doyle community park & center - trustees · we love the distinctive charms of new england. and...

Doyle Community Park & Center

Share

your

ideas!

Leominster,Massachusetts

DRAFT PLANJune 2010

FIND YOUR PLACEwww.thetrustees.org

The Trustees of ReservationsWe are more than 100,000 people like you.We love the outdoors.

We love the distinctive charms of New England. And we believe in

celebrating and protecting them – for ourselves, our children, and

generations to come.Through more than 100 reservations across

Massachusetts, we have protected 25,000+ acres of open space where

you can enjoy endless activities and opportunities to get involved.

LET US KNOW!We want your comments and

suggestions. Please email us at

[email protected], call us at

978.840.4446 x1900, and/or

fill out the survey at this link,

www.thetrustees.org/doylepark

Doyle Community Park & Center

DRAFT PLANJune 2010

Table of ContentsLocus Map 2

Introduction 3

Vision and Mission 4

1 Overview of the Property and Program Activities 6

A | Setting, Land and Buildings 6

B | Current Programs and Activities 8

2 Preliminary Recommendations 10

A | Recommendations for Programs and Activities 10

B | Recommendations for Landscape and Facilities 12

2 Carrying Out the Recommendations 14

Conclusion 14

Acknowledgements 15

Recommendations Map BACK COVER

Doyle Community Park & CenterDRAFT PLAN2

IntroductionThis plan for the Doyle Community Park has grown out of almost 30 years of creativevision and sustained support. Miss Louise I. Doyle initiated this process with a gift of landto The Trustees of Reservations in 1981, an initial act of generosity that was followed withadditional gifts of land and the construction and subsequent opening of the Doyle Centerin 2004.The success of the Doyle Center as a conference, meeting, and event venue led to Miss Doyle’s final gift of her home, several additional structures, and 120 acres of landto The Trustees in 2007.

The entire property now comprises 170 acres in the City of Leominster,Massachusetts. The 2007 gift served as the catalyst to create a vision andframework for the future of the property, with the intention of managing it as a community park:

• In 2008 and 2009, The Trustees hosted two series of communityconversations to solicit ideas and suggestions for the property's

future development.

• In 2009, The Trustees engaged a consultant team to examine thepotential reuse of several structures located on the former Doyle Estate and to prepare a report with landscape recommendations forthe development of the property as a community park and resource.

• At the beginning of 2010, as a result of this process, The Trusteesprepared a Vision and Mission statement for the property and established Doyle Community Park.

The Doyle Center, located within the Community Park, is an active venue for conferences and a variety of events as well as anoffice and meeting place for Trustees staff and volunteers. The Trustees will seek to expand its use and increase its visibility incooperation with many partners and customers at local, regional, and national levels.

The use of the property as a community park and resource for neighboring communities in North Central Massachusetts willbe developed as partnerships and programs are cultivated and strengthened. The Vision and Mission set forth in this plan is astarting point and invitation to communities, organizations, and individuals to create strong and resilient relationships thatwill help guide the Doyle Community Park to become a vibrant and sustainable asset for the region.

This document is divided into two principal sections:

• An overview of the property – its setting, land and buildings, and current programs and activities;

• A section outlining recommendations for programs and activities and for stewardship of the landscape, buildings and facilities.

The Draft Plan will be presented for community and public review and comment. Following these conversations, we willrefine the plan to prioritize and direct our actions over the next several years in order to fully achieve the vision for DoyleCommunity Park and Center.

THIS DRAFT PLAN

The primary purpose of thisPlan is to identify and prioritizethe most important actions to

make our vision for DoyleCommunity Park a reality.

Carrying out the plan on theground will continue be a

work in progress.

Doyle Community Park & CenterDRAFT PLAN 3

Doyle Community ParkVision & MissionThe recently expanded Doyle property in northwestern Leominster presents an extraordinary opportunity for The Trustees to work with communities and organizations of North Central Massachusetts – especially the Cities of Leominster and Fitchburg – to create an innovative community park and gathering place to support and promote the development of sustainable communities.

