On the accompanying map are shown the public schools of Norwood. They are grouped most closely near the center of the Town with scattered buildings on the outskirts. Evidently school locations will follow the centers of new growth, but the extent to which these structures will be scattered depends upon the policies adopted in the future for bringing pupils in the outlying sections into the central portions of the Town for accommodation in large highly organized school centers. The degree to which this type of centralization will be possible or desirable will depend in part upon the excellence of the future through street system. A good system of through streets, by affording direct and safe lines of approach, reduces the need of duplication of school building and school facilities whether these facilities are highly centralized or generally dispersed. The dependence of the school system upon the street layout is in this sense comparable with the dependence of the fire department and police department for efficiency upon the directness and adequate width of the streets of the main thoroughfare system. (See also page 27.)
The relation of the schools of Norwood to the existing parks and playgrounds of the Town is also shown upon this map. Dependence of the schools upon public recreation areas is becoming more general, as vacant land which was once available for playground space is occupied with dwellings and stores. Most of the schools] already possess playground space, but these grounds should be extended before the cost of land for such purposes becomes prohibitive. In general, new park and playground space for school use should be provided adjacent to the school grounds or within sufficiently short walking distance to make possible the control of pupils on these playing spaces by the school authorities | during the hours of school session.
In determining the location of playgrounds or playground areas in parks, careful consideration should be given these play spaces with regard to their use for neighborhood recreation. Every neighborhood should have playgrounds, and these areas should not be placed farther apart than about one-half mile in order to provide facilities within at least one-quarter of a mile of all the families of that neighborhood. Experience has shown that mothers, children and their elders will not walk much over a quarter of a mile to parks or playgrounds, consequently, facilities of this kind are partly wasted if placed at greater spaces. Examination of the plan of proposed parks and playgrounds shown above, and reference to the larger parkway plan (see insert following page 24) will show that the open spaces recommended occur at intervals not greater than these. As a whole the smaller tracts recommended lie upon low,
1923 Norwood Planning Board Report
This Day In Norwood History-May 19, 1923-Planning Board Has Done Excellent Work
NORWOOD TOWN NOW BEAUTIFUL NORWOOD, May 19—The marked improvement in the physical appearance of the town of Norwood, since the establishment of a Planning Board, here, as well as the pride and interest which its townspeople have in the civic…
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN 1923
Published and Presented With the Compliments of George F. WillettChairman Town Planning Board1912 – 1923 Report of ARTHUR A. SHURTLEFF, Town Planner SUPPLEMENTARY REPORTS :Zoning, by JOHN P. FOX, ConsultantCivic Center, by HARRY J. CARLSON, ArchitectandLegal Aspects, by FLAVEL SHURTLEFF,…
1923 Planning Board Report-Plan for the Vicinity of Center of the Town
The plan on pages 20 and 21 for the center of Norwood is an integral part of the general plan proposed for the Town as a whole. The development of the center cannot be considered separately from the development of…
1923 Planning Board Report-Vicinity of High Bridge
The complicated and dangerous arrangement of roadways, railway tracks for electric and steam cars, in combination with a narrow underpass in the High Bridge district illustrates forcibly the costly results of allowing important road junctions to “happen by chance.” It…
1923 Planning Board Report-Streets Near Norwood Railroad Station
In the course of the general program of the state for the abolishment of railway grade crossings, the present dangerous crossing at Railroad Avenue will be abolished. This work should be undertaken, however, not only with an eye to the…
1923 Planning Board Report-Proposed Additional East-West Through Streets and Diagonals
In the wide interspaces between the existing east-west thoroughfares there are many local streets already built, and many more contemplated or actually under construction. Gradually, in a long term of years, all these wild lands will be traversed by roads…
1923 Planning Board Report-Existing North-South Through Streets
The existing through streets of Norwood, as shown above, were laid out in times before the construction of the steam railroads, before the large industries were established, and, of course, long before the development of modern housing and the beginnings…
1923 Planning Board Report-Proposed Additional North-South Through Streets and Diagonals
In the outlying districts of the Town where new houses and new streets are springing up, the individual land owners have used and are still using customary skill and foresight in the planning of individual lots to meet the desires…
1923 Planning Board Report-Development of Clark Swamp District
The built-up area of Norwood is gradually approaching the margins of the Clark Swamp district. Under good or bad planning this entire neighborhood is destined to be crossed by streets and built up with dwellings. The cost of this work…
This Day in Norwood History-January 22, 1948-Norwood 25 Years Ahead Of Dedham In Master Planning
But Many Phases Of Shurcliff Report Never Carried Out Here The neighboring town of Dedham has received the spotlight of publicity since the appearance, four weeks ago, of an Attractive 100-page booklet, profusely illustrated with diagrams, maps, statistical charts, and…