed with benches at either side of the

Figure 32. Original tile pavers at Johnson Park as part of New Ocean

House Resort Hotel (Town of Swamp-scott Open Space & Recreation Plan

2013)

Figure 33a. Berm Diagram (Pennsylvania Stormwater Best

Management Practices Manual)


55

park. The fourth border is the seawall between the park and the beach.

Vegetated Berm

Community meeting attendees expressed some con-

cern about the flooding of the park during coastal

storms, and requested a knee wall be placed along the entirety of the park to protect the neighborhood

from flooding. However, this significant of a spatial

blockage between the park and the neighborhood is extreme; it is important that the park still be a part

of the Puritan Road community. Therefore, a vege-

tated berm — a 4 ft. wide and 2 ft. high planting on the border between the park and the sidewalk — will

serve the same purpose in a more subtle fashion. The

berm is intended to redirect water flow back toward

the ocean. It can also serve as a safety feature, de-terring children from wandering from the park to the

street. Raised Beds and Benches Raised beds with benches are recommended on each

side of the park to create shaded seating with ocean

views for park visitors. The benches should be placed at an angle to face the ocean, and will curve in mim-

icry of the Half-moon Bench (Figure 33b and c). This

feature was strongly supported by committee repre-sentatives.

Seawall

Due to the cost of replacement and the sturdiness of

the wall as it is, significant changes to the Seawall

are not recommended. However, we do recommend the addition of a ramp by the eastern stairs down to

the beach; see Appendix G for ramp details.

Figure 33b. Curved bench with pleasant vegetative surroundings

(Fotor)

Figure 33c. Raised bed with a perennial garden and benches

(Houzz)


56

For environmental reasons, it is recommended that

the Town of Swampscott consider eventual replace-ment of the seawall with a revetment wall when the

current wall is no longer tenable. A revetment wall

made of rocks will address coastal flooding issues and dissipate wave energy that can lead to erosion (NYC

2013). It should be built at an appropriate angle, as

determined by engineering consultants based on the

park’s local site conditions (Figure 34). Future poten-tial sea level rise should be considered using the most

up-to-date scientific information available.

The Eastern Side

The Eastern Side of the park includes the entrance

from the parking lot, an entrance sign and message board, a shaded path with benches, a picnic area, a

bathroom and changing shelter, and a container for

trash and recycling bins.

Figure 34. Revetment Wall Design (Pile Buck)

Figure 35. Entrance Sign (Town of Swampscott)


57

Entrance Signs

The Municipal Design Committee will be installing a stone sign proclaiming the park’s name; it is the rec-

ommendation of this team that the entrance sign be

placed at the Eastern entrance to the park (Figure 35, on previous page). The park’s town message board

should also be moved from the Eastern Beach Entrance

to the Park Entrance where visitors can see it. This would also be a good location for a sign informing visi-

tors of the nearby Phillips Park parking lot and how

they can access it, including mention of parking per-

mit requirements.

Shading on the Eastern Path

The Eastern Path will be 9’ wide and straight, in ac-

cordance with ADA guidelines, with tile pavers similar to the original ones by the seawall. The path will be

covered with removable tensile shade structures,

12’x16’ wide, in recognition of the historic pergola structure from the New Ocean House Resort Hotel

(Figure 36a and b). These can be removed in winter to

allow for more ocean views, while in summer they will

provide shading for the pathway and the grassy area east of the path, reaching as far as the raised beds, so

visitors can sit in the shade.

Benches

Benches along the eastern side of the Eastern Path

will allow visitors to take advantage of the tensile

shade. It is recommended that the Town of Swamp-scott use flood resistant material for all benches in

Johnson Park. Latz Partner has designed a bench made

of laminated wood and with a mounted foundation that can withstand coastal flooding and high winds

(Figure 36c). Vegetation will line the western side of

the path.

Figure 36a. Inspiration of tensile overhang from New Ocean House Re-sort Hotel pavilion (Swampscott His-torical Commission)

Figure 36b. Temporary shading struc-tures, called “tensiles,” along the eastern pathway (Miri Piri Sheds and Structures)

Figure 36c. Flood Bench (Latz Part-ner)


58

The Picnic Area The Eastern Path will lead into the picnic area. This

gathering space, made of the same material as the pathways, will feature rounded picnic tables with

beach umbrellas for shade. A portion of the tables will

be set aside for handicap access and wheelchair use.

There are two potential design options for the picnic

tables: first, cloth umbrellas, which have the benefit

of being removable for cleaning or view enhancement, mounted to the ground with wooden or polywood ta-

bles (Figure 37a and b). Polywood picnic tables, made

with weather-resistant recycled plastic resin, are envi-ronmentally friendly, impervious to salt water, and

come in various colors (Figure 37b). Taking into ac-

count strong wind (and sometimes water) exposure in

Johnson Park, picnic tables should be bolted or ce-mented into the ground.

The second option is to use heavier materials for both the picnic tables and umbrellas to prevent wind dam-

age. Concrete picnic tables are heavy duty, perma-

nent, and low maintenance (Figure 37c). Durable fi-

Figure 37a. Wooden picnic table with removable cloth umbrellas (Eberle’s Produce)

Figure 37b. Polywood picnic table with removable cloth umbrella (Houzz)

Figure 37c.Concrete picnic tables (Barco Products)


59

berglass umbrellas are ideal for beach parks; the poles

are powder-coated to prevent rust and corrosion

(Figure 37d-e).

The Changing Area and Bathroom A small, rounded patio at the Eastern Beach Entrance

will provide visitors with a space to change into and

out of swim gear. It should be made of the same pav-

ers as the pathways. The Swampscott Recreation De-partment requested a shelter similar in appearance to

outdoor showers found at coastal beach houses (Figure

38). The wooden structure will be 10’x7’, leaving room for one changing stall and one stall containing a

porta-potty. The porta-potty will be handicap accessi-

ble, and the Eastern Path should be wide enough for a maintenance truck to reach it. The porta-potty needs

to be cleaned regularly, as flooding during storms

could lead to environmental contamination. In the off-

season, it should be removed entirely. A wooden shel-ter for trash and recycling, similar in appearance to

the changing shelter, should also be included at the

beach entrance, with a duplicate on the Western Side of the park; details below.