Within a beautiful park setting of 170 acres, The Trustees intend to build upon the success of the Doyle Center, a “green”state-of-the-art meeting and office facility that opened in 2004 and has served as a welcoming and attractive venue for conferences, meetings and events. Together with neighboring communities, The Trustees are committed to establishing theexpanded property as a valued community park and resource. Over time the Community Park will host a campus for a growing network of colleagues and partners from the region, the state, and beyond to learn and exchange innovative ideasand practical solutions to promote and support the expanding and critically important concept of sustainable communities.

The goal of sustainable communities is to bringtogether people of many backgrounds, culturesand interests to create practical, long-term solu-tions to the environmental, economic, and socialchallenges we face today. It is about people learningand working together to protect the places theycare about and to enhance the quality of life oftheir communities. Sustainable communities arecivic-minded and socially vibrant, with a flourishinglocal economy and a healthy environment.

Situated in central Massachusetts with access to public transportation and major highways, Doyle Community Park and theDoyle Center will provide a welcoming, inclusive gathering place in a landscape of woodlands, open fields and meadows, for-mal gardens, and parkland. The campus-like setting includes the gold-rated Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(LEED) green conference and office facility and a complex of estate buildings formerly occupied by the Doyle family sincethe early 1900s.

Doyle Community Park will include the following elements:• A community park and learning campus with walking trails, picnic areas, and places for play;• Formal and informal outdoor gathering places;• Land for growing food;• Areas of ecological importance;• A landscape reflecting exemplary stewardship of natural and cultural features;• Wildlife habitats, designed gardens and parkland, woodlands, and scenic views;• Welcoming and inspiring conference, meeting and special event facilities organized

as a learning campus;• Opportunities to provide educational programs and hands-on experiences, with

a special focus on young people; and• Workspace and meeting space for Trustees staff, interns, volunteers and partners.


SUSTAINABILITY

Our definition of “sustainability”: living and working in ways that ensure the health and vitality of ourcommunities and our planet – not just for today,but for generations to come.

Doyle Community Park will be green throughout, modeling ways in which we all can live more sustainably. The proposed themes of this emphasis on sustainability are:

• Using resources wisely through conservation, reuse, and recycling; promoting efforts to reduce climate change; and understanding ecological systems;

• Supporting land conservation and the stewardship and protection of our natural and cultural heritage;

• Advocating for livable urban and village centers that include parks, greenways, and community agriculture, and emphasizing the role that green spaces play in creating healthy and sustainable communities;

• Strengthening communication skills and increasing civic engagement;

• Developing collaborations, networks and partnership skills;

• Weaving together coalitions that engage and link a diverse array of people and organizations; and

• Growing individual and organizational relationships and an appreciationof a variety of cultures and perspectives.

In collaboration with surrounding communities and a growing network of organizations, The Trustees will improve and manage the property as a vibrant meeting place for conferences, meetings and events, expressing the rich and diverse character of the surrounding communities and the breadth of The Trustees’ mission. The property will become a community resource, offering an opportunity to create partnerships and programs that serve nearby communities and the state as a whole. We trust that this effort will evolve into one of a growing number of emerging models for this kind of community resource.


There is plenty of running and kite-flying room at Doyle Park.The Doyle Center is a popular, state-of-the-art conference,

meeting and events facility serving the surrounding communities and region. A LEED gold-certified building,

its “green” design saves 40% in energy use annually.

1. Overview of the Property & Program Activities

A | Setting, Land & BuildingsThe 170-acre Doyle Community Park is located in the City of Leominster, Massachusetts,

approximately 45 miles west of Boston. It is made up of a variety of landscape features

including woodlands and wetlands, open fields and meadows, and formal gardens and parkland. A diverse array of buildings is located within this attractive setting, including agold-rated Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) meeting and officefacility, a complex of estate buildings, a former school, and several residential dwellings.The property is in a scenic country setting on the border of the “Twin Cities” ofLeominster and Fitchburg, which have a combined population of approximately 80,000,with growing ethnic and racial diversity.

Doyle Community Park has four distinct areas:

• the Doyle Center;• the former Doyle estate;• Pierce Meadow; and• the former Julie Country Day School.

These four areas are located along Lindell Avenue. The property is bounded by Route 2 on the north and Merriam Avenue on the west, and is bisected from east to west by Lindell Avenue and north to south by Abbott Avenue.

Please refer to the Locus Map [PAGE 2] that shows the general location of the park and the Recommendations Map at the end of the Recommendations section that shows the different landscape features and structures located on the property.

