Statement from Select Board Chair Heidi Frail - April 17, 2025
In recent days, the Town has heard from many local businesses and residents who have shared feedback on the Envision Needham Center Project pilot. Feedback on public projects is encouraged and appreciated as it allows the Town to make changes to a project’s design or timeline so that it can better serve the Needham community and achieve the project’s goals. The goals for the Envision Needham Center Project are to make Needham Center more accessible to persons with disabilities, pedestrians, and bikers which support the Town’s goal of helping to increase visitors to support local businesses. The project will also help address infrastructure deficiencies in Needham Center, including lack of accessibility, outdated roadway and sidewalk conditions, insufficient public shade, aging and inefficient drainage and utilities, as well as make safety improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Plans for the Envision Needham Center Pilot have not yet been discussed by the Select Board and will be presented at the Board’s public hearing for the project on Tuesday, May 13th at 6:30 pm. In the meantime, Town staff will be hosting a meeting for businesses and commercial property owners to give an overview of the project so that stakeholders can come to the public hearing feeling fully informed on the plans and prepared to share feedback on ways the pilot can be improved.
All public projects have milestones which define key checkpoints and review by the Town’s various departments, boards and committees. The May 13th public hearing on the pilot is one such milestone and will provide the Select Board with important feedback which will help shape their decision on the path forward for the project’s design and timeline. It will also give direction to the Envision Needham Center Working Group and the Department of Public Works on next steps.
