Fellsmere Park Master Plan

Starting in July of 2021 Shadley Associates led a team of subconsultants in the creation of the Master Plan for the rehabilitation and improvement of the historic 18.4-acre Fellsmere Park in Malden, Massachusetts.  Originally a swamp at the base of the Middlesex Fells rock ledge, the land was acquired by Elisha S. Converse in 1868. Converse purchased the land, including many acres to the west of what is now Fellsmere Park, to create his Boston Rubber Shoe Factory. It became the largest factory of its kind in the world at that time. He dammed the outfall at the southern end of the swamp to create a reservoir which was used as fire protection for the factory. This is now the pond in Fellsmere Park. In 1893, a municipal park was created, and the firm of Olmsted, Olmsted and Eliot was hired as the landscape architect for the design. Stone overlooks were constructed by the WPA in 1936.

The Master Plan for Fellsmere Park proposes several key enhancements. First, all existing asphalt walkways will be reconstructed to be universally accessible. New entry points at the park's north, south, and eastern sides will be created and will feature small, paved plazas with seating.  New site amenities such as seating, bicycle parking, informational kiosks, seasonal toilet shelters, lighting, and a site-wide wayfinding signage program will enhance the park experience.  The preservation of natural wooded areas, especially along the north and west peripheries, is prioritized to protect existing woodlands and to combat the Urban Heat Island Effect. Supplemental tree planting over the coming years will enhance biodiversity and habitat value, while new native planting along the pond shoreline will stabilize edges, filter runoff, and deter geese. Overall, these measures aim to improve accessibility, preserve natural beauty, and enhance the park's functionality and aesthetics, while maintaining the intent of the original park design.