Biggest city park could get infusion of cash for long-delayed upgrades

By George P. Hassett

It is 8 a.m. on Sunday. Foss Park is empty and the only sound is wind and traffic. Dwight Lancaster, who lives across the street from the park, calls the scene “pristine.”

But within an hour the city’s largest public park is buzzing. The first in a daylong series of Brazilian soccer league games kicks off and the park will be full until night. Impromptu cookouts are held, music booms out of loudspeakers and goals are scored. A casual observer notices the competitive fun out on the field, but under the players’ feet the field itself is wearing down – where there used to be grass is only dirt now.

The upkeep and rejuvenation of Foss Park is a priority for Peter Ungar of the Foss Park Neighborhood Association. In the last six years he has worked to restore decaying parts of the park long neglected by the state. His efforts paid off last week when the House of Representatives passed the environmental bond bill, which included a provision pushed by State Rep. Carl Sciortino, D-Medford, for $2 million to be used toward repairs and improvements to the park. The Senate and the governor must still approve the bill, but Ungar is encouraged.

He said if the money is spent on capital improvements such as replacing the worn down soccer field with more durable artificial turf, he hopes the city will take over daily maintenance of the park.

“The city is slowly encroaching into the park. They added big belly trash barrels, re-did the sidewalks at the entrance and put flowerbeds in. Those are small steps but we want [the city] to have control of the park.. They can maintain it better than the state would,” Ungar said.

John Teves, another member of the neighborhood group, was more direct: ‚ÄúWe want this park back. And we’re willing to work to get it back.‚Äù

Ungar said under state control Foss Park is often neglected. DCR officials were shocked at the condition of the pool house last year when they visited the park for the first time, he said. And complaints to the state often go unanswered, he said.

Michael Lambert, the mayor’s chief of staff, said city officials are looking into taking control of the daily maintenance of Foss Park. In 2006, the city took responsibility for Dilboy Stadium after the state made a series of capital improvements. Lambert said the city ‚Äúwould welcome the opportunity to do the same at Foss Park.‚Äù