People's Park

People's Park Project featured in Stow Independent Newspaper Summer Street Maynard MA.

Canal Fest November 2008
The uncovering (Free the Blackstone) of the Blackstone Canal has been long planned and remains a centering point for the rejuvenation of this great part of Worcester (Green Island, Kelly Square, The Canal District).

I helped with the design and creation of the Mermaid Costume proudly and beautifully worn by Cha Cha Connor, "Worcester native, anarcha-holic, human rights activist and performance artist who gets excited about affordable development, ending homelessness, and connecting with anyone who works for a more just Worcester". It was sewn and developed by Sandra Casale of Country Chic, a small, locally owned and operated designer and fabricator of custom window treatments as well as other sewn and upholstered products.























Canal Fest November 2008



Allen (a man a plan a canal) Fletcher, invited me to help him spruce up the outside of the 70' x12' canal reconstruction. Enduring Elements and Laurel Hill Landscaping were to bring granite from an old mill to line the sides but the rains of Summer postponed that.

So they went with hay bales in the November date. Allen challenged me to a race in the kayaks and then we started to take kids on rides or let the older ones go on their own. It was the first time in a kayak for many.

Gene Zabinsky and his wife made the incredible recreation of the area under glass. The detail and craftmanship are exquisite. Gene is a history buff and a member of the Canal District Alliance. He grew up in the Fox mansion and gave a compelling presentation about the history of Kelly Square at one CDA meeting.

Enduring Elements and Partner's Create and Donate a Park for the People
People's Park Nears Phase 1 Completion

A Collaborative Creation on Private Land Donated for Public Use:

A Place for people to meet, relax, get wired for free and enjoy the Maynard gardens and skylines.
In 2007 I was offered an opportunity by Eloyse Healy a long time friend and vendor to improve use a portion of her commercial land in exchange for Enduring Elements’ Landscape Design/Build services. She had envisioned a permanent sign nearby a garden bed. She recently acquired a beautiful building and moved her business CAC Digital there. It is located at 42 Summer Street Maynard MA on a busy corner lot, steps from Maynard’s thriving downtown.

I appreciated the offer and set about designing a little more than a garden bed.

Remembering a small sunken circular bench where I spent a string of pleasant mornings while on a mural painting trip in the French village of Argeles-Sur-Mer I envisioned a large curved stone bench on a circular patio, built into a slope, surrounded by flowers and shrubs and dappled sun through shade trees. In Argeles this was the only spot outdoors I was able to find a wireless signal.

I approached Eloyse with this expanded concept that included views of the Maynard Community Garden, the iconic Clocktower at the mill and some church steeples.

In April of 2008 I drew the concept sketch, Eloyse loved it and offered to lease me the land. I wanted to create a space where the public could meet, relax, work on laptops (we are installing free wireless).










I would like to thank the following partners who dedicated time and resources to make this possible.

• CAC Digital: Allowed us to create this permanent, enduring creation.
• Enduring Elements Partners:
• EP Landscape, the build division of Enduring Elements Landscape Design/Build created a sensational 22’ curved bench with back from New England Fieldstone and a bluestone patio, bordered with red City Hall Pavers brick.
• Bay Leaf Studios, Maynard MA, Landscape Architect Lisa Bailey developed a planting plan which also included pruning of existing trees and some other stellar modifications and enhancements to my original plan.
• Thyme in the Garden, Maynard MA: Debby McNulty purchased and led her crew in the selection and planting of the beautiful garden bordering the bench and patio
• Laurel Hill Landscape, Grafton MA: Rob Nixon, veteran landscape professional and my long-time colleague, early supporter and mentor. He generously donated the rectangular bluestone. He also donated materials to a brain injury unit outdoor garden we created.
• ACH Construction, Maynard MA: Antonio Hippolito brought his excellent design sense, expertise and hands-on skill to the bench seats. We created three seven-foot curved templates and wood and pvc board forms to accept iron reinforced concrete.

The Benches were concrete cast on site in custom forms containing reinforcing steel mesh. After troweling and before curing we had various people associated with the project and passers by imprint with boots and hands.I put leaves from the King Crimson Norway Maple that provides shade in the concrete. In addition, other vegetation collected from the site was pressed into service. After it dried I removed the leaves and we mortared the benches in place. I beveled the edges for a nice sitting surface.

The Future

The highly anticipated Bike Trail is expected to run directly past the People’s Park.

The Free Wireless will be installed Spring 2009

Will stain the benches in the Spring with colors reflecting the various color transitions of the Norway Maple.

A water feature with sheet water cascading down surface of granite slab mounted on the granite block chimney.

Table(s) for people to use laptops and eat at. Designs in process: twisted bittersweet with bluestone tops?

A sign permit application was denied by the Maynard Building Department

An opening celebration.. stay tuned.

• 
  

Green Island Community Gardens and Urban Beautification Project Hits Goals
People Dug Deep for Green Island!

