Signature Parks Initiative

The Signature Parks Initiative is a key component of our community’s quadricentennial planning, for when Salem turns 400 years old in 2026. This initiative is focused on planning and carrying out improvements and preservation work in six of Salem’s busiest and most beloved public parks and open spaces, ensuring they will remain available and enjoyable for future generations to come: Forest River Park, Palmer Cove Park, Pioneer Village, Salem Common, Salem Willows, and Winter Island.

The work to plan for these improvements has been carried out, in most cases, over the last several years through extensive engagement with neighbors, park users, and other stakeholders. These signature spaces serve the neighborhoods in which they are located, but also the entire Salem community and beyond, providing recreational, cultural, and aesthetic value to the City. In many respects, these spaces show their age and how well-loved they have been by generations of Salem residents. The Salem Signature Parks Initiative will implement the designed improvements, preserve historic features, upgrade spaces to address climate change, meet accessibility needs, and expand access to and creative use of the parks. The planning for each space also provides for sustainable revenues, to provide for the on-going maintenance and care of the spaces after the projects are complete.