Figure 38. Outdoor shower, aesthetic model for changing shelter and bath-

room (Outdoor Showers and Indoor

Showers)

Figure 37e. Wind-resistant fiberglass umbrellas. (Belson Outdoors)

Figure 37d. Wind-resistant fiberglass umbrellas (Belson Outdoors)


60

The Half-moon Bench

The Half-moon Bench, a last remnant from the New Ocean House Resort Hotel, is historically significant

for the Town of Swampscott. The Historical Commis-

sion strongly recommended that the Half-moon Bench be restored, and several community stakeholders con-

curred. Therefore, the Town of Swampscott should

hire a certified historic preservation consultant to properly repair and restore the Half-moon Bench.

Lilacs should be planted around the back of the bench,

so as to grow over the top of the bench and provide a pleasant scent to those sitting within; a historical

plaque commemorating the history of the park should

be centered directly behind the bench. The park’s central path, which should be 11’ wide to establish it

as the main pathway — and the Half-moon Bench as

the Park’s main focal point — will direct visitors to the

back of the Half-moon Bench and circle around it. This path allows for an expansive view of the ocean, as

well as a chance to read the historical plaque on the

back of the bench. This center pathway acts as a focal point, as it centers the two sides of the park and leads

to the impressive bench in the middle. The path will

have vegetated borders on either side.

The Western Side

Rain Garden

A simply-designed rain garden can serve as an effec-

tive and sustainable water retention area in times of flooding (Figure 39a—c). An expert in Green Infrastruc-

ture installation should be consulted to do a water-

shed analysis and site assessment of Johnson Park be-

fore a rain garden of a specific size or location is de-signed. For now, based on the current slope of the

Figure 39a and b. Rain Garden off Delano Ave in Kingston, MA, on a sunny day (top) and after a storm (bottom) (USEPA 2014)

Figure 39c. A curved strip of stones around or through the rain garden

increases absorption and improves the garden’s appearance (Pinterest)


61

park (Figure 40), it can be determined that the West-ern Side of the park is downslope from the Eastern

Side; added berms and vegetation should define this

slope and direct water flow more clearly, though the

park will remain relatively flat. Ideally, a rain garden is not placed at the absolute lowest point of the wa-

tershed, but right before it in order to catch water

mid-flow (Clark 2011). The garden should be some-what circular or kidney-shaped, which is an organic

shape for a rain garden and matches Johnson Park’s

half-moon aesthetic; artfully placed lines of small stones will give the garden a more natural look and

increase absorption capacity.

Absorbent, high-drainage soil should be brought into the park; depending on the site conditions, the garden

will require a mixture of coarse gravel, sandy loam,

Figure 40. Contour Lines at Johnson Park (Swampscott GIS Data Portal)


62

and bark mulch, and should be planted with a variety of salt- and flood-tolerant perennials (MAPC 2007).

The garden should only be waterlogged for a day or so

after rain, and will act as a pleasant garden bed the

rest of the time.

A rain garden serves an environmental purpose, but it

is also a good aesthetic visual — informal boulder seat-ing (Figure 41) around the rain garden will allow park

visitors to sit and enjoy the tranquil garden and views

of the ocean beyond. The boulders selected should emulate the rocky outcroppings on the beach, but be

comfortable for sitting. Plantings from the rain garden

and a rocky (water-absorbing) path winding its way

between the stones could help visitors feel they are sitting in the rain garden itself; at times, the garden

may be a zen-like, reflective space. At other times,

the boulders may also double as a play area for chil-dren.

Washing Station

At the Western Beach Entrance, a simple water spigot

or fountain should be installed with two faucets: a higher nozzle that is fashioned as a drinking fountain,

and a lower nozzle for beachgoers to wash sand off of

their feet. An optional third faucet could be fashioned as a showerhead for full-body rinsing. A gentle rivet in

the path should funnel the water from the spigot to-

ward the rain garden, where it can assist in providing natural irrigation for the garden.

Bike Racks New bike racks should be installed in the western cor-

ner of the park near the seawall. The bollard style of

bike rack is an appropriate choice for Johnson Park (Figure 42). Upgrading the existing bike racks at John-

son Park for new, rust-resistant racks will encourage

Figure 42. Bollard Style Bike Rack (Tarling 2015)

Figure 41. Informal boulder seating to place around rain garden, facing

the ocean (Mid-Wales Stone)


63

cyclists to visit the park. The location of the bike racks allows cyclists to wheel their bikes down the

Western Path from the road and lock them up where

they will be safely out of sight.

Dog Bag Dispenser The dog bag dispenser at the head of the Western Path may need to be moved as the path is expanded,

but should be kept at the Western Park Entrance.

Trash and Recycling Bins A wooden trash and recycling bin shelter at the West-

ern Beach Entrance will keep animals away, prevent

trash overflow, and block unsightly views of garbage in the park (Figure 43). An identical structure will be

placed at the Eastern Beach Entrance next to the

changing shelter and bathroom. Each trash shelter should match the changing shelter in color, material,

and design, be large enough to hold both a trash bin

and a recycle bin, and be clearly labeled.

Vegetation

The following section details vegetation recommenda-

tions for park amenities described in the previous sec-

tion, including the two raised beds, sidewalk berm, rain garden, the Half-moon Bench, and pathways.

Raised Beds

Vegetation

Vegetation recommendations for Johnson Park are

based on resources provided by both Town of Swamp-

Figure 43. Trash and Recycling bins in wooden shelter to prevent over-flow and unsightly views of trash (Pinterest)


64

scott Open Space and Municipal Design Committees, which show plants that have been in Johnson Park be-

fore and were resistant to the climate conditions of

the site. Vegetation choices are oriented towards the

ability of these plants to mitigate flood risk, demand less maintenance, and create an aesthetic that will

emphasize the beauty of Johnson Park. Please see Ap-

pendix E for more information about plant species.

Figure 44a. A raised bed of perennials, to bookend the east and west

sides of Johnson Park. (Houzz.)

Raised beds, located at the Eastern and Western Sides

of the park, should be filled with a mix of deciduous and evergreen perennials and shrubs that will provide

a palette of color, texture, and fragrance during the

different seasons of the year (Figure 44a). Big Blue

(Eryngium) perennial flowers, for example, are seaside and salt tolerant butterfly attractors (Figure 44b).

