Construction at Kayem Park is scheduled to begin this week, the week of September 28, the city announced. The neighborhood park near the Salvation Army Chelsea Corps community center and the Browne Middle School is getting new playground equipment, shade, a misting station and new plantings as part of the city’s yearly park renovation program.
What is coming
- new playground equipment for two age groups, 2 to 5 and 5 to 12
- a misting station
- an artistic shade sail
- new benches and picnic tables
- permeable pavers, which let rain soak into the ground
- more trees and native landscaping
The renovation is paid for with a fiscal 2026 grant from the state’s Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities program, known as PARC, according to the city. Kayem Park’s renovation was also listed in the city’s capital improvement plan. The city has not said how long the work will take or when the park will reopen.
A shade sail made by hand
The shade sail is its own project. Among the Community Preservation Act grants listed in the City Council’s June 22 packet, the city’s Housing and Community Development department received $50,000 for a proposal titled “Stitching Against the Heat: A Yarn for Change.” The application describes it as a pilot of “an innovative, artistic shade sail at Kayem Park,” inspired by artistic cooling efforts in Puerto Rico and Europe, with each member of the Knitters and Crochet Group at the Chelsea Senior Center crafting a section.
The city confirmed on its Facebook page this week that the group is already at work. “The Chelsea Senior Center’s knitting and crocheting group are currently working on a large shade sail for this park,” the city wrote in reply to a resident who had asked for shade canopies. It said it would share pictures of their progress.