Construction began a few weeks ago on the Cordaville Triangle — the wedge-shaped parcel of land at the intersection of Cordaville and Southville Roads. The site is being converted into a neighborhood park.
MBTA Triangle Committee member Nancy Vargas recently gave me a tour of the site and pointed out its various features.
The park is designed to welcome people entering town from the south. A steel panel bearing the name Cordaville helps establish the village identity.
Steel panels arranged in a circular pattern at the front of the park will created a tiered landscape.
The choice of steel evokes Cordaville’s industrial past. The village was once home to Cordaville Cotton and Woolen Mill. The circular arrangement of the panels is reminiscent of a mill wheel. The bell from the old Cordaville mill will be placed at the center of the circle.
Irregular undulating paths throughout the space represent the flow of the nearby Sudbury River.
The park has been in the works since 2002 when the MBTA donated the land — originally taken by eminent domain and used during the construction of the commuter rail station — back to the town. The work is being funded by a $112K grant from the Southborough Community Preservation Committee that was approved at last year’s town meeting.
This first phase of work is expected to be complete later this fall. Future phases will include more plants and landscaping. The MBTA Triangle Committee is working with local nurseries on donations and is also planning some fundraising campaigns.
The complete vision is presented in this design plan created by landscape architecture firm Bartsche & Radner Design, Inc (click to enlarge).
You can find more photos of the Cordaville Triangle Park construction on the My Southborough photostream.
Glad to see it is called Cordaville rather than MBTA Triangle. The MBTA signage is everywhere
Isn’t there suppose to be a tree and plaque planted here in honor of our late Police Chief William Colleary
Frances, I asked committee member Nancy Vargas about that and here’s what she had to say:
I’m glad to see this project is finally coming along. However, I’m not sure if these steel circular panels are the best choice. I understand the concept of achieving an “industrial look” in remembrance to the old Cordaville Mill. But I think these steel panels are a bit unsightly. How much of these ugly steel panels will be exposed once the landscaping is completed? And what will they look like after a few years of rush? Will these panels also provide a canvas for kids to spray paint graffiti?
I was hoping for a more functional and a warmer look to the park. A wooden gazebo (like in Hopkinton center) would look more elegant and cost far less than these custom steel panels. Anyone else agree?
EJ, I feel the same way about the steel panels, but I remind myself that the project is still in the early stages. It’ll most likely grow on us as we pass by it daily. As for the graffiti, anything is a canvas. The RR bridge, concrete steps and the everything else around the MBTA station is spotless. I wouldnt worry about it. You do make one good point. Whats this steel going to look like over the years? Its so close to the road I’d wonder what the road salt will do to it.
Townie, if I remember correctly, the steel panels are made of the same material as guardrails, so presumably they’ll hold up well over time despite the road salt. I was also told the seams will weather over time and look more like the rest of the panels so it will appear more cohesive.
I actually like all of the thought that went into this design. The circular nature of the panels recalling the mill water wheel, the mill bell, the meandering paths like the meandering Sudbury river, the trees recalling the wooded history of the town, the tree for Chief Colleary – all well thought out and cohesive.
I’d say just give it some time to see the entire park project when it is complete – I think it will be something we can all be proud of.
As for a gazebo, yes, one might have saved some cost with a gazebo, but in my opinion gazebos are a dime a dozen and as such have sort of become cliche’s. Anyone can just throw up a gazebo anywhere (and I’ve never actually seen anyone use one…). I think this design shows a lot more coherence to the nature and history of Southville/Cordaville.
If you want to honor the memory of Billy Colleary, you should just leave a six pack of beer. Billy had a great sense of humor and he would enjoy that. RIP Billy! We could use you again for our next Chief of Police!!!!
Yes… Empty beer bottles would complement these ugly rusting steel panels for a great industrial look! ;)
Too bad the contractor had to come back for additional funds because of what was buried there. It would have been nice if committee members who watched the triangle get re-worked after the MBTA took it over told the contractor ahead of time of all the junk buried there. Could have saved a small but inconvenient headache.
Is Chief Colleary’s tree going to be marked in any way? It did have cobblestones around it but no plaque indicating why it was so special.
Townie II – I asked Triangle Committee Chairperson Nancy Vargas about the change order. Here’s what she had to say:
As I recall, the change order was for approximately $1,200. It was unanimously approved by selectmen at their meeting last week.