Plans for Bayview Park are becoming clear, as officials heard a concrete plan to solve accessibility issues at the notoriously steep park.

Jaime Rebhan-Buckminster of the Community Opportunities Group presented the proposal alongside Cassie Bethoney of Weston Sampson, the company planning the project.

The current plan will add a circular path around the center of the park, bordering the gazebo. Other paths will arc off from that main circle to connect to the three corners of the park, where park entrances will be redesigned. 

Notably, the vast majority of the pathways around the park will have a gentle slope of less than 5%. Where that isn’t possible due to the park’s topography, there will be ADA-accessible ramps with railings and stairs. 

On the west side of the park furthest from the pier, the only access to the beach is by stairs. Bethoney and Rebhan-Buckminster said that they’d considered adding a ramp down to the beach, but that element alone would have a cost in the six figures and could present permitting complications.

Most trees on the property will be maintained, and there are plans to add more — maintaining the park as a shady oasis in the summer heat.

“We want to add as many trees as we can,” Bethoney said.

The gazebo itself will see upgrades to its accessibility and available power — making it a barter event space. 

All eight memorial benches in the park will be maintained, although some will be moved. The benches with waterfront views will still have those views — but maybe from a different spot. 

The statue of Aquene will be moved to a more prominent spot along the pathway that will run along the bluffs. 

“I think it’s an extremely important project for the town to complete,” Select Board Chair Judith Whiteside said, noting that it's a central feature seen by all summer visitors. 

While officials presented a timeline that would have construction starting late this fall, the exact cost of the project and how it would be funded are still unknown.

“Construction work right now is challenging to say the least,” Bethoney said. “We’re estimating conservatively with the hope that pricing will come down by the time we do construction.”

So far, $279,000 of Community Development Block Grant funds have been allocated to the project. Bethoney said that while the group is still working out the details, initial cost estimates were in the ballpark of $1 million. She and Rebhan-Buckminster said the town’s municipal maintenance department had agreed to take on work that would bring that price point down significantly. 

Rebhan-Buckminster pointed out that accessibility grants could also be a good source of funds, while Whiteside said Community Preservation Funds were a great fit for the project.

Those with comments or questions about the project should contact bayviewpark@wareham.ma.us.