January 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 52

OPERATIONS
Restoring a Seaside Treasure
By Amy Fahey
F
orest River Park in Salem, Massachusetts, has been a favorite
summertime destination for residents and regional visitors since
it was established by the city in 1907. Encompassing more than
30 acres of land with an extensive shoreline along the Salem Harbor,
it offers a playground, picnic areas, athletic fields and a seasonal living
history museum. The park's iconic pool and bathhouse, located at the water's
edge, have provided relief from the summer heat for nearly a century
- until 2017, when they had to be closed to the public.
The area was originally established
as a tidal bathing pool in the
early 1900s. The bathhouse was
added in the late 1920s and upgraded
in 1972 with new electrical
and plumbing systems. The pool
was renovated in 1972, and again
in 1999 when it was expanded to
provide a wading area and converted
from saltwater to a recirculating
freshwater pool. Both the pool and
bathhouse deteriorated over time
and fell out of code compliance, and
the filtration plant failed after being
flooded by nor'easters in 2018.
While their closures were a great
loss to the community, they led to
the creation of the Forest River Outdoor
Recreation & Nature Center:
a sustainability-themed place for
people of all ages and abilities to be
active, enjoy nature and engage in
educational programs year-round.
The
center
boasts
two new
pools: a shallow 2,265-square-foot
pool for children and those taking
swimming lessons, and a deeper
4,803-square-foot pool with a fullyaccessible
chairlift
for
recreation
and lane swimming. Both feature
a beach entry design, perfect for
older adults, families with young
children or those with physical disabilities.
A geology-themed splash
pad winds around the pool like a
river, with interactive " volcanic "
water features and glacier-shaped
benches. A new, climate-resilient
filter building houses a first aid/
lifeguard station and displays a
bronze and acrylic mural of the area's
coastline on an exterior wall.
Interpretive signs highlighting the
area's history and natural resources
line the 1,500 feet of accessible
stone-dust pathways.
The renovated 4,650-squarefoot
stucco
bathhouse is a netzero
energy building, complete
with solar panels, a white roof,
daylighting, energy-efficient
equipment, and passive cooling
vents. It also features new windows
and an addition overlooking the
harbor.
The
expanded
facility
serves as a year-round building with
concessions, restrooms, lockers,
family changing rooms, offices and
a new community room for offseason
educational programming.
The two new pools were relocated
out of the flood hazard zone,
allowing for the tidal pool's restoration
and access to even more
educational
opportunities. Stateof-the-art
stormwater management
and carefully-selected vegetation
were installed to help ensure the
facility's climate resiliency.
Working close to the water's edge
was tricky for construction manager
Colantonio Inc. High tides flooding
the site cost four days of work each
month. Certain activities, such as
the removal of asbestos piping, were
scheduled around the tides.
The Forest River Outdoor RecThe
Forest River Outdoor Recreation
& Nature Center in Salem,
Massachusetts, is a vital source of
recreation and education.
52 Parks & Recreation |
J ANUAR Y 2 0 2 3
| PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
reation & Nature Center opened in
June 2022 for thousands to enjoy
each year as a vital source of recreation
and education.
Amy Fahey is Director of Marketing for
Colantonio Inc.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT WRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
January 2023 - Parks & Recreation

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