THE DOYLE CENTER

Built in 2004, the Doyle Center is a meeting, conference and office facility building set on 24 acres. This site includes parkingareas and about 15 acres of maturing, mixed hardwood and pine woodlands. The woodland area contains a natural vernalpool and some marked hiking trails. The grounds around the buildings were designed using native trees, shrubs and grasses,with a maintenance plan that conserves resources. Drainage swales and retention basins were created to allow for the collec-tion and natural processing of stormwater run-off into the ground water table and surrounding wetlands. All of the stoneused in the walls was gathered from the property.

Two adjacent, pre-existing buildings, known as the “Red House” and “Gray Garage,” serve as extensions of the Doyle Center.The two-story Red House was renovated in 2004 from residential use to office space, and includes a staff kitchen and lunch-room. Parts of the Gray Garage were also converted to office and meeting space. The Gray Garage also includes a workshop anda maintenance area in the west wing. A bluestone-paved courtyard is located between the main building and the Red House.In pleasant weather, the courtyard can be used for discussion groups, lunches, fundraisers, receptions and other social events.

The Doyle Center provides conference, meeting and event space for numerous environmental and community organizations,other groups, and individuals throughout the year. It has several breakout rooms and a large conference hall that can accommodate 125 people. In addition, it serves as one of three statewide campuses for The Trustees, and provides office and meeting space for up to 35 staff, volunteers and interns.


The Center’s two parking areas accommodate approximately65 vehicles, which is inadequate for larger events. The largerlot, which is paved, is generally used by park visitors andDoyle Center event attendees. The smaller unpaved area istypically used for Trustees staff and service vehicles.

THE FORMER DOYLE ESTATEThe land and buildings of the former Doyle estate coverabout 125 acres. The “Estate Core,” approximately 10 acresin size, consists of the former Doyle family home, formal landscaped grounds, and several additional buildings. Theseinclude a historic gymnasium and attached garage, a small barn used for maintenance, a small kennel, a garden shed, and the “Cape House,” a former residence. The open fields, woodlands and estate buildings along Lindell Avenue help define the rural and scenic character of the neighborhood.

The most significant ecological resource of the larger estate area is the upland grassland habitat that supports breedingbobolinks and other bird species. The estate area also contains several acres of red pine plantations, a man-made pond, many acres of native woodlands, a wildflower and butterfly meadow, and approximately three miles of hiking and walkingtrails. The grounds around the Estate Core include a wide variety of native and exotic tree species, extensive thickets of rhododendron and other flowering shrubs, and large expanses of maintained lawn.

The estate grounds and “Main House” are used occasionally for meetings and events and are rented on a limited basis forcommunity and family gatherings.

PIERCE MEADOWPierce Meadow is a 14-acre area that covers the former grounds of the Pierce estate and Grayling Hall, which was used formany years as a residence for the nuns associated with the Julie Country Day School. While the badly deteriorated 29-room,Spanish-style stucco mansion was razed nearly 10 years ago, many of the trees and shrubs from the original designed land-scape remain, providing an arboretum-like setting. The mixed hardwood and conifer woodland on the north side of theproperty is being thinned to create a more pleasing setting for visitors and picnickers. About half of the open areas have been left to grow into wildflower meadows to benefit butterflies, dragonflies and other insect and mammal life, while theother half is mowed regularly to provide a welcoming space for picnics, casual relaxing, and outdoor group activities. Thespring display of daffodils and the display of the rhododendrons in late May and June are seasonal highlights of this sectionof the property.

THE FORMER JULIE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOLThe former Julie Country Day School buildings and grounds are currently leased to the Boys & Girls Club (BGC) of North Central Massachusetts, which hopes to purchase the property. The BGC is part of a nationwide affiliation of local,autonomous organizations that offer programs to young people. The 8-acre parcel is located between the Doyle Center and Pierce Meadow. The Trustees intend to sell this parcel to the BGC or another compatible buyer in the near future.Proceeds from the sale will help to support maintenance and improvement of the Doyle Center.

ADDITIONAL PROPERTIESIn addition to the former school parcel, The Trustees own three more rental properties. Two of these rental homes, the BeeHouse and the Solar House, are located on the south side of Lindell Avenue from the Doyle Center. The third, the DriscollHouse, used previously by Trustees staff for offices, is located near the eastern edge of the property boundary on the north sideof Lindell Avenue. These houses are currently leased as private residences; the income generated helps to maintain the property.