Crème Brulée (Coreopsis) is a soft yellow perennial

that does well in coastal gardens; they produce large flowers that bloom from early summer to fall (Figure

44c). They prefer sunny areas (appropriate on the

Eastern Side of the park) and are easy to grow, making them a good choice for maintenance reasons.

The perennials can be mixed with evergreen shrubs,

such as shamrock (Ilex Glabra), that still carry their

leaves during winter, so that the bed can be beautiful all year long. Shamrock is low-maintenance, shade-

tolerant, and adaptable to both heavy and wet soils. It

produces jet-black berries throughout the winter.

Figure 44b. Eryngium/Big Blue Flow-ers for raised beds (Bluestone Peren-

nials)

Figure 44c. Coreopsis/Crème Brulée for raised beds (Bluestone Perenni-

als)


65

Small fruit trees can provide shade and height to each side of the park. The “Santa Rosa” plum tree, for ex-

ample, will do well in Johnson Park (Figure 44d). It is

15-25 feet tall and produces large quantities of red-

dish purple edible fruits. It is a relatively hardy tree, adaptable to a variety of soils.

Soil Growing perennials in a raised bed will require a soil

low in nitrogen as well as a high-phosphorous fertiliz-

er. Generally, the fertilizer requirements for a new

bed includes approximately two pounds of 5-10-5 fer-tilizers per 100 square feet of garden bed area

(University of Illinois Extension).

Sidewalk Berm

Vegetation

As mentioned in Appendix C, vegetation built on a berm between Johnson Park and the sidewalk would

benefit the park environment, protect the neighbor-

hood from potential flooding, and discourage children

from wandering from the park into the street. A thick, vegetative cover can effectively redirect stormwater

back toward the ocean. Knockout roses (3-4’) are

tough, disease-resistant roses that require minimal maintenance (Figure 45a and b). Compact and bushy,

they have multiple blooming periods and can survive

temperatures that other rosebushes cannot. The New Ocean House Resort Hotel used an abundance of roses

in their landscaping, both on the hotel side of Puritan

Road and on the beach side. Incorporating these roses

will be a way to recreate the vegetative environment that existed before.

Figure 45a and b. Knockout roses (double white and double red) for sidewalk berm (Photos provided by the Town of Swampscott Municipal

Design Committee)

Figure 44d. Fruits of Santa Rosa plum tree for raised beds (Pinterest)


66

Soil The soil type of Johnson Park is not clearly defined.

For sandy and loam soils, incorporating 3-6 inches of plant-derived compost is recommended. For clay soils,

consider adding shale to improve soil drainage and

aeration (Texas AgriLife Extension Service).

Rain Garden

Vegetation

Rain gardens require native plants species that would thrive in the local environment, and often feature

shrubs, wildflowers, and grasses. Daylilies such as the

Catherine Woodbury (32 inches tall) are easy to grow and blossom earlier than most daylilies, thereby ex-

tending the flowering season of the rain garden by

planting plants with varied bloom cycles. Native

coastal grasses, such as Switchgrass (Panicum Virga-tum), are adapted to various types of coastal soils

(Figure 46). These grasses stabilize soil in critical are-

as.

Soil

Rain gardens are usually planted with high-drainage,

sandy soils; sometimes gravel and mulch are added.

Knowing the current soil specifics of Johnson Park will

help indicate what specific soils, if any, should be added to create the rain garden. Recommendations

above are plants that generally do well in Swampscott

and grow well in rain gardens. When designing the rain garden, it is recommended to have the tallest flowers

and shrubs in the deepest part of the rain garden.

Plant species should be placed at a density of one plant per 2 ft2 depending on the species and the size

of the rain garden.

Figure 46. Switchgrass for rain gar-den (Panicum Virgatum) (USDA Nat-ural Resources Conservation Ser-

vices image by Mike Owsley)


67

Half-moon Bench

Vegetation

The Half-moon Bench will be surrounded by lilacs

(Syringa Vulgaris), which are low-maintenance and good-smelling deciduous shrubs that grow between 5-

15 feet. Lilac flowers come in seven colors, including

rich burgundy purple, lavender, blue, white and

creamy yellow. These plants are appropriate in John-son Park as they were historically used here before.

To ensure that the lilacs will bloom for a longer sea-

son, combine early blossom varieties like Excel lilacs, growing in February and March, with later-blooming

varieties like Miss Kim lilacs, which will extend flow-

ering period from winter through late spring (Figure 47 a and b).

Soil

Lilacs prefer soils that are neutral to slightly acidic.

The plants don’t tolerate poorly drained soils; the

soil should retain enough moisture to nourish the root system. Granular organic fertilizer can be applied at

the base of the plant early each spring to help pro-

vide nutrients for the coming year.

Pathways

Vegetation

Pathway vegetation is important for softening the ap-

pearance of walkway edges. Vegetative strips are

recommended along the pathway of the Half-moon Bench, on the lawn side of the Western Path, and on

one side of the Eastern Path under the tensile shad-

ing. The vegetation chosen must be tolerant of

shade, wind, and heavy foot traffic. Summersweet

Figure 47 a and b. Excel and Miss Kim lilacs bushes blooming in differ-

ent time period, for Half-moon Bench (Sooner plant farm)


68

(Clethra Alnifolia) is a 3-4’ flowering shrub that thrives in New England (Figure 48). It is a rounded, densely-

branched, deciduous shrub, mostly used on pathway

borders and ground covers, that tolerates coastal spray

and wet areas in acidic soil. The flowers bloom from mid-to-late summer; the glossy dark green leaves turn

attractive shades of yellow and golden brown during

fall.

Soil

Summersweet prefers acidic, moist, and well-drained

soils. For planting in heavy clay soils, it is best to add soil fertilizers, such as composted ground pine bark, to

improve drainage. This native plant will grow in full

sun to total shade, but it will grow best in full sun or

with morning sun and afternoon shade.

To help these green species to survive through the dif-

ferent seasons of the year, some site maintenance will be required.

