New Swains Pond Ave Sidewalks Make Area Pedestrian-Friendly
By Ellen Putnam
Last month, the city’s Department of Public Works used funds from a state Complete Streets grant to add sidewalks to one side of Swains Pond Avenue. The project added sidewalks to one side of a narrow stretch of roadway with several blind curves.
Swains Pond Ave is in what many residents consider to be one of the most beautiful parts of Melrose. It contains acres of conservation land managed by the city, which include a number of hiking trails.
Previously, visitors could park in the small parking lot at Flagg Acres or walk over from the Hoover School or from Mount Hood, but there was no easy pedestrian access to this area for anyone who did not feel comfortable walking along the side of the road - including children and wheelchair users - especially in a section where cars tend to travel fast and drivers can’t always see pedestrians around a curve.
The project also connects this area to the Hoover Elementary School, making it possible for families in this area to walk or bike to school. (And, as anyone who has gotten stuck in traffic for school drop-off or pick-up in Melrose knows, the more families who can avoid driving to school, the better for everyone.)
The installation of the sidewalk was not without some controversy: while the sidewalk was built in the city’s right-of-way on neighbors’ land, and it was located as close to the street as possible, there were some trees and plantings that needed to be moved or removed in order to make space for the sidewalk.
Map of city conservation land adjoining Swains Pond Ave
The sidewalk also narrows in some places in order to go around existing utility poles. According to city officials, the project is still compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and will allow individuals with disabilities to make full use of the sidewalk.
Ward 6 City Councilor Cal Finocchiaro, who represents one side of Swains Pond Ave, said, “I’m really impressed by the DPW and the Engineering Department for seeking out this grant for sidewalk installation and for working hard to make improvements in our city despite the challenges we face with the current budget. It makes me happy to know that there is now a safe path along Swains Pond for kids and adults to travel to and from. No project is ever going to be perfect from everyone’s point of view, but we can all agree that new sidewalks are always better than what was there before, and that was nothing.”
Ward 7 City Councilor Devin Romanul, who represents the other side of the street, said, “I was proud to vote for the funding that made these new sidewalks possible. This project gives families safer access to our conservation areas, protects parents with strollers, and connects sidewalks from one end of the neighborhood to the other. It also makes the road safer for drivers, who no longer have to worry about pedestrians in the street. This is exactly the kind of investment that makes Ward 7 a safer, more walkable community.”
City Councilor At Large Ryan Williams, who previously represented Ward 7 and has championed sidewalk projects in Ward 7 (and street safety for pedestrians and bicyclists more generally) throughout his tenure on the City Council, said, “I'm glad we were able to lock in the state funding for this important safety project, and I'm grateful to Councilor Finocchiaro and Councilor Romanul and to Mayor Grigoraitis for staying focused on making our streets safer. Even in a bad budget situation, we have to find ways to move forward where we can.”