THE DOYLE CENTER

The Doyle Center is a 14,000-square foot,gold-rated LEED building that incorporatesenergy conserving design features, energy-

efficient building systems and green buildingmaterials to save 40% in energy use annually.

B | Current Programs & ActivitiesMost of the Community Park’s current programs and activities are based at the DoyleCenter, where approximately 5,000 people come through the doors each year.The rest ofthe Park – Pierce Meadow and the former Doyle estate – is used for walking and hiking.An extensive trail network connects the various sections of the Park, meandering throughwoodlands, open meadows, and the expansive grasslands located to the east of the formerestate buildings, gardens and pond.The trail network is a proposed link to the much longerMonoosnoc Trail.

The Estate Core, including the Main House and gardens, is used occasionally for meetings and private events such as weddings and fundraisers. Office space in the Red House is currently rented to two nonprofit environmental organizations,the North County Land Trust and the Massachusetts Watershed Coalition.

PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES Trustees staff offer brief tours of the Doyle Center, orienting visitors to some of the newest green technologies and renewablematerials, which range from Clivus composting toilets and photovoltaic panels on the roof to the geothermal heating and cooling system. Some tours are by appointment, while others happen spontaneously. Tour groups regularly include highschool and college students, homeowners and representatives of institutions considering green construction or renovation,architects and contractors, and event attendees whose curiosity is piqued. As a point of interest, tours have also been verypopular with planners visiting from other countries, including Russia and China. A scaled-up version of the Doyle Centerwas completed in 2008 outside of Shanghai, China, as the community center for a 5,000-unit housing development.

The primary activities at the Doyle Center include conferences, luncheons, workshops, lectures, meetings, fundraisers, celebrations, and retreats for up to 125 people. Public agencies, corporations, and nonprofit organizations hold these events.In addition to The Trustees Putnam Conservation Institute (PCI), the event organizers and hosts have included MountWachusett Community College, Partnership for Latino Success, Wachusett Working Landscapes Partnership, United Way,Forest Futures, American Red Cross, New England Organic Farmers Association, New England Park Ranger Association,Consensus Building Institute, Land Trust Alliance, Twin Cities Trail Association, New England Grassroots EnvironmentalFund, the North Central MA Chamber of Commerce, Twin Cities Community Development Corporation, LeominsterEducation Foundation, and many others.

Trustees staff based at the Center work with interns, volunteers youth corps and work-study students from Mount WachusettCommunity College, Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, Fitchburg State College, Clark University, AntiochCollege of New England, and Montachusett Opportunity Council.


Partners that have helped to provide after-school and summertime learning opportunities for young adults have included theLeominster Parks & Recreation Department, Mount Wachusett Community College, Red Line Construction, Partnership forLatino Success, Center for Whole Communities, BGC, UMass Medical Center, and Cleghorn Neighborhood Center.

In addition to partnerships and programming based at the park, The Trustees are supporting a variety of community-drivenprojects across the Twin Cities. Staff members are participating in community groups such as the Fitchburg GreenwaysCommittee, the Leominster Trails Stewards, and Twin Cities Trail Association. Through these efforts The Trustees are pro-viding time, leadership, and capacity that helps Leominster and Fitchburg achieve conservation goals while strengtheningrelationships with community organizations such as the North County Land Trust, the Nashua River Watershed Association,the North Central Charter Essential School, and the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts.

The Trustees have an active relationship with the Student Conservation Association (SCA), another program offering community service in the areas of education and conservation. SCA volunteers spend the spring and summer monthsfocused on conservation projects throughout the country. The Trustees are hosting an SCA crew in the spring and summerof 2010, providing a home base for service projects to be undertaken throughout the state. The SCA enlists member volunteers in partnership with AmeriCorps, the Massachusetts Service Alliance, Mass Audubon, and the MassachusettsDepartment of Conservation and Recreation.

PUTNAM CONSERVATION INSTITUTE (PCI)Thanks to a generous gift by George and Nancy Putnam, PCI was established by The Trustees in 2003 to increase the capacity of the conservation community to protect, care for and interpret the natural and cultural resources of Massachusetts.

