Help Shape Dedham's Future at October 7 Forum

What should Dedham’s public buildings look like in the years ahead? Residents are invited to explore this question at Dedham’s Facilities Master Plan Community Forum and Listening Session on Wednesday, October 7, at 7 p.m.

This hybrid meeting will be held at the Parks and Recreation Building, located in the former Capen School at 310 Sprague Street and residents have the option to attend in-person or participate remotely via Teams.

All residents are encouraged to attend and help imagine what is possible for Dedham’s public buildings; no specialized knowledge is needed to participate.

Event Details and Program Overview

The evening will focus on municipal and community buildings with the greatest needs as identified in the recently released Existing Conditions Report as “poor” or “fair”. In small groups and in the full audience, residents will review potential options for Town facilities and sites, consider trade-offs (such as cost, timeline, disruption to service, etc.), and share feedback, while also brainstorming how Town facilities and sites could be reimagined to meet future community needs. Participants are encouraged to think beyond each building’s current use and consider what services or opportunities might best fit its building, site, and location.

A presentation at the start of the event will provide an overview of the plan’s goals, a recap of existing conditions, and a high-level financial overview of the Town’s debt and budget. The primary purpose of the event is to hear the community’s ideas.

Those interested can review the Existing Conditions Report and Executive Summary before the October 7 event. These reports are available on the FMP Project page (beheard.dedhamma.gov/fmp-project).

About the Facilities Master Plan

The Facilities Master Plan includes a detailed examination of Town-owned facilities together, including schools, libraries, Town offices, public safety buildings, and recreation and community spaces, to create a coordinated, financially responsible plan shaped by community needs and resident input.

School building options have been under review separately by the School Committee and at its September 29 public meeting, the School Committee voted to select options to move forward for cost analysis by Arrowstreet that will be integrated into the Facilities Master Plan. An overview of the selected options will be provided during the initial presentation on October 7.

The final Facilities Master Plan will offer clear, community-aligned recommendations and will be approved by a vote of the Select Board and School Committee.

Existing Conditions Report

Over the last few months, the consultant team from Arrowstreet has completed a comprehensive assessment of Dedham’s Town and School buildings. The resulting Existing Conditions Report and Executive Summary were made available on the Town website and FMP Project page in September, and both were developed considering physical condition, accessibility, building systems, code issues, energy use, space needs, and long-term maintenance requirements. That work informed the preliminary options that will be presented on October 7.

Community Engagement to Date

This will be the third community forum in the Facilities Master Plan process. Earlier engagement included a Community Listening Session in April 2026, a Townwide survey completed by more than 460 residents (results shown in June 15 slides on project page), and a June 2026 Community Meeting where participants reviewed survey findings and information about individual buildings.

Your Feedback to the Steering Committee

Feedback will be collected at this forum and through October 23 that will help the Facilities Master Plan Steering Committee determine which options should receive further study and cost analysis. An online feedback form will be posted to the FMP Project page and Town website, with printed copies available at Town buildings. Please watch for upcoming announcements with links and available locations for paper forms.

If you are unable to attend the October 7 event or you have questions for the Facilities Master Plan Steering Committee, please send an email to fmpsteeringcommittee@dedhamma.gov.