Too Popular for Spontaneity: Waltham Playground Requires Reservations Due to Inconsiderate Visitors

Officials report that the launch of a new park in Waltham has attracted numerous tourists to the region, leading the town to implement a parking reservation system due to local residents’ frustration over their streets being utilized for extra parking space.

Certain sections of the expansive park located at 200 Trapelo Road,
made accessible to the public on May 17
It features a spacious inclusive playground designed for all abilities, as well as a sensory-friendly environment. There’s also a summer splash pad where water sprays from various fixtures throughout the season. The site offers an 18-hole miniature golf course along with guided train rides around the grounds. For those who enjoy sliding down snowy hills, there’s a dedicated sledding slope available too. Additionally, visitors can explore a walking trail equipped with workout stations scattered along its route. A vast natural space spanning across 47 acres invites outdoor enthusiasts into its embrace. Restrooms are conveniently located indoors for visitor convenience.

Bill Hanley, who serves as a city councilor in Waltham,
wrote on Facebook
approximately one week following the opening of the park: “We have encountered multiple grievances concerning parking problems in the surrounding area and on the nearby roads.”

He stated that police will implement parking limitations in residential areas; however, “a lasting resolution is necessary.”

Previous coverage

Waltham’s ‘amusement park’ proposal for the Fernald School property sparks both criticism and approval.

Ever since the park opened, numerous visitors have resorted to utilizing adjacent street parking as additional space, leading to issues we hadn’t expected, despite having plenty of available spots within the site itself,” noted Hanley. “I personally spent time exploring the area and talked directly with various individuals.” He continued, “The level of frustration has become so high that some residents have placed signs; however, I can comprehend their reasons for doing so.

In his posting, Hanley shared an image of a sign apparently attached to a utility pole with instructions stating that parking is banned “due to the Fernald Center opposite” and urging “police to take notice.”

For weekend and holiday visits to the park, both locals and tourists must book parking spaces in advance. It’s requested that guests limit their stay to a maximum of two hours, with reservation slots available exclusively for two-hour periods, all arranged through an online system.

According to the information provided, the website’s parking lot contains 100 spaces.
Waltham Times
Kim Hebert, who leads Waltham’s recreation department, mentioned that stopping cars from parking on the streets isn’t allowed, and she was reluctant about promoting the park more widely.

“The crowds are essential, and I’m attempting to be mindful of the neighbors who have suffered due to inattentive visitors to the park,” Hebert stated.

‘Dead children haunt this playground’: Park development was controversial

The park now stands where the former Walter E. Fernald State School was located, a place with a contentious history stretching back to the 1880s as the Western Hemisphere’s initial state institution dedicated to individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The institution shut down in 2014 following a period during which inhabitants faced abuse, inadequate nutrition, and neglect. Several of those confined there were not physically impaired but were compelled to labor for the facility as a means to cut costs.
as per the City of Waltham
Some inhabitants unknowingly consumed radioactive isotopes mixed into their oatmeal —
notorious science project
carried out by MIT in collaboration with Quaker Oats.

Last month, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony, several protesters carried signs reading “Shame” and “Dead children haunt this playground,” as reported.
Times
.

200 Trapelo Road encompasses a memorial site and
educational signs
In recognition of the Fernald School, above the universally accessible playground stands a banner proclaiming “Our Differences Unite Us” and “Joy is For All.”

The history of this property has many dark aspects,” the City of Waltham posted on Facebook. “Although we cannot undo what happened before, we aspire for 200 Trapelo to become a space where everyone regardless of age or ability can come together to play, learn, develop, and coexist harmoniously. At the same time, we aim to pay our respects and honor the historical background.