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