Paving begins at Westfield Middle School parking lot

Paving has begun on the Westfield Middle School parking lot redesign.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo

WESTFIELD — Paving on the Westfield Middle School parking lot has officially begun as part of a complete redesign made possible by a climate resilience grant of $810,200 from the state Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program and an additional $70,000 from the Westfield River Watershed Association.

The redesigned lot will feature bioretention basins that help manage stormwater and improve environmental sustainability. The renovations will also provide safer traffic flow, improved parking, and a better overall experience for students, families, staff and visitors, said WMS Principal Jesse McMillan.

Tighe & Bond is the project manager, and Caracas Construction Corp. out of Ludlow is the contractor. Various departments in the city of Westfield, including engineering, the city planner and Public Works are also involved. “It’s been a great partnership working with the city of Westfield. We received a tremendous amount of support,” McMillan said.

The project includes demolition of existing parking areas, removal of two trees, construction of new parking facilities with one-way circulation, eight new trees, bioretention basins and a reduction in overall impervious surface area. The new parking area will improve traffic safety, especially during peak school hours, while reducing localized and regional flooding impacts and mitigating heat stress.

The work being done is also serving as a real-world resiliency demonstration for students by incorporating sustainable infrastructure elements both during and after construction. McMillan said students had the opportunity to review the overall plans, and after they return in the fall, they will have lessons on stormwater improvements and bioretention basins as part of the educational component.

Despite ongoing work, Band Camp will still be held in the school this summer on the weeks of July 27 and Aug. 7. The transition program for new students will also take place on Aug. 11 and 12.

In addition to the work being done outside, McMillan was thrilled to announce that the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office selected WMS to have the entire first-floor hallway repainted over the summer through its community service outreach. “They’re 75% of the way done, from the main entrance and bus loop all the way around the seventh grade classrooms and back hall,” he said, adding that all the school had to do was supply the paint, for which they got some help from the district.

McMillan said it had to be done, and certain sections of the school had been painted in the last five or six years, but all in different colors. For this project, the school went with a neutral grey with red highlights. The school’s colors are red and black.

“We plan to install artwork by students throughout the building,” he said. Students already completed a mural at the main entrance in May with art teachers and local community partners for donations. “My goal is to highlight student work from the moment our visitors walk into the building,” McMillan said.

“One of the things I wanted to highlight was partnerships with the Sheriff’s office, the City of Westfield and students that made this possible. The fresh new look has completely transformed the feel of our building and will create a brighter, more welcoming environment for everyone who walks through our doors,” he added. “These projects represent a significant investment in our school and community, and we can’t wait to share the finished results. A heartfelt thank you to everyone whose hard work, dedication and partnership are making these improvements possible.”