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About Beech Tree Park
     The vacant lot which we have dubbed “Beech Tree Park” is a town-owned parcel on the corner of Beach and Pond Streets, directly abutting the boat launching area. When much of the brush and overgrowth of weeds was mowed by the DPW, the natural beauty of the site suggested development of a park where residents could sit and chat, view the lake and trees, read, or play simple games.

     After determining from conversations with Dave Clifton, Recreation Director, and Ben Puritz, Town Administrator, that there were no plans as yet for this site, we invited representatives of several organizations as well as neighborhood residents we thought might be interested in developing the park to a living room meeting on Aug. 19th, 2001 to explore ideas and interest in a park project. On September 20th, members of our "ad hoc" committee met with Mr. Puritz, Dave Clifton, and Amanda Sloan, designer of the Memorial Park Beach Master Plan, and a follow-up meeting of the Beech Tree Park Committee was held on Sept. 23rd to further develop the plan.

     There has emerged considerable enthusiasm for development of this park by the following organizations and departments in town:
  • Friends of Conservation
  • The Garden Club
  • The Diversity Committee
  • The Feinstein Community Service organization
  • The Conservation Commission
  • the Lake Management Committee
  • Moose Hill Sanctuary
Amanda Sloan has helped us locate a landscape designer who is willing to donate time and talent to draw up plans for the park. Members of the ad hoc committee have offered to donate time and talents in fund-raising, planning, digging, weeding maintaining and whatever else it takes to make this park a reality.

     Ideas under consideration currently include:
  • paths to meander among existing trees
  • a butterfly garden/native plantings
  • benches in shade and sun where people can read, view the lake, chat with a friend
  • a “meditation” sculpture on the theme of diversity
  • game tables for chess and checkers
  • a water fountain and exercise warm-up station
  • a bike rack
  • signage to identify trees and native plants
  • a “council circle” for small groups to gather for discussions, songs, and learning
  • a flag pole displaying both the American and the No Place for Hatred flags

click for enlarged image