Plymouth Training Green Upgrades Proposed, Funding Pending

Early Voting Turnout Strong as Election Day Approaches

PLYMOUTH, MA - October 29 - The Plymouth Select Board received a presentation on proposed upgrades to the historic Plymouth Training Green, including improved accessibility, lighting, and irrigation. The project, estimated at $700,000, will require approval at the April town meeting before moving forward.

Nick Faiella, Parks & Forestry Superintendent, and Samantha Stewart, Project Landscape Designer at SLR Consulting, presented the plans to enhance the green while respecting its historical significance.

"We're not looking to really change any of the design components of the park. We're really just looking to enhance them, but also bring ADA compliancy by widening some of the walkways, making sure the slopes are appropriate, and resetting steps to AAB standards," Faiella explained.

The proposed upgrades include widening paths to five feet, improving accessibility, resetting stairs and curbs, adding new lighting, and installing an irrigation system. The project aims to maintain the original design by Frederick Law Olmsted, the renowned landscape architect who designed the green.

"We plan to fully irrigate the park. This is going to be spray irrigation," Stewart said, noting that an irrigation controller and backflow preventer cage would be discreetly placed and screened with shrubbery.

While the board expressed support for the project, funding remains uncertain. Faiella indicated that a capital request for approximately $700,000 would be made at the April town meeting.

If approved, the project could begin as early as spring 2025, with completion targeted for winter of that year.

Gerald Sirrico, vice chair of Precinct 3, voiced support for the project, highlighting the green's historical significance. "The green's real. When I undertook the project, when the precinct undertook the project in 2011, a girl came up to me by the name of Karen Goldstein. She lived on Jefferson Street. She was a historian at Bridgewater State College. She did quite a bit of work for me," Sirrico said.

In other business, Town Manager Derek Brindisi reported strong early voting turnout for the upcoming election. As of Oct. 29, nearly 18,000 Plymouth residents had already cast their ballots through early voting and mail-in voting.

"Yesterday we had 650 folks early vote. We had another 850 folks early vote today. So far, we have a total of almost 6,000 individuals who early voted," Brindisi said. He added that 12,000 mail-in votes had been received.

Early voting continues until Nov. 1, with Election Day set for Nov. 5. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

*editor’s note: This article is publishing on November 5th. Polls are open until 8pm.

Brindisi also highlighted several upcoming events, including an open house at Fire Station 2 on Nov. 7 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and the Halloween on Main event on Oct. 31.

The town manager announced progress on road improvements, with milling and paving scheduled for Allerton Street, Sever Street, and Sever Place in the coming weeks.

Brindisi also discussed the Plymouth Protected Places program, aimed at improving safety in the downtown area through a network of surveillance cameras. He encouraged more businesses to participate, noting only 10 had signed up so far.

"We believe after we create this network of surveillance cameras in the downtown area, it'll give folks a feeling of being safe," Brindisi said.

The meeting concluded with board members expressing concern over recent incidents involving homeless individuals and discussing the possibility of forming a task force to address the issue.

The next Select Board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 12.