Trafton Park

Shadley Associates has been working with Malden’s Office of Strategic Development and Community Planning, the City Councilor and neighborhood groups on phased improvements at Trafton Park.  Located in a dense residential neighborhood with a nearby Charter School that uses the park, Trafton Park has a Little League Baseball field, a playground, two tennis courts, a dog park and passive open space.  The design process began in 2018 when Shadley Associates created a master plan and vetted it through several public meetings.  The construction of the approved master plan would later be implemented in two phases.  The first phase was completed 2021 and created an expanded playground with a new contemporary play structure plus additional play elements, new rubber safety surfacing, benches, tables, and accessible walkways throughout the park.  It also included the replacement of non-accessible dugouts with new pavement, players benches, and shade shelters, and removal of the outfield fence which opens the large lawn area within the park to a variety of activities and community events.

The current construction phase began in the fall of 2023 and includes the renovation of Malden’s first dog park with new surfacing, fencing, dog waste bag dispensers, and seating.  The existing baseball field will be skinned, re-graded, and fresh infield mix, and outfield seeding will be installed.  Lastly, the two existing tennis courts will be renovated and converted into one tennis court, one basketball court, and a painted play space that can be used as an area for community events.  New water and power are brought into the park to supply a new water bottle filler, yard hydrant, irrigation system, and to provide easy connections for water and power during community events.  Construction of this phase of work, by J.J.Phelan & Son, Inc., is expected to be completed in 2024.