Waterman Design Associates - Athletic Projects

WDA’s athletic field design work has included all facets of planning and construction for a wide variety of projects ranging from a single paved basketball court to master planning for a complete athletic field complex. We have worked on individual multi-purpose athletic fields as well as reuse of existing facilities which included planning for the rehabilitation of existing fields, access drives and parking, as well as the design of athletic fields for a new regional YMCA.

South Street Park Expansion, Hudson, Massachusetts
Waterman Design Associates assisted the Town of Hudson in seeking State grant funding ($700K) for the expansion of the 2-acre, riverside park in downtown Hudson. Our services included concept formulation, surveying, design development, coordination with the Town’s Planning, Parks & Recreation, Economic Development, Conservation Commission, and Public Safety Departments, permitting, and preparation of bid-ready construction documents. The park is planned to include a skateboard park, water splash pad feature, opportunities for enjoyment of a small canal that traverses the site, kids playground, summer concerts pavilion, lawns, and riverwalk.

YMCA, Westborough, Massachusetts
WDA worked closely with the YMCA of Greater Worcester and their architect from the schematic design process through construction documents for the development of their state-of-the-art, 60,000 sf facility situated at the top of Boston Hill in Westborough. WDA developed a master plan for the entire 140± acre property located in three towns, and five zoning districts and created a building lot for the YMCA with 18± acres to accommodate a multi-purpose athletic field, playground, associated parking and future expansion. The YMCA is now complete and has proven to be very popular to the surround area.

Hennessey Fields, Westborough, Massachusetts
WDA was responsible for completing the survey, design and construction of this multi-use athletic field on 6± acres of land. Our services involved revisions to the original field design to accommodate existing floodplain and wetland areas, modification of site grading, preparation of a new field design plan, and presentation of the plan to the Conservation Commission. The revised plan was unanimously approved by the Conservation Commission, and following preparation of a sod specification by WDA, construction was commenced. The field is now fully operational.

Mayo School, Holden, Massachusetts
WDA was hired by the project architect to determine the best solution to correct surface drainage issues with two three-year old athletic fields. The Town’s directive required the solution be inexpensive, quick to install, and require minimal maintenance. After review of the site conditions and considering various options, WDA engineers recommended a series of vertical strip drains that would meet the Town’s criteria and provide the appropriate solution. Final design plans and technical specifications for this option have been completed.

Haskell Street Property, Westborough, Massachusetts
WDA was retained by the Westborough Recreation Department to prepare a master plan for the expansion of this existing multi-use athletic facility onto an additional 10± acre parcel. The existing facility includes tennis courts, basketball courts, soccer and baseball fields. WDA began with the location and identification of wetland resources, preparation of a base survey map and landscape architectural design of three multi-use athletic fields. The site design plans have been presented to the Westborough Recreation Department and unanimously approved. The final phase of work will include data collection, final design and permitting for construction.

Westborough State Hospital, Westborough, Massachusetts
WDA is involved with the reuse of a 7± acre portion of the Westborough State Hospital property for multi-use athletic fields. Our initial work involved a review of the available property with representatives of the Youth Soccer Association and attendance at meetings with the hospital administrator and the Westborough Conservation Commission to obtain preliminary approval for the project. Most recently, we prepared a master plan for the access, parking, athletic field design, and connections to other existing fields on the hospital property.

Rogers Field, Westborough, Massachusetts
WDA prepared the initial concept plans for this paved basketball court near an area of critical environmental concern (ACEC) wetland ( Cedar Swamp). Following approval of the Recreation Department, a wetland application was prepared and presented to the Conservation Commission. Subsequent to that approval final designs identifying everything from pavement treatment to fencing was specified and issued for bidding. Construction is now complete and the court is in high demand.

Individual project experience obtained prior to WDA:

Groton School, Groton, Massachusetts
In 1997, Mr. Waterman was the project director during the initial planning of a new sport facility at the Groton School. This facility would contains a new gymnasium, skating rink and indoor pool. The process involved analysis and review of various alternatives and their impact on the site infrastructure, traffic and pedestrian circulation, adjacent wetland impacts and relative construction costs.

Dexter School, Brookline, Massachusetts
Mr. Waterman was the project director for the design, permitting and construction supervision of two regulation soccer fields at this private boys school. This project also involved the resolution of historic wetland filling with the Army Corps of Engineers and permit approvals from the Brookline Conservation Commission. The master plan completed for the school included the potential for a future additional expansion field, as demand requires.