PCI sponsors and co-sponsors numerous programs and events at the Doyle Center and at locations throughout the state. The working mission of PCI is:

To help Massachusetts’ nonprofit organizations, conservation-related state agencies and municipal staff and boards increase their effectiveness by attracting new people to conservation as well as distributing information, news, opinions, experiences and social capital to strengthen their teams. PCI believes in and encourages partnering, sharing, and a holistic approach to conservation that strives for inclusiveness, equity, and increased community involvement.

PCI is one of the “engines” that has developed and contributed to the current success and activity of the Doyle Center –many organizations and groups from the region and around the state have been drawn to the property through theendeavors of PCI.

In order to carry out this mission, PCI strives to link organizations to the information and resources they need by:

• Managing an online community (ConservationCommon.org);

• Hosting workshops and conferences on the “hard and soft” skills necessary for community conservation efforts;

• Finding resources to help nonprofits be successful and efficient;

• Catalyzing a network of urban park advocates;

• Introducing people with similar and complementary skills and interests;

• Working with interns, volunteers, and work-study students;

• Serving on working groups, committees, and coalitions; and

• Partnering with groups and organizations that aren’t traditionally thought of as part of “the conservation community.”

Current PCI programs and projects also include co-sponsoring the annual Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference,initiating and facilitating a network of Massachusetts Urban Park Advocates, and developing and delivering funding andtechnical support to strengthen the organizational capacity and effectiveness of Massachusetts land trusts.


2. Preliminary RecommendationsThis section contains a series of preliminary recommendations to pursue the mission that The Trustees have developed for Doyle Community Park and Center, with the help of neighboring communities, partner organizations, and private individuals. Our goalsare to create a vibrant community park and meeting place and to demonstrate exemplarystewardship of land, buildings, and natural resources.

These recommendations address two aspects of the Community Park:

• Programming, related to people and activities; and

• Stewardship and development of the landscape, buildings and facilities.

The Recommendations Map at the end of this section illustrates a general vision for the future development and management of the property, along with some of the specific recommendations described below.

A | Recommendations for Programs & Activities1. Hire a director to organize and lead a team of staff, volunteers, interns and consultants to

carry out the vision and mission of the Doyle Community Park and the Doyle Center.

The director will be charged with expanding the role of the property as a vibrant conference and networking venue and with developing and overseeing the relationships and partnerships needed to establish the property as a valued community park and resource.

2.Welcome, encourage, and facilitate community input,participation and investment in the development of the Community Park.

3. Initiate marketing to promote and further establish the Doyle Center as an exceptional venue for conferences, meetings and special events.

To date The Trustees have not vigorously promoted the Doyle Center as a conference, meeting and events venue. Growing interest and activity indicate that there is great potential to increase the use of the facilities through advertising, marketing, networking and partnering – in other words, creating sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships and an expanded conservation community.

4. Build and expand upon the success of the PutnamConservation Institute to promote and support sustainable communities.

PCI has developed strong working relationships and networks encompassing land conservation, historic preservation, urban conservation, nonprofit management, civic engagement, and social

COMMUNITY

The vision and mission for

Doyle Community Park can

only be carried out through

establishing, developing and

cultivating a wide variety of

collaborative relationships

and partnerships with local

and regional organizations

and the surrounding

community. Seeking ongoing

community input from

many voices is an essential

part of that process.


justice. We can draw lessons from PCI's experience coordinating, hostingand co-sponsoring a variety of educational and networking events at theDoyle Center and throughout the state.

5. Undertake a public outreach campaign and a series of property improvements to make the park more inviting,visible and accessible.

The Trustees will develop an ongoing campaign to publicize the propertyand invite community use, participation and enjoyment. In order toensure the most positive experience for visitors, The Trustees will alsoestablish an ongoing program of landscape, public access, parking, signage and “way finding” improvements, as well as creating formal and informal gathering places, picnic and play areas, and improved trail networks. More specific plans are outlined in the Landscape andFacilities section below.

6. Build upon existing relationships with local communities and organizations within North Central Massachusetts and develop partnerships to create programs that demonstrate the property’s potential as a vibrant and popular local and regional resource.

7. Sell the Julie Country Day School, subject to restrictions, to an organization with a compatible mission and interest in partnering with Doyle Community Park and Center.

