Meeting Notes
In attendance: Brian Barber, Roly Chaput, Richard Duffy, Cathy Garnett, Joey Glushko, Michele Hassler, Elizabeth Karpati, Patsy Kraemer, Ann LeRoyer, Leslie Mayer, Joann Robinson, David White.
Facilitator: Ann LeRoyer Minutes: Elizabeth Karpati
Next meeting: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, Location to be announced
• Brian Barber offered a series of conceptual notes; discussion brought out additional ideas:
• Instead of a linear park along the whole brook, which doesn’t seem feasible, he suggested a series of loops connected by the bikepath and connected to commercial areas.
• The park, or loops, should have a logo and a theme.
• Several gardens could be created along the brook, e.g. Native American and Colonial, with different sponsors but with guidance from OSC.
• The power of the brook, which falls in several places, could also be featured. (Elevation 40 meters at the Res, 7 meters at Mystic Lakes – are these figures correct?)
• Several of the Arlington Housing Authority’s properties lie along the brook – the park or loops could provide walking paths and recreation areas for the elderly.
• Where the brook is culverted, if there is pavement, the course of the brook could be painted on it. A wall at Gold’s Gym could become a mural.
• Joey has supplied a spreadsheet of abutters by ownership, which extends to the middle of the brook; actual use of each parcel, e.g. store (name), or private residence, or open space, needs to be filled in.
• The first drafts of the “survey” of most of the twelve sections were reviewed.
• Sections 1 and 2 according to Mia Lehrer’s plan (starting at the end, i.e. the cemetery): Mostly publicly owned. A “trash gate” over the brook before Meadowbrook Park would be useful. A sign in this area about the planned project would be seen by a lot of people.
• Section 5: Banks need to be stabilized; much industrial trash.
• Sections 6-8: Mostly industrial with some open areas; not all buildings occupied. Potential for adding some shops – “Mill Brook Center”? – near bikepath and Mass. Ave. Parking lot of Old Colony Apartments drains directly into brook.
• Section 9 has good potential for loops. Has remains of a mill dam, and a spot from which a part of the natural channel, rip-rapped banks, and a culvert can all be seen.
• Sections 10-12: Lisa supplied a detailed drawing. This also includes a large publicly owned area (Hurd Field).
• A template is needed so that the descriptions can be revised to be more consistent. Suggestions:
• Existing conditions including the stream and stream bed, banks/abutters, surroundings; existing problems; any special issues.
• Ownership and what’s there (information from spreadsheet).
• Potential and how it fits into the overall vision.
• Pictures to illustrate these points.
• Miscellaneous:
• Infrastructure needs to be cleaned up first, e.g. broken concrete.
• Invite someone from the Housing Authority to join the planning group. Any other abutters?
• Could we get a grant (CDBG?) to create a presentation, after we collect enough information, to get abutters (owners and users) to buy into the plan?
• The “Did you know” items on Brian Barber’s list need to be fact checked. The brook has probably never dried up (“no flow”) but may have had periods of very little flow.
• Create interest in Mill Brook via its history – once the “industrial spine” of Arlington.
• Bikes should be kept off the path along the brook, by steps and soft surfaces [but erosion?] but some foot traffic from the bikepath could be detoured onto this path.
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