Maintenance

Johnson Park vegetative maintenance will be per-formed by the Department of Public Works. The cur-

rent staff within this department are responsible for all

the town’s parks, vegetation (trees, shrubs, flowers), trash, and facility maintenance (Open Space Plan

2013). The director of DPW, Gino Cresta, stated that

Johnson Park’s maintenance will vary depending on the season. Trash will be collected three days a week dur-

ing the spring and summer; landscaping maintenance,

such as grass-cutting, will take place once per week

from May 1st to November 1st.

Figure 48. Summersweet bush, for decorative hedge along Johnson Park Pathways (Naturehills)


69

The Town of Swampscott 2013 Open Space & Recrea-

tion Plan identifies the following goals for open space

management:

1. Maintain Open Spaces and Recreation Facili-

ties

2. Improve Public Access and Awareness

3. Expand and Improve Open Spaces and Recre-

ation Facilities

4. Preserve the Scenic Character of the Town

5. Strengthen Environmental Protection

In keeping with these guidelines, the Tufts UEP Field

Project Team developed a comprehensive proposal for

turning Johnson Park into an accessible and welcoming

community space with improved aesthetics, vegeta-

tion, recreation opportunities, and both environmen-

tally and historically relevant design. The final pro-

posal incorporates green infrastructure techniques to

mitigate coastal flood concerns; raised beds and per-

ennials to improve the park environment and reduce

maintenance; better pathways to improve access to

and circulation within the park; restored historical el-

ements; restrooms and beach-related amenities; for-

mal and informal seating for picnickers and view-

gazers; and open lawn space for recreation and open

views of the ocean. The Field Project Team consulted

with key Swampscott stakeholders, studied coastal

park precedents and design techniques, and engaged

the Swampscott community in the design process.

From here, it is the hope of this team that the Town

of Swampscott will consider these recommendations

as they move forward with the rehabilitation and im-

provement of Johnson Park.

VI. Conclusion

Conclusion

71

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Appendices

A. Coastal Flooding and Storm Mitigation

According to the updated FEMA flood insurance rate map (FIRM) from July 16, 2014,

Johnson Park is within the zone VE. The zone VE represents the coastal flood zone,

which takes into account velocity hazards. The map designates Puritan Road as hav-

ing a base flood elevation of 22 feet for a 1% annual chance of a flood, commonly

referred to as a 100-year flood risk (FEMA 2014). The base flood elevation is defined

on the FEMA website as the computed elevation for the amount of water rise in feet

during a 1% annual chance flood event (FEMA 2016). It is important to note that this

is the existing flood risk for Johnson Park and does not include risks in the future.

Local climate modeling for the Johnson Park area is available; this modeling analyzes

the local risk and vulnerability for flooding in the future as a result of sea level rise

and storm surges. The climate modeling was conducted using the Boston Harbor

Flood Risk Model referred to as BH-FRM by Kleinfelder in October 2015. The BH-FRM

model was developed by the Woods Hole Group for the Massachusetts Department of

Transportation project. To access the risk levels of future sea level rise and storm

surges, the model analyzed two future time periods: 2030 and 2070. The sea level

rise estimates for these time periods were based on the NOAA Technical Report from

2012. The total sea level rise used in the modeling was 0.66 feet for 2030 and 3.39

feet for 2070, based on “highest” scenarios adjusting for local land subsidence

(Kleinfelder 2015). The results from the modeling show that Eiseman’s Beach and the

seawall, located at Johnson park, are vulnerable to flooding as a result of sea level

rise. The study found that the seawall had a 50% probability of flooding for 2030 and

a 100% probability of flooding in 2070 based on the studies’ modeling of sea level

rise scenarios (Kleinfelder 2015). For further reading, please consult the Kleinfelder

documents listed in the Bibliography.

Appendices

80

B. Coastal Regulations

Any new construction taking place at Johnson Park must be in compliance with

stormwater regulations because the park is prone to stormwater issues due to

coastal flooding. Floodwaters can be contaminated with pollutants from the land-

scape and then transported back into the coastal waters. Therefore, stormwater

management occurring in the town of Swampscott will need to meet the standards

set by the State of Massachusetts to be in alignment with the National Pollutant Dis-

charge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program delegated by the EPA as part of

the Clean Water Act (Energy and Environmental Affairs 2016).

The Town of Swampscott will also need to meet state regulations for stormwater

management established by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protec-

tion (MassDEP), which can be found in the Stormwater Management Standards Hand-

book. It is particularly important to meet requirements for stormwater discharges

that may contain pollutants in order to be in compliance with the Massachusetts

Clean Waters Act within sections 314 CMR 3.00, 314 CMR 4.00 and 314 CMR 5.00 (EEA

2008). Since the town of Swampscott is within the coastal zone for Massachusetts,

any new development for Johnson Park will need to comply with the regulations of

the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, which can be referred to in

the Policy Guide. The Policy Guide provides detailed information on the Massachu-

setts Environmental Policy Act, the Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan, and the

Public Waterfront Act (CZM 2011). This document may aid the Town of Swampscott

in complying with regulations and determining if additional permits are required for

development of Johnson Park to ensure public and private property are accounted

for.

The Town of Swampscott will also need to adhere to any local by-laws and regula-

tions for stormwater management before pursuing any new construction at Johnson

Park. For further reading, see the Town of Swampscott General By-Laws document.

Overall, stormwater management will need to be accounted for adequately to meet

all the federal, state, and local regulations governing Johnson Park as a public park.

Appendices

81

C. Green Infrastructure and Rain Gardens

CZM’s StormSmart Properties Fact Sheet 2: Controlling Overland Runoff to Reduce

Coastal Erosion (2013) recommends that coastal park design incorporate elements to

control and minimize flood damage, including: a reduction in impermeable surfaces

and pavement; planting vegetated buffers with salt tolerant plants and absorbent

soils; and redirecting water flow using vegetated swales, strips, buffers, and rain

gardens. Figure 49 shows a diagram from the same StormSmart Properties Fact

Sheet, which details how vegetated buffers and rain gardens can be used to prevent

property flooding, soil erosion, and ocean pollution from lawn chemical runoff.

