Surprise work on Foss Park by the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation alarmed Somervillians this week and led to a rebuke by state representative Mike Connolly – the result of a state contractor starting work earlier than expected.
Several people contacted Connolly’s office asking “What is going on at Foss Park?” and talking about a large pile of asphalt that appeared on a softball diamond, machinery taking up shaded areas in front of the swimming pool and rumors of big, unasked changes, the representative wrote in an online update Friday.
After being contacted by Connolly, the state confirmed that work starts Monday at the Winter Hill park that will close two of its three softball fields and the lawn area between them, as well as neighboring walking paths. DCR said it didn’t know how long the areas would be closed before it finished improvements to the fields, dugouts and bleachers.
Top administrators “denied there are plans to restrict access or eliminate uses,” Connolly said.
A department spokesperson on Friday explained that the Foss Park work is two projects happening simultaneously, one about improving a path between the court area and a ballfield, and the other general maintenance set to start next week on the ballfields themselves. The path work – to make it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and connect to Blakeley Avenue – was begun ahead of schedule, the spokesperson said, and removal of debris from it was delayed by municipal roadwork.
Notice to Connolly and the community came as soon as DCR realized what had happened, the spokesperson said.
The heavy machinery will be used to create shaded picnic bench areas, a request of park users.
Call for more notice
There had been no public hearing ahead of the work because of its nature as general maintenance, the spokesperson said, but Connolly still found it “unacceptable for DCR to allow any or all of this to happen without communicating to elected officials, posting signage and performing a basic level of community engagement, at a minimum.”
While the agency was responsive and supplied answers within minutes, “residents and park users deserve to be kept informed, and we also deserve to have a big say and real consideration in future plans for the park,” Connolly said.
The future at Foss
Connolly said he asked the state agency to work with him on scheduling a public meeting – and to prioritize Foss for more planning, engagement, maintenance and improvements.
“For several years, Field 2 has been in very rough shape” and has been used as a makeshift off-leash dog park “with a real sense of community,” Connolly said. During a visit to the park Thursday, “I told folks I think it is more than fair for residents to want an off-leash dog park at Foss Park, and that is something I would be willing to advocate for.”
In a blog post Friday, Connolly added:
Every time I talk to the Healey-Driscoll Administration about East Somerville, I highlight the fact that Somerville is the most densely populated city in New England, the commonwealth is the largest landowner in Somerville and East Somerville is an environmental justice community, impacted by Interstate 93 and other state infrastructure and burdened by the heat island effect. Foss Park and its users deserve better communication and engagement from DCR, even as we continue to deliver real improvements.
Foss Park, 219 Broadway, Winter Hill, Somerville
This post was updated May 29, 2026, with information from a DCR spokesperson.
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