Weston & Sampson was retained to develop an Open Space Master Plan for the 65-acre former Cushing State Hospital property near Farm Pond in Framingham.
Nearly a dozen public forums were held to establish and prioritize the scope of planned improvements for this scenic property. The finished master planning document presented a “vision statement,” analyzed existing conditions, identified general and specific improvement programs, funding sources, budgets, phases, and also included an operations and maintenance narrative.
Since adopting the master plan, more than a dozen initiatives have been implemented in an effort to create Framingham’s “Central Park”, with a wide range of multi-generational passive recreational opportunities that support the needs of all residents. The full range of improvements contains construction of an inclusive children’s playground, restoration of a historic chapel, construction of a walking/biking/jogging trail system; landscape restoration with extensive tree, shrub, perennial, and meadow plantings; site furnishings; and signage.
In 2021, Boston Globe readers identified Cushing Park as one of the most loved open space properties in metropolitan Boston.