Currently the Boys and Girls Club leases the former Julie Country Day property from The Trustees. The BGC administers youth programs that benefit young people, families and local communities and supports the larger strategic mission of The Trustees. If eventual ownership of the property by the BGC is not feasible, identify a future owner with a use and mission compatible with that of the Community Park and the Doyle Center.

8. Establish a residential scholar/practitioner or “fellows” program to engage a broad audience in subjects related to sustainable communities.

Potential “fellows” would include artists, community development activists, experts in sustainability, educators, and authors.

9. Continue to provide rental facilities at the Community Park, including the Main House and gardens, for private gatherings and events, as long as these activities do not conflict with expanding mission-related programs.

To date The Trustees have provided rental space and facilities for private events as a source of income to support the maintenance and operations of the Community Park. Given current staff and parking constraints, especially at the Estate Core, these activities may continue on a limited basis. However, increased use of the property for mission-directed purposes may limit this activity in the future.

10. Continue to provide rental facilities for nonprofit organizations compatible with the vision and mission of the property, as long as these arrangements do not conflict with expanding mission-related programs.

Currently rental office space is available in the Red House. Evaluate this rental use as well as possibly re-using other buildings to generate income to support the property and to provide a shared working space for organizations with compatible missions.

THE COMMUNITY PARKThe Community Park now

offers a greater range of possibili-ties for developing environmental

and youth education programs,community-based agriculture,

green technology applications, andother models of sustainable livingand community-based programs.

What kind of programs and activities would you like to see?


11. Explore the feasibility of creating an overnight conference and retreat offering to further develop and deepen the programming at Doyle Community Park and Center.

Developing overnight accommodation for small group meetings, conferences and retreats may be a future option to enhance the mission of Doyle Community Park and the Doyle Center. The feasibility of this option is dependent upon future programming successes, potential participant interest and the cost of addressing building code requirements.

B | Recommendations for the Landscape & Facilities1. Undertake capital improvements and manage the landscape, buildings and facilities applying

sustainable best practices.

One of the key goals of The Trustees’ 2017 Strategic Plan is the reduction of the organizational carbon footprint. The Trustees have pledged to become a "carbon zero" organization, primarily through a combination of reducing fossil-fuel use and producing or procuring alternative energy. Sustainable best practices are part of a green strategic approach to the stewardship of our buildings and landscapes.

2. Expand the current parking areas adjacent to the Doyle Center to accommodate current and future needs.

Current parking areas are inadequate to support increased use of the Doyle Center. Based upon consultants’ and staff analysis, the capacity of the parking areas adjacent to the Center should be expanded to approximately double the current capacity. A proposed layout for this expanded parking is shown on the Recommendations Map. Additional design and site planning will be required as a first step to implement this recommendation.

3. Determine further site and building improvements needed to support the expanded activity of the Doyle Center.

The consultants’ 2009 report identified several improvements to support the growth of the Doyle Center. Further researchis needed to determine and prioritize the specific improvements needed as conference and meeting use increases.

4. Carry out a series of projects to improve public access,parking, signage and “way finding” to increase community programming and use.

The following three areas can be improved to increase communityaccess and use and to provide opportunities for additional programs and activities.

PIERCE MEADOW: Open and expand the current driveway entrance to Pierce Meadow from Lindell Avenue, improve and resurface the

current driveway, construct a small parking area, and improve visitor signage, including an information kiosk. Maintain formal and informal gathering places, picnic and play areas, and encourage increased use and activity.

DOYLE CENTER: Improve signage and provide an information kiosk for visitors who use the current parking area for access to the surrounding park.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What do you think about these

proposed improvements for the

Doyle Center? Which ones do you

think are the most important?


ESTATE CORE: Relocate the main entrance drive to provide greater visibility, better circulation, and easier access to the Estate Core. Trim vegetation in front of the Main House for greater visibility from the road and grounds and to create an inviting approach. Manage and improve the lawn areas to accommodate outdoor events. Construct a new parking area across Lindell Avenue for visitor and event parking. Construct a separate pedestrian walkway from the proposed parking area to the Estate Core. Over time the proposed parking area can also support the potential development of community-based agriculture in the adjacent South Field area.

5. Maintain the current agricultural field on the south side of Lindell Avenue – South Field – as a potential site for some form of community-based agriculture.

