Barry Park Splash Pad

Location: Lynn, MA
Client: The City of Lynn
Photography: Gregg Shupe

In the late nineteenth century, Little River ran through what is now Barry Park and continued out to the Saugus River. Various parcels were acquired and pieced together to form Little River Playground. In 1907, the Lynn Park Commission contacted the Olmsted Brothers firm about Little River Playground. The City retains the Olmsted Brothers plans in their archive. Little River Park is now called Barry Park and is in a Minority Environmental Justice Population area. As part of a multi-year phased investment, the City of Lynn has been making improvements to Barry Park facilities since 2021.

In Phase One, BRR designed a new splash pad and a resurfaced multipurpose court, painted with colorful volleyball and soccer patterns, and provided improved user amenities such as furnishings and plantings. In 2022, Phase 2 realized the demolition of a dangerous and crumbling concrete bleacher structure that ran the length of the Park and blocked neighborhood and police views into the active recreational ball fields. A newly regraded slope, plantings, amenities, and accessible bleachers were designed by BRR. Phase 3, which will begin construction in fall 2023, will completely re-envision the playground area, where BRR has designed new play features with a focus on providing highly interactive accessible play for kids (and adults!) of all abilities. The newly completed Northern Strand now occupies the former railroad right-of-way adjacent to this Park and neighborhood residents and all users can now walk and bicycle to this park from other parts of Lynn and beyond along this trail.