NORTHAMPTON — Pedestrians who cut through the rear of Pulaski Park will need to find another route for a week. A portion of the park will be closed for repairs starting Monday, Mayor David J. Narkewicz announced Friday.
Narkewicz said in a statement that a portion of the park between the stage, deck and nature play area will be closed to address lawn drainage issues. There will be no pedestrian access through the rear of the park for one week, Narkewicz said. Access will be restored the following week, though a smaller portion of fence will remain in place until the ground freezes to protect the lawn.
“The City of Northampton requests the public’s patience and cooperation during the work,” the statement read.
Mountain View Landscapes, the contractor for the first phase of the project, will do the regrading and sod replacement, Narkewicz said.
Pulaski Park, which reopened in July, is undergoing a second phase of construction which began Oct. 3. That phase will create an “overlook” area to soften the drop-off between the park and the Roundhouse parking lot below. The overlook will increase the park area by more than 25 percent, Narkewicz said last month.
The overlook will improve the park’s connection to the parking lot and adjacent New Haven-Northampton Rail Trail through an improved staircase and handicapped-accessible path, Narkewicz said. The project will be completed by MASS-WEST Construction Inc. of Granby at a cost of $965,000, funded by Community Preservation Act money and a state grant. It is expected to be finished in May.
The park will remain open throughout construction, though its rear portion and a section of the Roundhouse lot will be fenced off.
Staff writer Chris Lindahl contributed reporting.