Sustainable local and regional food production is a key element of sustainable communities. The Trustees will explore a varietyof community agriculture models and potential partners with surrounding communities and organizations.

6. Continue to improve and enhance the ecological, cultural and scenic values of the park for wildlife habitat, visitor enjoyment, and education programs.

This will be accomplished by expanding meadow and grassland habitat by selectively clearing red pine stands adjacent to the open grasslands area located north of Lindell Avenue, adjacent to the hay field located south ofLindell Avenue, and adjacent to the upper meadow area behind the Estate Core. Trail and interpretive signage will also be improved.

7. Improve access and circulation and maintain the visual character along Lindell and Abbott Avenues.

The woodlands, stonewalls, and open fields and meadows along Lindell and Abbott Avenues help define the visualcharacter of the roadways and neighborhood adjacent to Doyle Community Park. Several actions can be taken to improve pedestrian and vehicular access, circulation, and safety, and to preserve the scenic qualities of the park and vicinity.

• Preserve, improve and maintain the current scenic qualities along the Lindell Avenue corridor. Create a unifiedvisual character along the frontage of Pierce Meadow, the Julie Country Day School, the Solar and Bee House residences, the Doyle Center, the buildings and surrounding land of the Estate, and the Driscoll House.

• Create an internal maintenance and access driveway and a walkway behind the Julie Country Day School between Pierce Meadow and the Doyle Center.

• Examine alternatives to consolidate the four driveways along the north side of Lindell Avenue between Merriam and Abbott Avenues.

• Establish a safe pedestrian path along Lindell Avenue within the boundary of the park.

• Work with the City of Leominster to close off the Abbott Avenue exit to and from Route 2. This would providemore safety for visitors, consolidate management and maintenance of this portion of the park (i.e. this section of Abbott Avenue and traffic would no longer bisect the property), improve access and directional way finding to the park, and reduce habitat fragmentation and illegal roadside dumping.

• Work with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway Division to locate park signage on Route 2.

8. Over time, create a “conservation campus” – a cluster of green buildings and facilities located within a highly attractive setting, dedicated to fostering sustainable communities through the exchange of ideas, information and inspiration.

The buildings and structures of the property, combined with the open fields, woods, parklands, formal and informalgardens, and walking paths, provide a unique opportunity to create an active and vibrant gathering place for people to exchange ideas, learn and practice the elements of community sustainability.

COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE

What kind of community

agriculture or gardening

would you like to see at

the community park?


3. Carrying Out the RecommendationsInitial cost estimates to address basic landscape and site improvements to expand anddevelop the Doyle Community Park approach $1million.This estimate does not includeneeded renovations and improvements to buildings and structures for the near future,or longer term costs for potential program development and building uses.

Although Miss Doyle provided a very generous fund to support basic improvements and maintenance of the Estate Core,funds to reach these ambitious goals for the Community Park and the Doyle Center must be raised. Over the next severalyears The Trustees and its partners and supporters will work to identify specific priorities and projects and sources of funding to implement the recommendations described above.

ConclusionThis Draft Plan for Doyle Community Park is ambitious and challenging. It reflects TheTrustees’ strategic plan and the Trustees’ dedication to fostering sustainable communities.

The central theme is to establish and manage the property as a welcoming gathering place to support and encourage sustainable communities, both as a vibrant conference and meeting venue and as a community park and resource. A supporting theme is to model exemplary stewardship in terms of people and relationships, energy efficiency and green building practices, and sustainable land and resource management.

This endeavor also reflects the strong commitment of The Trustees to the communities of Leominster and Fitchburg and the surrounding region – and to the generosity, hope and faith of Louise I. Doyle, and her belief in the possibility of creating a better world for future generations.

LET US KNOW!

We want your comments and

suggestions. Please email us at

[email protected], call us at

978.840.4446 x1900, and/or

fill out the survey at this link,

www.thetrustees.org/doylepark


AcknowledgementsThe Trustees of Reservations would like to thank the following individuals for their help and support in preparing this document.

