The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

In the Year Two Thousand Sixteen

AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD TO CONVERT PARK

LAND AT RUTH ELIZABETH PARK FOR TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT USE

PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 97, AND TO ACQUIRE AND DEDICATE

REPLACEMENT PARKLAND

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled,

and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. The city of Springfield, acting by through its city council, with the

approval of its mayor, may convert certain land known to be part of Ruth Elizabeth Park,

to the Department of Public Works (DPW), for improvements to Hickory Street including

two-way traffic and the installation of sidewalks on both sides of the street, to provide

safer circulation patters and pedestrian access, as part of the Central Street Traffic

Improvement Project. The portion of the land to be converted contains approximately

0.054 acres, and is shown as the "Conversion Parcel" on a plan entitled "Plan of Proposed

Conversion and Acquisition" by GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc., Engineers and Scientists.

("Plan").

SECTION 2. In consideration for the conversion of the Conversion Parcel, totaling

0.054 acres, to traffic improvement use under the control of the Department of Public

Works, the City of Springfield will acquire and dedicate, and the Springfield Park

Commission agrees to accept, approximately 0.802 acres of replacement park land

consisting of Acquisition Parcels A, B, and C, as shown on the above-referenced Plan,

which will thereafter become part of Ruth Elizabeth Park.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of

Massachusetts In the General Court Assembled.

The undersigned, Domenic J. Sarno, Mayor of the City of Springfield, in the name and on

behalf of said City, and in the pursuance of an order, a duly attested copy of which is

hereto annexed, petition the General Court for legislation entitled "AN ACT

AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD TO CONVERT PARK LAND AT

RUTH ELIZABETH PARK FOR TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT USE PURSUANT TO

ARTICLE 97, AND TO ACQUIRE AND DEDICATE REPLACEMENT PARK LAND"

in substantially the same form as a draft Act attached hereto.

Respectfully submitted,

______________________

Domenic J. Sarno, Mayor

City of Springfield

36 Court Street

Springfield, MA 01103