Mayor Gary Christenson and Ward 6 City Councillor Steve Winslow celebrated the start of construction at Trafton Park on Monday. The construction project is Phase II of the Trafton Park Master Plan, which was developed and revised over a series of six community meetings. The improvements include upgrades to the existing dog park, ballfield, backstop, fencing, and two tennis courts, one of which will become a ¾ basketball court and paved play space. Work also includes a drinking fountain/ bottle filler, new electrical service, irrigation, trees, and landscaping.
“This project makes good on our promise to improve our dog park, improve community access and amenities, and make Trafton Park a more welcoming park for the entire community,” said Mayor Christenson. “Our team is building off the success of Phase I, which installed one of the City’s most popular playgrounds, and completing our community vision for this park.”
“I always enjoy seeing kids and families enjoy the playground and pathway that former Ward 6 Councillor Dave Camell and I advocated for,” said Ward 6 Councillor Steve Winslow. “I am pleased and excited with the start of Phase II of the Trafton Park improvements. With the great community input we've had I am hopeful that the upgrades to the Trafton Dog park, the reworking of the courts to include basketball and a free play area as well as tennis and the return of an irrigation to a re-seeded natural grass field will allow kids, families and their dogs to enjoy Trafton even more. Thanks to Mayor Christenson and his team for dedicating federal funds to the project and the residents of Malden through the Community Preservation Committee and my fellow Councillors for ensuring that the community’s vision for Trafton is fully realized.”
Dog park improvements include new rice stone surfacing, water access, improved berms to prevent the surfacing from leaving the park, and improved entryways and fencing to increase safety. Ballfield improvements include restoring the infield and backstop while installing new irrigation in the outfield. A new painted play area will welcome games for children and a community event space. The new 3/4 basketball court answers a priority expressed in community meetings, and upgrades to the remaining tennis court include new surfacing and posts. Court fencing, access, and seating will be improved.
The project is being administered by the City of Malden Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD). Shadley Associates is the landscape architect and J. J. Phelan is the general contractor, a team that has completed several other projects in Malden, including Trafton Park Phase I and the Devir Park project. Project funding includes $1 million in the City’s American Rescue Plan Act funds and $160,000 in Community Preservation Act funds.
Construction work begins this month and will be completed in late spring or early summer 2024. For more information on the project, including a rendering of the new improvements, please visit www.cityofmalden.org/trafton.
Pictured (from left): Architect Pam Shadley, Community Preservation Committee Co-Chair Rachael Running, Councillor-At-Large Carey McDonald, Mayor Gary Christenson, Councillor Steve Winslow, OSPCD Deputy Director for Housing and Community Development Alex Pratt, and J. J. Phelan Project Manager Jim Nishina