Redesign Project Overview

B. Everett Hall Field Redesign Sketch

In the heart of Hanover, Massachusetts, there is a long-lived park

Sara Ozawa and Sarah Torresen, The Conway School

B. Everett Hall Field has been in the center of town for over ninety years. During this time, individual components have been added on an ad hoc basis as time and funds allowed: a bandstand, veterans memorial, skating rink, street hockey court, and softball field. The park's nearly 32 acres of land surrounding Sylvester School and Center Elementary have reflected town residents’ changing needs and desires without a long-term vision of compatible uses.

In 2022, the Town of Hanover embarked on a master planning process for B. Everett Hall Field to create a long-term, conceptual redesign with a plan for phased construction over a number of years. This project was funded by the Community Preservation Committee as the result of a 2022 Annual Town Meeting vote authorizing Community Preservation Act funds. At B. Everett Hall Field, the Town would like a space comfortable for people of all ages throughout the day, connection and cohesion between park elements and between the park and its neighborhood context, and a place for large and small community events.

Master Plan Goals

  1. All-Age, All-Day Comfort - Welcome people of all ages and provide basic amenities for comfort, like shade, bathrooms, benches, and water.
  2. Connection and Cohesion - Connect the sports courts, fields, and gathering spaces on-site; connect B. Everett Hall Field to surrounding neighborhoods and the town center.
  3. Community Gathering Space - Maintain a place for beloved community events like Hanover Day, and a variety of programmed and unprogrammed events.
  4. Low Maintenance - Improve site conditions in a way that will reduce maintenance over time.
  5. Ecological Function - Protect or improve the ecological functions of the site, including the protection of water resource areas.

Project Documents and Resources

Media

B. Everett Hall Field Sketch