CZM specifically recommends the use of rain gardens—natural stormwater storage

and treatment areas, consisting of absorbent soils and flood-tolerant plantings— to

mitigate and contain coastal flooding (Figure 50a and b). Local Swampscott consult-

ant Toni Brandowicz of the EPA concurs on this point, and recommended the US

Figure 49. Sample Plan for a Coastal Park or Garden (StormSmart Properties, Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management)

Appendices

82

EPA’s Massachusetts report, Coastal Stormwater Management through Green Infra-

structure (2014), to specifically inform the design process. The report describes

the environmental, health, and cost benefits of rain gardens and other green in-

frastructure techniques in coastal areas, and more importantly details the policy,

design, and implementation processes for rain garden installation in Massachusetts

coastal municipalities. This report and other Green Infrastructure resources can be

found in the Bibliography.

D. Soil Quality

According to the Town of Swampscott Open Space & Recreation Plan of 2013, two

general soil types, both formed in glacial till, have been identified in Swampscott.

These general soil types are Chatfield-Hollis-Rock Outcrop association and Urban

land-Udorthents association. The Chatfield-Hollis-Rock Outcrop association, coded

Crc, CrD, HuC from the 1984 Essex County Soil Survey Southern Part, is moderately

deep to steep, from well drained to somewhat excessively drained soils on up-

lands, hills and ridges. Some of these soils are found along the rocky coastline of

Swampscott (NRCS,1984). This soil series can’t be present on Johnson Park since

the soil series is an upland hill and ridge soil type and the site is on a relatively

flat surface.

Figure 50 a & b. Image and diagram of rain gardens for coastal parks (Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management)

Appendices

83

The Urban land Udorthents association, coded Ur or UD on from the Essex County

Soil Survey Southern Part, is a soil series that covers most densely built-up areas in

Essex County. Urban-land Udorthents soil families are too variable to have specific

soil characteristics but can have a top layer of dark loam over crumbly sandy-loam

layers (USDA, 1984). Udorthents soils are water-permeable with ranges of slow-to-

rapid drainage; part of these soils consist of gravel, cobblestones, stones and boul-

ders. Areas of this soil series can support vegetation.

The soil properties of Udorthents are so variable that an onsite soil quality analysis

is recommended in order to determine suitable choices of vegetation for Johnson

Park. Soil testing will indicate the texture, acidity level, permeability, and organic

content of the soil. Soil testing is necessary because Johnson Park is neither an up-

land open space nor a completely sandy beach, making the soil quality difficult to

define and impeding effective vegetation recommendations. In addition, soil test-

ing will be important in determining the quality of the foreign soil that has been

used to fill in the old hotel pool. These results will be crucial to the process of gen-

erating suitable vegetation recommendations.

More information about Chatfield-Hollis-Rock Outcrop association and Urban land-

Udorthents association can be found here:

Open Space & Recreation Plan: 2013-2020. 2013. Swampscott: Town of

Swampscott Open Space & Recreation Plan Committee. http://

www.town.swampscott.ma.us/public_documents/

swampscottma_planning/swampscott20131204osrpfinaldraft.pdf

U.S Department of Agriculture. Soil Conservation Service. 1984. “Soil Sur-

vey of Essex County, Massachusetts, Southern Part” Washington, D.C.:

Service, Accessed April 6, 2016. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/

FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/massachusetts/MA606/0/Essex.pdf.

Appendices

84

E. Vegetation Options Table

Appendices

85

Table 2. Specific Vegetative Options List

Appendices

86

F. Committee Meetings and Interviews From February to April 2016, the Field Project team reached out to several Swamp-

scott committees and stakeholders, and received feedback through meetings,

phone calls, and emails. The following lists the major feedback received from each

committee or department. The Team also reached out to the Harbor and Water-

front Advisory Committee, Public Works Director, EPA staff Toni Brandowicz, and

community group For the Love of Swampscott, but did not receive significant feed-

back to include in this appendix.

● Open Space Committee -- Mary Webster, February 10 at 6pm

○ Preserve the Half-moon Bench and the view of the beach

○ Include areas for bocce ball activities, community garden or herb gar-

den

○ Handicap parking (suggest two parking spots), bike path

○ Visual landscaping can be included (not as a fence)

○ Nice plants that would provide shade but with a moderate height

(fruit trees).

○ Public restrooms (look at composting toilets, handicap access)

○ Don’t put too much light around the park because of the surrounding

houses

○ Investigate/recommend some options about the sea wall

○ Signs for parking: contact the Municipal Design Committee, they are

working on making stone pillars as sign for parking for all the parks in

Swampscott.

● Planning Board -- Angela Ippolito and Peter Kane, February 22 at 1pm

○ Angela’s vision: zen space, provide a space to stop, inviting/

welcoming, accessible, incorporate the moon bench into the design

○ Referenced Beach Bluff Park for natural/retreat-like space, multiple

small spaces

○ trees along the edges are an option as long as they do not block view

○ will be putting in a “sharrow” along the road for bike traffic; this

road already gets lots of bike traffic

Appendices

87

○ No to handicap parking space on the road, no to community garden

(too much maintenance)

○ Good idea to reserve a couple of parking spaces right next to the path

in the parking lot by the high school fields for handicap parking

○ Public restroom on the path between the road and parking lot or near

the football field (could be used during games at Philips Park)

○ Examples of other parks with a similar aesthetic “vibe”: Peter sug-

gested the Lawn on D for its temporary furniture, passive recreation,

and lounge chairs

○ Overall takeaway: simple, “not a playground,” benches, accessible

paths to the water, creating spaces (active/passive), irrigation

● Municipal Design Committee -- John McLaughlin, February 22 at 2:30pm

○ talk to Susan Balleza for specifics on vegetation

○ need to put in irrigation; incorporate water for washing off feet - at-

tach to trellis

○ Holland park has a new irrigation system - an example

○ pergola/trellis on the east side of the park - shade, privacy

○ Historical “artifacts” to incorporate: Swampscott Dory (trash can),

lobster trap

○ Municipal Design can recommend specific plants/flowers if we plan

garden spaces

○ Signs for parking lot, history of hotel; will be stone sign with park

name, 18” x 18” x 5ft

○ No bocce ball court

○ the name of this beach is now “New Ocean House Beach”

○ Johnson Park is named after Richard Johnson, Swampscott resident

who “wrote the book on Town Meetings”

○ Raised bed garden in the middle of the park can be a possibility

○ Kiosk that would incorporate historical information

Appendices

88

● Historical Commission -- Susan Munafo and other members, March 1, 7pm

○ Susan sent us historical images of the site for the design & report

○ The Half-moon Bench should remain where it is because it is the only

thing remaining of the hotel. Incorporate nice flowers that would sur-

round it and also serve as a fence (to avoid the kids skateboarding).

