WATERTOWN – Some repairs to the historic walls of Thompson Park will be completed, with a state grant of $ 131,000.
Masonry repair and repointing work on the entrance wall of the Overlook and repairs to the roof and columns of the Pinnacle Pavilion are expected to be completed next year, said Michael A. Lumbis, director of the Overlook. city ​​planning and community.
The city will soon sign the contract with the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to receive the funding, Lumbis said.
The Pinnacle Pavilion is a popular location for wedding ceremonies and professional photographers, he said.
This project will contribute to the city’s ongoing efforts to repair and maintain the historic, century-old limestone walls. The grant will strengthen the walls and structure and extend their life.
“This work needs to be done. We have done other work on the wall in recent years, â€he said.
The city’s engineering office will draw up specific sketches for the project this year.
The project involves the removal and replacement of loose mortar on the wall, which is between 10 and 12 feet behind the wall along a hill in the park.
Four years ago, an inspection of the stone walls in the park determined which sections needed repair.
Three years ago, a 35-foot section along Pinnacle Wood Drive collapsed, causing a gaping hole to close and the sidewalk to close.
In addition, a section – near the entrance to Franklin Street – was dismantled and had to be rebuilt at a cost of $ 265,000.
The last major effort to restore the stone walls of Thompson Park came in the late 1980s, when the city spent around $ 500,000 to consolidate all of the crumbling stone structures in the park.
The project included repairing warped retaining walls and fixing broken and missing steps throughout the park.
At the time, these were the first repairs since construction began on the park.
The city is setting aside a small amount of money in the municipal budget for the maintenance of the park walls.
The firm of famous landscape designer Frederick Olmsted designed the park. Mr. Olmsted also designed Central Park in New York.