Earlier this Summer I asked for help with a volunteer project I thought was very worthwhile. I was energized by a group of people rallying to improve an area of Worcester rich in history, traditions and pride.

Thanks to all who contributed to the Green Island Gardens Youth Employment and Urban Beautification Program

You helped us reach our Goals:
• Increased business in a vibrant community of local merchants who suffer from the run-down look of the neighborhood

• Increased the community’s pride in where they live

In addition to the benefits of the projects themselves, employing underprivileged neighborhood youth to carry out the program acheived the following:

• Brought employment skills and training to youth who may otherwise be left out of the job market.

• Increased a sense of community ownership over the gardens.

• Informed youth on topics of environmental justice that directly impact their lives, such as food security, climate change, and soil degradation.


To help continue this good energy and results you can donate money here

Featured Project
For GREEN ISLAND we:

• designed and made a prototype planter from a precast concrete septic riser. I worked with the youths to make 14 more
• designed a logo and made the flyer that helped Pernet market the planters and youth maintenance services to the local merchants
• designed the community garden and coordinated delivery of donated items.

Green Island Gardens Youth Employment and Urban Beautification Program
The Program
Pernet Family Health Services is a “neighborhood-based home health and social service agency” with a commitment to “supporting families to be physically, socially, psychologically, and spiritually whole.1”
The agency has been serving the Green Island region of Worcester, MA since 1968.
This summer, Pernet has received funding to create part-time summer jobs for underprivileged youth. Pernet has decided to use its youth employment program to fund the creation of a 75' x 16' community garden and install container flower beds throughout the area’s small business district.
Pernet chose to create The Green Island Garden because...

• The garden will bring healthy, affordable, organic food to the people of Green Island, helping to eradicate food insecurity and malnourishment.


• Community gardens offer space for citizens to socialize and bond with one another, fostering a stronger and healthier social fabric.


• Community gardens localize the food industry, reducing both the price of people’s food and the city’s carbon footprint created by imported products.

Recently, citizens of Green Island were asked to identify aspects of their community they would like to see improve. A prevalent theme was the lack of cleanliness in the area and the over-all appearance of the neighborhood. Pernet chose to sell container flower gardens to local merchants in order to...

• Beautify the area


• Increase business to a vibrant community of local merchants who suffer from the run-down look of the neighborhood


• Increase the community’s pride in where they live
  

In addition to the benefits of the projects themselves, employing underprivileged neighborhood youth to carry out the program will:

• Bring employment skills and training to youth who may otherwise be left out of the job market.


• Increase a sense of community ownership over the gardens.


• Inform youth on topics of environmental justice that directly impact their lives, such as food security, climate change, and soil degradation.

1 Pernetfamilyhealth.org

How We Can Help
I was very inspired by Lizzy Fox, Clark University student who wrote a grant for herself to administer this program with Paulette LaCoste, Pernet's Program Director.

I volunteered to help:

• design the community gardens


• research options and design and create a sidewalk plant container prototype (low cost precast pipes 18" etched with a grinding wheel and painted with transparent concrete stains


• etch and create artistic flower planters with the teen workers to fill the orders from neighborhood business owners participating in the program


• create a brochure to help promote the program to business owners


• spec and price materials


• rally people to donate for the wish list

If you or anyone you know can help here is the wish list of needed items.

contact me here if you have any of these items please

The Donations Wish List
(Quantity) Material
(120 linear feet) of fence posts-4”X4”Lumber (fence posts)
(364 linear feet) 2”x 4” Lumber (fence rails)
(81) 8’ 6’X6” Timbers (garden beds)
(216 linear feet) ½” rebar
Spikes
Nails
Screws
Plants (flowers and vegetables- must already be seeded)
(5 cans) Green Spray Paint
(3 gallons) Behr Concrete Stain (can be bought at Home Depot)
Soil Inputs (details TBA)

Tools Wish List
(Quantity) Tool
(1) Hose
(2) Hose Wand
(3) Watering Can
(2) Watering Can (that can reach hanging plants)
(7)Gardening Gloves
(7) Safety Glasses
(1) Line Level
(15) Sponge Brushes
(7) Hand Clippers
(5) File
(1) Level
(1) Line Level
(10) Shovel
(10) Rake
(10) Hoe
(10) Trowel
(7) Bucket
(3) Measuring Tape
(10) Hammer
(2) Square
(1) Hack Saw
(1) Gardening Cart

Vegetable Wish List
Tomatoes
Green Beans
Yellow Beans
Purple Beans
Swiss Chard
Radishes
Carrots
Beets
Summer Squash
Butternut Squash
Zucchini
Cucumbers
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts
Bell Peppers
Hot Peppers
Parsley
Basil
Oregano
Thyme
Tarragon
Lettuce (various kinds)
Mini Watermelons
Flowers—any flower species that would form symbiotic relationship with different veggies
Flowers and mini evergreens for container gardens (several varieties so we can give options to store owners)