○ Include pergola, walkways, picnic areas under an arbor for families to

gather.

○ For historical representation, incorporate a plaque that would state

what was there in the past (the hotel), and explaining why it is the

way it is now.

○ There should be amenities such as changing rooms for the beach and

rinse-off showers.

Municipal Design and Beautification Committee, Susan Balleza spoke with

Anna Cantell on phone, March 7

○ Divide Park Design into 3 main sections -- allow for open space

○ Amenities Recommended:

■ Built in Picnic Tables/ Spaces to eat, to one side, approx. 6

■ Chairs, benches, bike rack

■ Benches

■ Bathroom – OK in main parking area

■ Pathway – Put historical signs there

■ Washing Station (Nahant Beach – good example)

○ Irrigation – Susan knows basics

○ Vegetation

■ Recommends plants that are wind, drought, flood tolerant --

will email list

■ Rugged plants for coastal areas & native species

■ Quick Drainage Planting

■ Choose Plantings that are Simple, Blended, Native for coastal

areas

■ Soil:

● Bring in soil for raised beds, PH Balance 6

Appendices

89

● Different Types of Plants May need different Soil: Grass

Plants like different type of soils

○ Landscaping

■ Trees: some shade, suggested Pine Trees (understands may not

work for space)

■ Half-moon Bench: tone down color, add plantings, match

raised beds to bench material for blending

■ Trellis to the side

■ Raised Beds

○ History

■ Incorporate aspects of Hotel either in a plaque or design

● Department of Recreation – Danielle Strauss spoke with Elise Simons on

phone, April 6

○ Changing station/bathroom, one dual-purpose structure (similar in

aesthetic to coastal outdoor showers at beach houses), put in park if

possible (against seawall and fence)

○ Perhaps add a platform/place to sit for lifeguard-- they usually bring

a chair and sit in the park near the wall, but a specific area for them

would be nice

○ Ramp down to beach on one side for wheelchairs/strollers

Swampscott Disability Commission -- Trisha Malphrus spoke with Elizabeth

Gohringer via email, April 6

● “There is a need for handicap spots. I would suggest 4. But...the question

would be, is that back lot going to be paved and the spots marked? If so, the

amount of handicap spots would depend on how many spots are paved and

marked...For every 25 marked spots, 1 must be a handicap spot by ADA

standards. But they always prefer more...That path needs to be paved. It is

not safe at all.”

Appendices

90

G. Accessibility Notes

Biking

Definition of a Sharrow:

“Shared Lane Markings (SLMs), or “sharrows,” are road markings

used to indicate a shared lane environment for bicycles and auto-

mobiles. Among other benefits, shared lane markings reinforce

the legitimacy of bicycle traffic on the street, recommend proper

bicyclist positioning, and may be configured to offer directional

and way-finding guidance. The shared lane marking is not a facili-

ty type, it is a pavement marking with a variety of uses to support

a complete bikeway network” ("Shared Lane Markings - National

Association Of City Transportation Officials").

Handicap Beach Accessibility

In Chapter V, a handicap-accessible ramp was recommended for the seawall, in or-

der to make handicap access to the beach possible. While the town of Swampscott

will need to conduct its own extensive research on this matter, the following ADA

Guidelines may provide a starting point:

“Ramp runs shall have a running slope not steeper than 1:12...To

accommodate the widest range of users, provide ramps with the

least possible running slope and, wherever possible, accompany

ramps with stairs for use by those individuals for whom distance

presents a greater barrier than steps, e.g., people with heart dis-

ease or limited stamina...The clear width of a ramp run and,

where handrails are provided, the clear width between handrails

shall be 36 inches (915 mm) minimum” ("2010 ADA Standards For

Accessible Design" 2010).

Appendices

91

H. Funding Sources - Public and Private Funding for Parks and Green Infrastructure To redesign and restore Johnson Park, the Town of Swampscott, its committees, and

non-profit organizations can avail themselves of several sources of public funding –

at the municipal, state, state/federal, and federal levels – as well as grants from private foundations. The sources summarized below were selected for their applica-

bility to Johnson Park.

Municipal funding Community Preservation Act (CPA) Fund

Massachusetts cities and towns adopting the Community Preservation Act es-

tablish a revenue stream for the creation and preservation of open space and

recreation areas, as well as for affordable housing and historic preservation.

The CPA is funded from three sources: a 1.5 % surcharge on residents’ prop-erty taxes, a voluntary contribution from the city up to an equivalent

amount, and a state contribution from the Community Preservation Trust

Fund.

Appendices

Table 3. Allowable Uses of CPA Funding (Somerville Community Preservation Act)

Community Preservation Coalition website: http://communitypreservation.org/

Swampscott should consider adopting the CPA.

http://communitypreservation.org/

92

State funding

Three state programs are available to municipalities for the restoration of parks, the implementation of green infrastructure, and the management of coastal zones

include the Governor’s Community Compact, the DCS PARC Program and the CZM

Coastal Resilience Grant.

Community Compact

Governor Baker created the Community Compact program as one of his first legislative initiatives after taking office in 2015. The program, administered

by a Community Compact Cabinet chaired by Lieutenant Governor Polito,

provides technical assistance and financial support to cities and towns to im-

prove municipal government. Each city or town may choose up to three best practices to achieve from a list of 33 grouped under the categories of educa-

tion, energy & environment, financial management, housing & economic de-

velopment, information technology, regionalization/shared services, and transportation & citizens’ safety. Support includes technical assistance ser-

vices and funding from $4,000 to $400,000 per best practice.

Under the category of Energy and Environment, the best practices include:

Sustainable Development and Land Protection

Best Practice: There is a Master, Open Space and Recreation, or other Plan to guide future land conservation and development; Smart growth consistent

zoning has been adopted (e.g. techniques in the MA Smart Growth/Smart En-

ergy Toolkit); Investments in infrastructure and land conservation are con-sistent with the MA Sustainable Development Principles.

