Neighborhood finally gets park of its own

Date: 7/21/2009

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD -- After more than 20 years in the making, the Outer Belt neighborhood finally has a park of its own.

State and city officials gathered Wednesday afternoon to note the formal opening of the park. About 50 neighborhood residents joined Mayor Domenic Sarno, former Mayor Theodore Dimauro, State Sen. Gale Candaras, State Rep. Angelo Puppolo, City Councilors Kateri Walsh and James Ferrera and Parks Commission Chair Jack Maloney at the ceremony, which was followed by a neighborhood picnic.

Outer Belt Civic Association President Walter Gould explained to Reminder Publications that his neighborhood was the only one in the city without a park. When Central High School was designed, part of Blunt Park was taken for the site. By law, the city had to acquire additional park space, Gould said, and Dimauro purchased the parcel off of Corcoran Boulevard.

"It sat 20 years, nothing," Gould said, although then Outer Belt Civic Association President John "Jack" Coughlin advocated for the park's creation.

Five years ago Gould began speaking with Patrick Sullivan, executive director of Parks, Buildings and Recreation, about developing the site. Grants were secured for the soil testing and other stages of planning and the park was completed through a $500,000 Urban Self Help Grant and $214,285 in city funding.

The park has a non-regulation size soccer field, a 46-car parking lot, a new playground and a modular bathroom building. Although the park will be closed to cars during the night, people will be able to walk in it at any time.

The playing field was named in honor of the late A. Edward Collins, a neighborhood resident who was the founder the Brookside soccer program. Coughlin, for whom the playground was dedicated, called Collins "a legitimate hero." Sarno recalled from his youth how respected and tough the Brookside players were.

Gould said that although some nearby neighbors resisted the park, he said that one resident was moved when she saw children playing in it.

Gould would like to see a walking track and a spray park installed, but noted the costs of $150,000 and $350,000, respectively, were challenging.

Looking around the park, he said, "I'm very happy with the park."