The effort to make significant renovations to Henry Hansen Park are progressing well, according to information shared at last week’s community webinar. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Mina Rose Morales

On Thursday, July 7, at approximately 6:00 p.m., there was a community webinar via Zoom regarding the Henry Hansen Park project. The online meeting was hosted by Arn Franzen, the Senior Project Manager, D.J. Chagnon, the landscape architect, and Ted D. Louis-Jacques, the director of veteran services for the city of Somerville. The webinar was open to the public and a Q&A was held at the end. Multiple community members expressed concerns and asked questions.

“If we are designing a public park, we need public feedback,” said Franzen when asked about the purpose of the community webinars.

The park was built in 2005 on a small budget. Since then, the park has deteriorated. A few years ago, the designs for the park were made using the Community Preservation Act funds, an act voted into place by Somerville residents, according to Franzen.

Design plan of the pending renovation of Henry Hansen Park.

The project is being completed by the city of Somerville’s Department of Public Space and Urban Forestry in conjunction with the Department of Veterans’ Services. Franzen will turn in the PARC application this Thursday, July 14, which is the grant application due date.  Most likely they will be notified if they earned the grant by November 2022, according to Franzen.

“We are very excited and thrilled to complete this project,” said Louis-Jacques.

namesake of the park, Somerville native Marine Corps Sgt. Henry Oliver Hansen.

The park is named after American hero Henry Oliver Hansen, who was a United States Marine Corps sergeant. He was one of the original soldiers who was part of the first flag-raising during the Battle of Iwo Jima. He was killed in battle. Hansen was born in Somerville, Massachusetts.

Henry Hansen Park is located on 487 Medford St., Somerville. Hansen’s mother lived on that street, according to Franzen and Louis-Jacques.

“The purpose of this project is to honor Henry Hansen, his family, his legacy, the veterans who served with him, and all the ones that came after him,” said Louis-Jacques.