Comprehensive Water Resource Management

Best Practice: There is a plan to supply and conserve water, manage storm-water, and treat and reuse wastewater; The MA Water Conservation Stand-

ards are being implemented; Municipal regulations promote green infrastruc-

ture and the use of low impact development techniques; An Enterprise Fund or other mechanism is in place to fund maintenance and replacement of wa-

ter infrastructure.

Eligible recipients: All municipalities in Massachusetts. Website: http://www.mass.gov/governor/administration/groups/

communitycompactcabinet/bestpractices/

http://www.mass.gov/governor/administration/groups/communitycompactcab%09inet/bestpractices/

http://www.mass.gov/governor/administration/groups/communitycompactcab%09inet/bestpractices/

93

As of May 2016, 217 cities and towns had signed a Community Compact, with 15 ad-ditional applications under review. The Town of Swampscott should consider signing

a Community Compact with the state.

________________________________________________________________________

The Massachusetts Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)’s Division

of Conservation Services (DCS) offers competitive grant programs to municipalities

for the acquisition of green open space, the protection of water resources, the im-provement of stormwater management, and the development and renovation of

parks. The PARC program described below, and the LWCF fund described further

under federal/state funding, are explained in more detail at the DCS website: http://www.mass.gov/eea/grants-and-tech-assistance/grants-and-loans/dcs/grant

-programs/

Massachusetts Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) Program

The PARC Program was established in 1977 to assist cities and towns in ac-

quiring and developing land for park and outdoor recreation purposes. For municipalities with a population of 35,000 or more, up to $400,000 in reim-

bursement of total project cost is available for the acquisition of recreation

land, the development of new parks, or the renovation of existing parks. There is a separate Small Town grant program for municipalities with popula-

tions under 35,000, which has a maximum grant award of $50,000, unless the

project is accessible via public transportation or has parking for 100 cars.

Those projects will be eligible for the grant maximum of $400,000.

Eligibility requirements for a large or small municipality include: Has an

approved Open Space and Recreation Plan, has conducted a public meeting

about the proposed open space, shows the use of non-state funds for the mu-nicipality’s portion of the program, and has had a City Council or Town Meet-

ing vote that appropriated 100% of the total project cost (CPA funds can be

used).

Eligible applicants: Municipalities of Massachusetts. Website: http://www.mass.gov/eea/grants-and-tech-assistance/grants-and-

loans/dcs/grant-programs/massachusetts-parkland-acquisitions-and.html

Also under EEA, the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) offers

a Costal Resilience Grant program.

http://www.mass.gov/eea/grants-and-tech-assistance/grants-and-loans/dcs/grant-programs/

http://www.mass.gov/eea/grants-and-tech-assistance/grants-and-loans/dcs/grant-programs/

94

Coastal Resilience Grant

Under one of five project categories (category 5), CZM supports green in fra-

structure.

Natural Storm-Damage Protection Techniques: Coastal green infrastruc-ture projects that evaluate, design, permit, and implement natural or nature

-based (hybrid) approaches to restore, enhance, or create natural erosion

and flood protection services provided by public beaches, dunes, coastal banks, salt marshes, shellfish, and other habitat types. Projects that add

sediment to restore beach systems and reduce adverse impacts in areas ar-

mored with seawalls and revetments are strongly encouraged.

CZM expects to award up to $2,000,000 in grants for FY 2017 Coastal Resili-

ence projects. Applicants may request up to $500,000 in funding. Applicants

are required to provide at least 25% of the total project cost. The 25% local match could be cash or in-kind contributions or a combination of the two.

Eligible applicants: Any of the 78 municipalities located within the Massa-chusetts coastal zone. Certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with vul-

nerable coastal property that is open and accessible to the public are also

eligible for funding for natural storm-damage protection (or green infrastruc-ture) projects (category 5).

Website: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/czm/program-areas/

stormsmart- coasts/grants/

In 2015, the Town of Swampscott received a Coastal Resilience Grant to “Use storm

surge and sea level rise inundation models to assess vulnerabilities of municipal in-

frastructure and natural resources.” In a future round, the town may consider ap-plying for a follow-up grant to extend the application of the 2015 study, which was

for critical municipal infrastructure, to all of its waterfront property. The focus

could be two-fold: 1) developing options for restoring or replacing seawalls, includ-

ing at Johnson Park; and 2) implementing an aggressive green infrastructure pilot project, such as at Johnson Park, to measure the before and after performance of

stormwater absorption and storm surge flooding mitigation, resulting from the

building of the park’s absorbing and filtering rain garden and flow-reversing vege-tated edges.

95

Federal/State Funding Two federal programs administered by state agencies are particularly applicable to

the project of restoring Johnson Park and mitigating stormwater through green in-frastructure: the CWSRF and the LWCF.

Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Massachusetts’ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) administers the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) also called the State

Revolving Loans (SRL) for Clean Water. The Fund provides low-interest long-

term loans (20 years at 2%) to help municipalities plan and build projects that protect water quality, including CSO mitigation, Infiltration/inflow cor-

rection, green infrastructure and stormwater remediation. In 2016, approxi-

mately $414 million were available for projects across the state. Project costs ranged from $1 million to $32 million. A minimum of 10% of the fund

must be used for green infrastructure.

Eligible applicants: Municipalities, water resources authorities, regional wastewater utilities, and state agencies.

Website: http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dep/water/approvals/year-thru-

alpha/06-thru-d/16cwiupf.pdf

Massachusetts Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)

The federal Land & Water Conservation Fund is administered by the Massa-

chusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), through its Division of Conservation Services. The LWCF fund provides up to 50% of

the total project cost for acquiring, developing and renovating park, recrea-

tion or conservation areas. Since 1965, nearly 4,000 acres of land have been acquired and hundreds of parks renovated in Massachusetts with the state

portion of the federal program, which is administered by the Division of Con-

servation Services. LWCF grants reimburse a community 50% of the total pro-ject cost, up to a grant maximum of $250,000.

Eligible applicants: Municipalities, special districts, and state agencies.

Website: http://www.mass.gov/eea/grants-and-tech-assistance/grants-and-loans/dcs/grant-programs/massachusetts-land-and-water-conservation-

fund.html

http://www.mass.gov/eea/grants-and-tech-assistance/grants-and-loans/dcs/grant-programs/massachusetts-land-and-water-conservation-fund.html




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Federal Funding NOAA and FEMA are two possible sources of federal funding for coastal communi-

ties.

