Outgoing Somerville mayor honored at new park

Members of the Somerville community gathered last Sunday at the future site of Durrell Park to honor outgoing mayor Dorothy Kelly Gay's commitment to expanding open green spaces in the city during her term.

The land where the park will be had been unused for many years before local residents encouraged discussion two years ago. The park, which is located near the Cambridge border on Beacon St, is expected to open in the summer of 2004.

Somerville resident Faviana Olivier brought the idea for a children's garden to a meeting of the Somerville Conservation Commission after being upset at the condition of the neighborhood where she and her children live. The Commission, which is composed of volunteers and one full-time conservation agent, controls Somerville's Community Garden Program to improve Somerville's gardens.

The park project faced many obstacles and was strongly challenged by the Somerville Public Works Department, which wanted to take control of the project and delay the completion date by a few years.

"We almost lost the park," green space coordinator and conservation agent Anne Phelps said. "But luckily [Mayor Kelly Gay] supported us when we said we want to build a community garden."

Members of the Commission went to different organizations, including the Historical Society and neighboring schools and buildings, in order to gauge community reactions to their plan.

After creating a design that would serve the needs and wants of the community, the Commission took the plan to the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) for funding. After a long process, the OHCD agreed to devote $25,000 in grants to the project.

"That part of Somerville is still considered low income, a factor which contributed to the funding," Phelps said.

Residents of the area said they were enthusiastic about a community garden and willing to contribute to the effort. Community members worked with chief landscape designer Leslie Breyton to develop a garden that would best serve neighborhood residents. The group included several special features, including garden beds wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs to allow disabled members of the community to easily access the garden.

Phelps said the Commission was intent on building the garden as soon as possible. "People interested in creating the garden are mostly renters, who may not be here in a few years to wait for development," Phelps added.

Aside from developing the basic layout of the garden, the Commission also came up with an organization system to ensure that the garden would be maintained by the community.

Although the Commission will remain active in the garden maintenance, residents will assume the vital roles as park overseers. These volunteers will be in charge of assigning plots and maintaining communication with the Commission in case problems should arise. "They will make sure that people are good neighbors," Phelps said.

The Commission has already approved the development of two more gardens in the Somerville area. The Commission hopes that Mayor-elect Joe Curtatone will be as supportive as Kelly Gay has been.