MASTER PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE

Margaret Bailey BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE

David Croll ADVANCEMENT, LAND CONSERVATION COMMITTEES

Ann Ellery SENIOR ADVANCEMENT OFFICER

Andrea Freeman DIRECTOR, PUTNAM CONSERVATION INSTITUTE

Peter Madsen COMMITTEE CHAIR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE, ADVANCEMENT, FIELD OPERATIONS, FINANCE COMMITTEES

Thomas Nicholson BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE, EDUCATION AND STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT, FIELD OPERATIONS COMMITTEES

Dick O'Brien OPERATIONS MANAGER, WESTERN REGION

Sayra Pinto-Wilson ADVISORY COUNCIL

Augusta Perkins Stanislaw EDUCATION & STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT, HISTORIC RESOURCES, FIELD OPERATIONS COMMITTEES

Philip Truesdell ADVISORY COUNCIL

Lisa Vernegaard VICE-PRESIDENT, SUSTAINABILITY

Jim Younger DIRECTOR OF STRUCTURAL RESOURCES & TECHNOLOGY

ADDITIONAL TRUSTEES STAFF

Kathy Abbott EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Keith Bockus OFFICE MANAGER, DOYLE COMMUNITY PARK

Ann DeRose RECEPTION MANAGER, DOYLE COMMUNITY PARK

Tim Gabriel GRANT WRITER/COORDINATOR

Russ Hopping ECOLOGY PROGRAM MANAGER

Adam Kurowski GIS SPECIALIST

Leslie Luchonok PROJECT MANAGER, DOYLE PLANNING

Julie Muszalski PROGRAM ASSISTANT

David Outman CONSERVATION SPECIALIST & PLANNER

Miriam Scagnetti PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Mara Valdez WORK STUDY INTERN

Wesley Ward VICE PRESIDENT, LAND & COMMUNITY CONSERVATION

CONSULTANTS & VOLUNTEERS

Blair Hines PRINCIPAL, HINES WASSER + ASSOCIATES LLC

Katya Podsiadlo ASSOCIATE, HINES WASSER + ASSOCIATES LLC

Robert Chihade GLC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES LLC

Drew Leff GLC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES LLC

Blake Auchincloss ICON ARCHITECTURE

Joseph Houle VOLUNTEER


Doy

leC

omm

unity

Par

k &

Cen

ter

DR

AFT

PLA

N R

ECO

MM

END

AT

ION

S

Mai

ntai

n an

d im

prov

e vi

ews

to p

ark

from

Mer

riam

Str

eet

and

Lind

ell A

venu

e

Impr

ove

trai

l and

inte

rpre

tive

sign

age

Cre

ate

park

ing

area

for

Pier

ce M

eado

w

Cre

ate

inte

rnal

dri

vew

ay a

nd w

alkw

ay c

onne

ctin

g D

oyle

Cen

ter

to P

ierc

e M

eado

w

Expa

nd p

arki

ng a

reas

as

conf

eren

ce a

nd m

eetin

g ac

tivity

incr

ease

s

Impr

ove

entr

ance

and

dri

vew

ay t

o Pi

erce

Mea

dow

Pres

erve

sce

nic

q ual

ities

alo

ng L

inde

ll A

venu

e

Esta

blis

h w

elco

min

g si

gnag

e an

d “w

ay-fi

ndin

g” a

long

roa

dway

s

Cre

ate

park

ing

area

at

Sout

h Fi

eld

acro

ss fr

om E

stat

e C

ore

Rel

ocat

e fr

ont

entr

ance

dri

ve t

o Es

tate

Cor

e

Esta

blis

h co

mm

unity

-bas

ed a

gric

ultu

re

A B C D E F G H I J K

Mai

ntai

n &

impr

ove

red

map

le s

wam

p&

mou

ntai

n la

urel

thi

cket

Pres

erve

ope

n w

ildlif

e ha

bita

t&

sce

nic

view

s

Mai

ntai

n &

impr

ove

woo

ds

Mai

ntai

n &

impr

ove

woo

ds &

wet

land

Ori

gina

l map

pro

duce

d by

Hin

es-W

asse

r A

ssoc

iate

s,D

ecem

ber

2009

.Upd

ated

and

re

vise

d by

The

Tru

stee

s of

Res

erva

tions

,Ju

ne 2

010.

The Trustees of ReservationsDoyle Community Park & Center464 Abbott AvenueLeominster, MA 01453

www.thetrustees.org

doyle community park & center - trustees · we love the distinctive charms of new england. and...

Documents