Under the US Department of Commerce, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Agency (NOAA) offers the Regional Coastal Resilience Grant.

Regional Coastal Resilience Grant

Awards are made for project proposals that advance resilience strategies,

often through land and ocean use planning, disaster preparedness projects, environmental restoration, hazard mitigation planning, or other regional,

state, or community planning efforts. Applicants must demonstrate regional

coordination among project stakeholders, leverage resources (such as funds, programs, partnerships, and others), and create economic and environmental

benefits for coastal communities. Project results are evaluated using clear

measures of success, with the end goal being improved preparation, re-

sponse, and recovery.

Award amounts will range from $500,000 to $1 million for projects lasting up

to 36 months. Cost sharing through cash or in-kind matches is expected.

Eligible applicants: Cities and towns, regional organizations, states, nonprof-

it organizations, institutions of higher education, and private (for profit) en-

tities. Applicants must conduct projects benefiting coastal communities in one or more of the 35 U.S. coastal states or territories.

Website: https://coast.noaa.gov/resilience-grant/

Swampscott could apply to this program for replacing its seawalls, including John-

son Park’s, with revetment to address coastal flooding from future sea level rise.

Under the US Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Manage-

ment Agency (FEMA) offers a Community Assistance Program.

Community Assistance Program – State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE) This program provides funding to states to provide technical assistance to

communities in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and to evaluate

community performance in implementing NFIP floodplain management activi-ties. The CAP-SSSE helps to: ensure that the flood loss reduction goals of the

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NFIP are met; build state and community floodplain management expertise and capability; and leverage state knowledge and expertise in working with

their communities.

Eligible applicants: Communities that adopt and enforce floodplain manage-ment measures that meet or exceed minimum criteria in 44 CFR Part 60.3.

These flood plain management measures can take the form of floodplain

management ordinances, building codes or zoning provisions. Website: http://www.fema.gov/community-assistance-program-state-

support-services-element

Private Foundations The private foundations listed in the table below (Table 3, next page) were select-

ed for their potential relevance to Swampscott’s Johnson Park. Within the general

area of environment and conservation, these foundations give small to large grants

to non-profit organizations for preserving green spaces, creating or restoring parks, and building resilience to climate change.

The full list is found at the Fundsnet Services website: http://www.fundsnetservices.com/searchresult/13/Environment-&-Conservation-

Grants/1.html.

The Associated Grant Makers (AGM) of Massachusetts is the best source for re-

searching the full range of available private funding tailored to an organization’s

focus and needs.

Website: http://www.agmconnect.org/

http://www.fundsnetservices.com/searchresult/13/Environment-&-Conservation-Grants/1.html



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Table 3. Private Funding Sources (Fundsnet Services)

Sources of Funding – Private Foundations

Name of Foundation Name of Grant

Funnding Areas Amounts Eligble Applicants

Arnst Family Foun-dation

Grants Environment Economic Development – projects invloved with the

environment

$5,000 to $20,000

Non-profit organizations with 501(c)3 status.

http://arntzfamilyfoundation.org/

Captain Planet Foundations

Small Grants Mission: give the next generation of environmental stewards an active understanding and love for the

natural world in which they live. Activities must be project-based; performed by youth; have real environ-

mental outcomes; be based in the US.

$500 to $2,500

Schools and 501(c)3 non-profits with less han $3

million annnual budget.

http://captainplanetfoundation.org/apply-for-grants/

Edison International Community Grant

Funding areas: education, environment, civic engage-ment, public safety & preparedness.

Up to $5,000 Non-profit organizations with 501(c)3 status.

http://www.edison.com/home/community/our-funding-priorities.html

Fields Pond Founda-tion Grants

Grants Assisting community-based nature and land conserva-tion organizations.

$1,000 to $25,000


http://fieldspond.org/guidelines.htm

Harry Chapin Foun-daton

Grants Community Education Programs Arts-In-Education Programs Agricultural and Environmental Programs

Up to $10,000


http://www.harrychapinfoundation.org/focus_focusandguidelines.php

Mazda Foundation Grants Education and literacy. Environmental conservation. Cross-cultural understanding. Social welfare. Scientific

research

According to need


http://www.mazdafoundation.org/Grant_Guidelines.html

New England Grass-roots Environment

Fund

Seed Grants Grow Grants Harvest Grants

Wide range of activities under a broad defitinion of ‘environment’. Project types under Land & Water

funding area: green infrastructure, green space, groundwater. Under Food funding area: community

farms, gardens, composting, suported agriculture.

$250 -1,000 $1,000 -$3,500 varies

Community-based groups in New England; volun-

teer-driven or no more than 2 FTE staff; annual

operating budget under $100,000.

https://grassrootsfund.org/dollars

PSEG Foundation Community Grants Foundation

Grants

Sustainable Neighborhoods funding area: public parks that improve the quality of life for local residents;

environmental organizations that protect and preserve natural resources, address climate adaptation, and

build sustainable communities.

Up to $5,000 Up to $20,000


https://www.pseg.com/info/community/new_site/index.jsp

Tiffany Foundation

Grants

In Uban Parks funding area: supports organizations that work to meet the needs of local communities

through design improvements of urban parks and gardens. Supports creation of new urban green spaces,

and rehabilitation, protection of exisitng ones. (gave to the Friends of the High Line in NYC and funded the

Carousel on the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston)

$50,00 to $5

mllion

Non-profit organizations

with 501(c)3 status.

http://www.tiffanyandcofoundation.org/guidelines/parks.aspx

http://arntzfamilyfoundation.org/

http://captainplanetfoundation.org/apply-for-grants/

http://www.edison.com/home/community/our-funding-priorities.html

http://fieldspond.org/guidelines.htm

http://www.harrychapinfoundation.org/focus_focusandguidelines.php

http://www.mazdafoundation.org/Grant_Guidelines.html

https://grassrootsfund.org/dollars

https://www.pseg.com/info/community/new_site/index.jsp

http://www.tiffanyandcofoundation.org/guidelines/parks.aspx

reimagining johnson park: a design proposal for swampscott, ma

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