The Scituate Conservation Commission is reviewing a proposal to turn the town-owned property at 44 Jericho Road into a public waterfront park, replacing an existing building with green space, a boardwalk, and a pavilion. The project, which has been in development for several years, aims to improve community access to the harbor while reducing the site’s environmental impact.
Paul Bartkiewicz, chair of the Scituate Harbor Advisory Redevelopment Commission, emphasized the broad support for the initiative.
"We see this park as a magnet for the harbor. It'll be a really quintessential entranceway to the harbor," Bartkiewicz said. "It'll be part of the fabric of the community for generations, and we're extremely excited about getting this moving."
The town acquired the 44 Jericho Road property in 2010, but planning for its redevelopment did not begin in earnest until 2021. According to Bartkiewicz, extensive public outreach shaped the proposal, including surveys, public meetings, and town meetings.
"We put a premium at the direction of the select board on listening to the community, hearing how they want to use this property, what they want to do out there, what kind of elements and facilities they'd like to see," Bartkiewicz said.
Environmental and Design Considerations
The park plan was developed in consultation with Copley Wolf Design Group and GZA, with a focus on improving the site’s environmental resilience. The current lot is almost entirely paved, but the proposed redesign would replace much of the impervious surface with vegetation and permeable pathways.
"The goal for the site is really just to really decrease the amount of impervious surfacing that's on the site," said Jim Horrox of Copley Wolf Design Group. "As you can see from here… we are keeping some pavement on the site."
The proposal includes 13 parking spaces, a raised boardwalk along the water, and a small pavilion to provide shelter. A kayak and canoe launch is also planned, but officials confirmed it will not accommodate motorized boats.
Ryan DuPont of GZA described the planned improvements to the site’s stormwater management.
"The stormwater basins are designed both as retention and treatment devices," DuPont said. "They are sized to treat stormwater runoff from the first inch of stormwater that lands on impervious surfaces in the park."
Next Steps in the Approval Process
The project remains in the permitting phase, with further reviews by the Planning Board and additional regulatory bodies. The Conservation Commission voted to continue discussions on April 16, after additional stormwater reviews are completed.
In the meantime, proponents remain confident that the park will be a long-term asset to the Scituate community.
"We've had overwhelming support for the proposal that we presented to you," Bartkiewicz said. "This is going to be very peaceful, and I just appreciate all the work that your experts have done."
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