City Moves Forward With Design of Pulaski Park, Traffic Relief at Braley Road

$250,000 allocated to design of new entrance, playground, other amenities

New Bedford, MA – The City of New Bedford is committing $250,000 towards the redesign of Pulaski Park in the North End.  The redesign will include a new playground and a new entrance on Acushnet Avenue which will provide additional parking as well as a means of egress for buses during school hours—helping to reduce traffic congestion on Braley Road.

Last year the City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Beaches retained the design firm, Carolyn Cooney and Associates to begin the planning and redesign process.  The firm solicited input from several city departments, including New Bedford Public Schools, to ensure that improvements to the 18-acre park would meet the needs of the school community and far North End residents. Working with Ward 1 City Councilor, Brad Markey, the firm also held two community input sessions at the Pulaski School.  Five goals were subsequently established based on resident and departmental feedback:

• Increase functionality of the park as a recreational resource for North End residents;
• Improve the function of the park as a Safe Route to School option;
• Locate park amenities to allow multi-use off hours for school use where possible;
• Maintain or enhance the natural character of the park; and
• Strive for synergy between new improvements and existing nature trails.

“The Pulaski School community and far North End residents deserve a first-rate park. That is why I am so very pleased to make this initial allocation to launch the design process in earnest and clear the way for upgrades to the park and traffic relief at Braley Road,” said Mayor Jon Mitchell.

“We are pleased that the Pulaski Park redesign project is moving into its second phase.  The preliminary planning and design work of Carolyn Cooney and Associates, with input from the community and assistance from Ward 1 Councilor Brad Markey, have all been hugely beneficial.  I am particularly excited by the proposed new entrance to the park from Acushnet Avene, which will help bring attention to the Ross C Mathieu Nature Trail as well as the other amenities the park will offer,” said the Director of Parks, Recreation and Beaches, Mary Rapoza.

“I’m very excited that we are continuing to move forward with this project and have the additional funding to do so,” said Ward 1 City Councilor Brad Markey. “When I first ran for office, there were two items that kept coming up: rehabilitating the park and another entrance into the school to help alleviate traffic and for safety reasons. This project addresses both those concerns and will make the hiking trail much more accessible — a win all the way around.”

Upon completion of phase two, the City will have a complete bid package (including design, engineering, and construction drawings) ready to procure a construction contract.