Melrose Completes Playground Renovations At Popular Park

MELROSE, MA — The city has completed improvements to Dunton Playground that replaced outdated playground equipment with a new structure as part of ongoing recreational upgrades across Melrose.

The project at the playground, located at the corner of Franklin and Pratt streets, included the removal of the existing playground equipment and installation of a new age-appropriate play structure. The improvements were approved by the Melrose Park Commission and funded through the Proposition 2½ override approved by voters last year.

Work on the project began earlier this month, with Department of Public Works crews conducting initial site preparation before the new playground equipment was installed. The city announced on Sept. 18 that installation of the equipment had been completed and landscaping work was expected to follow before the playground reopened.

The city's FY2026 Capital Improvement Program allocated $536,000 for playground improvements at Dunton Park and Common Park, with both projects included among recreational improvements supported through the override.

Dunton Park, officially known as Lt. J.G. Dunton Park, is located at 143 Franklin St. near the intersection of Franklin and Pratt streets. The roughly 15,000-square-foot neighborhood park was constructed in 1969, with playground equipment added several years later, and has primarily served younger children and families in the surrounding neighborhood.

The playground has also long been known locally as "Swiss Cheese Park," a nickname stemming from a distinctive piece of playground equipment that resembled Swiss cheese. More recently, a Daisy Swing was added to the park in 2021. The city's Open Space and Recreation Plan had previously identified accessible play equipment among potential future improvements at the park.

The project follows discussions earlier this year over potential capital improvements at Dunton and Common parks. The Melrose Park Commission invited residents to provide feedback on improvements at both playgrounds as officials prepared to move forward with the projects.

Improvements are also planned at Common Playground, where playground equipment intended for children between the ages of 5 and 12 is expected to be replaced. The city said earlier this month that a manufacturer delay pushed the anticipated start of that project to around mid-October, with construction expected to last approximately three to six weeks.

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