Melrose, Massachusetts

7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 10 younger demographic. We’re really excited about what we’ve been able to do there. That’s the model and we want to continue that on up the tracks a little bit.” Despite its small size, Melrose has a good mix of housing stock available, with both single and multi-family units available. Most of the city’s housing is concentrated around the rail line, with green space surrounding it. “The term in the planning parlance is a ‘garden community’ design,” Gaffey says. “We are surrounded on all four sides by open space. We have decreased density as you get further out to the outskirts of town.” The city’s wealth of open space means it’s very walkable, and there’s plenty of opportunity for recreation. Melrose is home to 60 park sites that include pocket parks, neighbourhood parks, playgrounds, and general open space, as well as a skateboard park, multiple trails and conservation areas. The city is in the process of putting in pickleball courts, an inclusive park, and upgrading its softball field. There’s also the 226-acre, municipally owned, 18-hole Mount Hood Golf Course. “It was built in the 1930s from the WPA projects and has some great fieldstone exterior to the clubhouse,” says Joan Bell, Melrose’s Parks Department Supervisor. “There’s also a five-storey tower on the furthest northeast corner of the property and when you’re up there you can oversee Nahant Beach, Revere Beach, and the Boston skyline. It’s a beautiful trek, just for the scenery.” The Melrose Recreation Department offers youth and adult active programming, much of which takes places in Melrose parks and many youth sports organizations as well we the Melrose Public Schools offer a variety of sports and club activities. Melrose is currently investing in upgrades to its Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, as well as its Carnegie library. The memorial hall, a 100-year- old facility that includes function and auditorium space, will receive a $4 million renovation for