A better future for Foss Park
A gathering at Foss Park during National Night Out.
Somerville’s Foss Park was founded on June 18, 1876. Originally named Broadway Park, it was renamed in 1921 after Saxton Conant Foss, son of Somerville’s poet laureate, Sam Walter Foss. Saxton Foss had been killed during World War I in France, at the age of thirty.
In 1951, the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) took over ownership and maintenance of Foss Park. Further development of Foss Park was halted in the 60’s due to the threat of creating the Inner Belt, which would have taken a portion of the park.
I moved to Somerville with my family in 2001, attracted to area because of the huge park across the street from my new home. Soon it became evident that there was not much being done to maintain the park, if anything at all. Vast amounts of garbage were left to blow around in the wind, with the grass waist-high. Without a single sign or posting indicating any sense of responsibility from any agency whatsoever, I began to make calls - just to ask someone to pick up the trash and mow the lawn.
Right away, it was clear that no one knew much about this 15-acre parcel of green space in Somerville. City officials said it belonged to the MDC, and that was all they knew. MDC simply would not answer a single phone call in regards to their property.
In October of 2002, two young women were sexually assaulted in Foss Park in a gang initiation practice. This awoke the City to host a town hall meeting in response to these crimes and the citizens’ subsequent outrage. I had already been conversing with several neighbors to get some attention in Foss Park and we realized much more needed to be done. So the Friends of Foss Park neighborhood group was formed to help our area bridge the gap between those who use the park and those who maintain it.
To the best of our ability, we still could not get a response from the MDC. They did, however, begin to mow over all the trash – not exactly what we had hoped for. The Friends of Foss Park persisted by contacting all of the area’s State and City delegates to become involved and take a greater participatory role in restoring this great natural resource. Soon it was obvious that many had the same sentiment, and questions, as we did, and our footing was secured.
On June 30, 2003, Governor Romney unified the MDC with the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to create the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), with an emphasis on building partnerships with parks groups to maximize service to the citizens. With nearly half a million acres of parkland now under the DCR’s control, this was no small undertaking.
Since that time, the Friends of Foss Park have enjoyed many successes, even though there have been just as many setbacks. The process is very slow, and it takes a great amount of support, not only from the State and City delegations, but also from the citizens who use the park on a daily basis.
This is why the Friends of Foss Park have continually been reaching out to the Somerville community and beyond, to gain the support necessary to bring the appropriate attention and funding to this once forgotten green space. Most recently, we have begun communicating with park patrons via Facebook. Please join us at facebook.com/FossPark.
Currently, we are enjoying our greatest relationship with the DCR. After many false starts, we are so proud to be in touch with a handful of DCR staffers who have personally dedicated their time and attention to making Foss Park what it should be - a world-class recreational facility.
With that said, the Friends of Foss Park have been working extensively with the State legislature to secure the proper funding to completely rehabilitate this area. Last year, $2 million was appropriated in the Environmental Bond Bill (H.4446) for Foss Park, which passed the House of Representatives and the Senate. Now, all we need is Governor Patrick’s signature, but the timing is bad due to the economic crisis. Therefore, our efforts are focused on gaining the right support, so when the markets turn around, we will be in the best possible position to secure the funding necessary to restore Foss Park.
The main endeavor with this money would be to rehabilitate the dirt field into a state-of-the-art multi-sport FieldTurf surface. This, we believe, would have the greatest benefit and positive impact on the community and those who use the park. Please, sign on your support for this funding by including your name at petitiononline.com/FossPark. The Friends of Foss Park have also been going around the vicinity with the same petition collecting signatures. With our goal of 1,000, we already have nearly 700!
You may also contact the Friends of Foss Park at FossPark@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you! Thank you.
WENDY MAEDA/GLOBE STAFF
In 2007, Peter Ungár helps clean up graffiti in Foss Park.
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