BEAVER BROOK SPRAY DECK AND PLAYGROUND

Belmont, MA

The Beaver Brook Spray Deck & Playground is located in the historic Beaver Brook Reservation in Belmont, Massachusetts—the first reservation established by the Metropolitan Park Commission. The popular boulder field spray deck dates to a 1980s renovation and has become an iconic and beloved feature of the park.

While the park renovation was initially envisioned as a simple repair and upgrade of the 30+-year-old mechanicals and surfacing, it soon grew to encompass a total redevelopment of the adjacent playground, comfort station, picnic areas, and path system. The reworked walking and bike path network now bypasses the spray deck so that the historic picnic pavilion and play areas are safely linked to the spray deck for unimpeded play. Clear sightlines to the comfort station were renewed, and the comfort station itself was made accessible. The restrooms and mechanicals were modernized all within the shell of the historic structure.

In all of these changes, Ryan Associates strove to elevate the functional abilities of the park while staying true to its original design and its legacy as a featured Belmont landmark.