UPDATED Aug. 29: The renovation to the North Beach Ramp at Spy Pond began Tuesday, Aug. 23.

The path connection from Linwood Road to Pond Lane was temporarily closed at the playground so that the accessible path improvement work can be completed, but it is now open, a local resident reported.

At this time it is difficult to give a completion date for this portion of the project, officials say, but as a more exact time frame is developed, it will be shared with park users as soon as possible. Read more about at arlingtonma.gov/projects

The Parmenter Playground, at 17 Irving St., is being renovated with funding from both state ARPA and Community Development Block Grant funds.

The project began in early July, and the expected completion date is the end of October.

The park is being completely renovated with equipment from Kompan Play Manufacturers and will include two small embankment slides as well as some climbing structures.

The contract was awarded to Rae Contracting, which recently renovated both the playgrounds at Hardy School and Peirce School.

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“It’s wonderful to finally be able to renovate the Parmenter playground and update its aging equipment and make ADA improvements,” said Joe Connelly, town recreation director, in a town news release. “I’d like to thank Representative Sean Garballey, the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Arlington community for their support of this project.”  

Funding received for this project includes $250,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation American Rescue Plan Act, $116,070 of Community Development Block Grant and $100,000 from additional state funds secured by Garballey.

This project will include poured in place rubber surfacing, which will need to be installed with temperatures above 50 degrees, which could affect the final completion date. 

Kyle Zick is to to provide design services after public input sessions held in November and December 2021. The Park and Recreation Commission approved the plans last January. View the final plan, which includes Spy Pond Playground, also designed by Kyle Zick, at arlingtonma.gov/projects.