Community Outreach & Mitigation Initiatives

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In  October 2023, a contractor replaced 11 trees on Park Drive as part of Samuels & Associates’ commitment to the Fenway community. Trees were replaced on both sides of Park Drive from approximately the MBTA stop entrance down to Beacon Street. Some street parking was impacted to make room for this activity and its supporting equipment. 

The 421 Park Drive Construction Management Plan (CMP) outlines how the contractor and project team will manage logistics to minimize construction impacts on the neighborhood and surrounding area. The project team has taken great care to develop a construction plan that reduces inconveniences and keeps the lines of communication open with our neighbors.

The CMP details construction vehicle routing, equipment staging, construction entrances, and pedestrian and bicycle accommodations around the site throughout all construction phases and outlines where fencing and jersey barriers have been placed along Brookline Avenue, Fullerton Street, and Park Drive. 

Project work hours are typically Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Some select, less intensive activities have needed to occur on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

There may be limited short-term situations where nighttime hours are required to perform work that cannot be implemented during the day. Abutters are notified of these plans in advance. Overnight work is carried out only when required for safety and operational reasons following receipt of the necessary City of Boston permits.

The following is a list of non-working union holidays when the community can expect the job site to be closed and inactive this year (2026):

• New Year’s Day – January 1
• Patriots Day - April 20
• Memorial Day – May 25
• Independence Day – July 4
• Labor Day – September 7
• Indigenous Peoples Day - October 12
• Veterans Day - November 11
• Thanksgiving - November 26
• Day after Thanksgiving - November 27
• Christmas Day – December 25

The project team is working to mitigate noise and vibrations throughout the duration of the project. To help buffer noise, an acoustic barrier has been erected at select locations around the project site. The contractor is also working to ensure that as many pieces of equipment as possible are outfitted with white noise alarms.

To monitor vibrations, three seismographs are positioned around the 421 Park Drive property to ensure construction activities are within safe and acceptable levels. This data is monitored daily by the project's geotechnical engineers to ensure that vibration levels do not exceed safe limits and remain below certain thresholds. 

The construction team shares information on the 'Project Updates' page and by email, which interested community members and abutters can sign up for here.  

Enhanced dust mitigation efforts are underway on the 421 Park Drive project work site. The contractor provided several new pieces of construction equipment to aid in suppressing the dust generated during the demolition of the project. Aerial lulls outfitted with water suppression cannons, mobile ground water suppression units and a water pumper truck were used to control dust and ensure healthy air quality as the project moves forward. A close inspection of the pedestrian pathways that run along the demolition site was also monitored daily to ensure a healthy and safe environment. Dust was significantly reduced once the demolition phase was complete.

Ongoing dust control mitigation measures include:

• Wetting agents including water suppression cannons, mobile ground water suppression units and a water pumper truck 
• Covered trucks
• Regular cleaning of streets and sidewalks
• Tire wash stations

Odors are typically encountered when excavating through organic soils. The contractor used sprays and foams on open excavations to minimize odors. 

Rodent inspection, monitoring, and treatment will be carried out before, during, and at the completion of all construction work for the project, in compliance with the City of Boston’s requirements. 

Pedestrian routes along Brookline Avenue, Fullerton Street, and Park Drive have generally remained the same throughout construction. Temporary sidewalk closures and diversions have been minimized as much as possible. Where needed for safety, pedestrians are protected with standard safety barriers and overhead protection. Temporary walkways, appropriate lighting, and new directional and wayfinding signage is in place to help direct people around the site. 

At the start of the project, a new temporary MBTA pedestrian pathway connecting the MBTA station to Park Drive was built to provide continuous and safe pedestrian access throughout the work. On Monday, March 2, the contractor opened a new multi-use walking path that connects the MBTA station to Park Drive. The new path is located on the opposite side of the underground garage entrance ramp closer to the new building. Clear signage is posted in the area to provide guidance to pedestrians and cyclists.