NEWBURYPORT — Weeks after the city officially opened the first phase of the Market Landing Park construction and expansion project, ropes blocking off sections of new grass remain.
City officials point to a hot July as a reason why the grass will remain off limits until later this month or early August.
“No one really expected heat wave after heat wave,” Parks Commissioner Mike Hennessey said Wednesday. “So it’s very difficult to get grass to grow after June 15.”
At a cost of $6 million, Onyx Corporation of Acton converted two waterfront parking lots into new green space and park wings, flanking the east and west sides of the 4.6-acre site. To mark the occasion, the city held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 17 with local, state and federal dignitaries; stakeholders and scores of onlookers.
While the east side grass appears to be thriving, the west side hasn’t been as fortunate, according to Hennessey.
“The west side was having some difficulties with timing. But we’re on it,” he said. “We have met with Onyx and we’re happy with their game plan. We pretty much have a warranty from Onyx on the grass.”
In addition to the hot weather, weeds are keeping the west side from flourishing at the same rate as the east side.
Planning Director Andy Port, who has been overseeing the Market Landing Park project, said Onyx is responsible for weeding the lawn but added that probably won’t start for “a couple more weeks.”
“The grass is getting germinated but the weeds also have a head start. They tend to be a little bit more aggressive and are a little bit more tolerant to extreme conditions,” he said Wednesday . “Mike also wants to give it a few weeks before the first mowing. He seems to think it’s more economical and efficient to do that rather than running out there and trying to grab every individual weed.”
Each lawn was seeded at a different time, Port added.
“That’s why you’ll see a differential between each of the lawn spaces. And the one on the far east side, near the harbormaster’s building, looks so good,” he said. “We thought the docks would be stored on that side (over the winter.) So, we had to germinate the grass quickly and called for that to be sodded. I would have loved to have seen the entire thing sodded. But that would have been cost prohibitive.”
A new lawn is like an infant, according to Hennessy, who said it needs plenty of tender loving care.
Thankfully, he added, most people seem to be paying attention to the “caution” tape, letting them know to keep off the grass.
“There’s probably been a few people cutting across it at night,” he said. “But, for the most part, I haven’t really noticed any damage to the turf.”
Eventually, the heat will break.
Hennessey said a soaking thunderstorm would be just what the doctor ordered.
“Mother Nature will help it along,” he said. “But it will take about a year of reseeding and fertilizing to get it from its infancy stage to a more mature stage. That’s when the root zone is established and it can take the public stepping, picnicking, running and playing ball on it.”
Port said he expects people will be able to use a good portion of both lawns soon.
“We realize this first season is really crucial because, if you let people on the grass, you could make it harder to get established,” he said. “But I can’t wait to see people putting blankets down everywhere and really enjoying themselves.”
Staff writer Jim Sullivan covers Newburyport for The Daily News. He can be reached via email at jsullivan@newburyportnews.com or by phone at 978-961-3145. Follow him on Twitter @ndnsully.