Project History & Status
NEW!
Click
here (PDF, 7MB) for the 17
page report we presented to the Sterling Financial &
Capital Fund Committees on May 4th, 2010
(We presented a similar report to the Sterling Select Board in April 2010.)
NEW! Click here for a list of all the great stories written about our park in the Landmark over the years!
1) 2005
a) March 2005 - Sterling Recreation Dept advertised for park sub-committee volunteers.
i) Several Sterling residents responded. “SPARC” was formed. From its inception, the committee has been dedicated to providing a community park and not just a playground.
b) SPARC visited nearly 30 playgrounds in the central Massachusetts area.
c) Spring 2005: Solicited feedback from Sterling residents through survey that was distributed at public locations throughout town.
d) Began selling tiles from All Fired Up designed by children
e) Chose a park site
i) Several locations in Sterling were considered and the Muddy Pond and Griffin Roads site was chosen because it offers a large amount of open space, plenty of parking, is easily accessible, and has natural features (e.g. a pond) that could be used to create a unique setting for the Park.
f) Sterling Fair – Sponge Bob and Snow White characters at SPARC booth. Polled fair-goers to gather opinions for types of play equipment to install at park.
g) Fall2005: Conducted a focus group with Sterling children and parents. Many children drew pictures very similar to the climbing structures we are requesting funding for.
h) First snack shack for soccer opening day September. Also Oct. soccer tournament and November bike race
i) Note: Since 2005, the sub-committee consisted of 5+/- members, with 2 original members still involved.
2) 2006
a) January: Parents of children with disabilities were also asked for input through a survey that was mailed to members of Central Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change, a nonprofit that helps provide opportunities for people with disabilities and their families.
b) February: Houghton PTO donates proceeds from spaghetti supper
c) Once the needs of children and adults were clearly understood, the committee researched the top playground equipment manufacturers in the area and asked five of them to submit proposals via an RFP Process. Ashland-based Goric Marketing Group was chosen to design the play equipment because it has nearly 30 years of experience building fun and unique equipment that is accessible to children of all ages and abilities.
d) March: Conceptual plan and architectural drawings completed and published to website/
e) April: first SPARC newsletter sent to town residents
f) May: LCU donation of $10 K (5K in 2006, 5K in 2007) also approached Clinton Savings Bank
g) June: Sterling FD vs. Patriots Legends flag football fundraiser
h) July & August: free family movie nights held at Chocksett football field
i) September: Sterling Fair SPARC booth
j) October: Auction fundraiser at Sterling Country Club
3) 2007
a) March 1, 2007: public information session held at Chocksett Middle School
b) Publicly advertised for park sponsors, with one opportunity to name the park
i) Sterling Greenery stepped forward and donated over $80,000 in supplies and labor, including installing a waterfall and bog filtrations system designed to ‘clean up the pond’ as mandated by the Selectboard.
c) April: first Family Fun day at Park
d) May: Started process to become a 501 c (3) b through North Central Mass. Community Foundation to create “Friends of Sterling Greenery Community Park”
e) May 14, 2007
i) ARTICLE 40. Voted to name the park currently known as the Muddy Pond Community Park located at the corner of Muddy Pond Road and Griffin Road to Sterling Greenery Community Park in recognition of Sterling Greenery’s in-kind donations. Motion made to move on the words of the article, seconded. PASSED MAJORITY VOTE without discussion
(1) Source: http://www.sterling-ma.gov/Pages/SterlingMA_ClerkMin/2007-05-14ATMminutes.pdf
f) September 2007: Nields concert at Chocksett Middle School
g) October 2007: installed play structure for 2-5 year-olds, frog, rubber mushrooms, spaghetti and Eddy play equipment.
h) December 6, 2007: official ribbon cutting at park; completion of Phase I
4) 2008
a) Spring: installed fencing, pavers, mulch & plantings
b) Summer: Installed benches, swings
c) Fall: Installed more pavers, mulch & plantings
5) 2009
a) Spring: Installed pergolas. Added additional playground surfacing, mulch and plantings.
b) Fall: Installed two new structures – VIP Swing, Cloud 9.
6) 2010
a) Spring: Will add additional mulch and plantings
b) Summer: Continue paver path between parking lots, install drainage for pathway, establish wildflower meadow, additional park maintenance.