The story of Post Office Square Park

Neal Sanders writes:

This post originally appeared on November 17, 2012.  I reprint it today because I learned that the Norman B. Leventhal Park at Post Office Square, the subject of this essay, was just chosen as the 2014 national winner of the Landmark Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects.  The prize is given for "a distinguished landscape architecture project completed between 15 and 50 years ago that retains its original design integrity and contributes significantly to the public realm of the community."  In my humble opinion, no park I have ever visited so perfectly matches that description as does this one.

Post Office Square Trellis (photo from Neal Sanders)

I spent many years working in downtown Boston and one of my favorite places to have lunch during the summer was Post Office Square Park. 

If you did not know the full story behind the park (and I did not), Neal shares it all here:
http://theprincipalundergardener.blogspot.com/2014/11/they-pulled-down-parking-lot-and-put-up.html


How does this apply to Franklin?

I am sure that there are others who if they have not worked in Boston, at least have visited and found the park to be a unique and enjoyable space. Given the discussions in Franklin around our downtown, what could/should be the 'gateway', our own renovations of Main St, our own treasured green space (the Town Common), and that Neal had spoken here recently, his posting popped up on my radar as worthy of sharing. 

Franklin Sculpture Park (video)

A recent sunny summer Saturday I talk a walk through the Franklin Sculpture Park to record this video.




The formal ribbon cutting ceremony to open the park will be held Wednesday, Aug 27th at 5:00 PM

(Note: I did say the ribbon cutting is at 4:00 the second time I mention it as the video comes to a close. That is an error.

8/18/14 - someone else with sharp ears caught me saying it is next to the 'fire' station instead of the police station. How that happens, I have no idea! Thanks for the catch!)


A posting from July with links to earlier posts on the Sculpture Park
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/more-art-at-sculpture-park.html

more art at the Sculpture Park

The Sculpture Park is getting ready to open officially in August. A new piece was installed this week with two more pieces scheduled to be installed before the opening. Separate but related construction is underway to put in the sidewalk along Panther Way. The sidewalk is being funded as part of the new high school but will also help those looking to visit the Sculpture Park.

The Sculpture Park sign also appeared this week

new Sculpture Park sign

There was a Police alert on Wednesday:

"The Franklin Police Department has an artist amongst the ranks! 

Lieutenant Mark Manocchio recently completed this painted steel sculpture, which has been installed in the new Franklin Sculpture Park, off of Edward’s Street. (Panther Way) 

Mrs. Rea’s third grade students, at the Keller-Sullivan School, helped out and painted each flower."

Mandy's Flower Garden

sidewalk construction on Panther Way

a rain garden to help with drainage

a 'pull out' section along Panther Way at the Sculpture Park

For those who bought a brick to help raise money for the Sculpture Park, the bricks are now laid out on the walkway to the park.

some of the bricks

some more of the bricks

Related posts on the development of the Sculpture Park

Sep 2013 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/09/sculpture-park-update.html

Nov 2013 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/11/sculpture-park-november-update-video.html

Mar 2014 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/03/sculpture-park-in-snow.html

Franklin Walk - Saturday, Mar 29

I did have some company for the walk Saturday morning (thank you!) and hopefully will have some more as the public walk and continues next month. The weather cooperated nicely for the walk which started on the Town Common at 8:30 AM and finished there about an hour later.

tree lined walkway on the Town Common

We started from the bandstand on the Common and walked by the Senior Center, Oak St/Horace Mann complex, between the new and current high school, down Panther Way to the Sculpture Park and then reversed the route to return.

bandstand on Franklin Town Common

About 2.5 miles in just under an hour. Conversation along the way with stops for photos here and there.

wrought iron flowers

 One of the flowers has fallen off this work. It doesn't appear to be malicious but rather the results of a poor welding connection. The snow and wind this winter apparently loosened it.

I call this one 'five fingers'

I am curious to find out what the official name is for this piece (above).

railing shadows

the fence railing along the edge of the wall at the former town pool castes its shadow in the morning sun.

2 faced, or split personality?

 When I was last at the park, the white of this piece against the snow was impressive. The white against the winter foliage color is stark.

the bear rages on

Conversation piece: is he raging for joy or frustration/anger? I think it is for joy!

pond reflection

 Completing the loop around the sculpture park you come upon more pond reflections.

If you haven't been to the Sculpture Park yet, I would encourage you to stop by sometime. On Panther Way just before the Police Station. There is parking and the loop through the park is a brief and easy walk. I'd estimate about a quarter of a mile.

I'll schedule another Franklin Walk and Talk for April. We'll check the weather to see which Saturday seems most likely to provide some good weather.

Franklin Sculpture Park - The Bear! (video)

A quick 4 minute walk through to highlight the newest piece added to the Sculpture Park. Hopefully this will be enough of a tease to get you out to the park to enjoy all the pieces.





You can contribute to the Sculpture Park  through the Franklin Art Center website
http://franklinartcenter.com/park.html


Additional posts watching the development of the Sculpture Park can be viewed here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/11/sculpture-park-november-update-video.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/franklin-sculpture-park-updated-video.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/sculpture-park-update.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/09/a-walk-through-sculpture-park.html

Sculpture Park - November Update (video)

I got out to the Sculpture Park this past weekend to check out the new piece that has been installed. Come along with me for about a 6 minute walk in the park.



Where is the Sculpture Park?
On Panther Way, next to the Franklin Police Station.

Franklin Sculpture Park (updated video)

When I visited on Tuesday to grab some photos of the first two pieces located at the Sculpture Park, I also shot this about 4:00 minute video.



Stop by to see the "emerging art" from the "emerging forest"!

Enjoy!


Prior visits to the Sculpture Park recorded these photos and videos

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/sculpture-park-update.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/09/sculpture-park-update.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/future-sculpture-park-video.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/04/franklin-sculpture-park-imagine-future.html

A walk through the Sculpture Park

Last Sunday, I took a walk through the developing sculpture park to see the new paving that has been recently put into place.

paving smooths the approach to the bridge

bridge

head wall where bath house use to be at pool

long walk along the inside

into the corner, trees added too

the turn around point in the far corner

approaching the stream entrance

smooth approach over the dam

final walk to complete the route back to the bridge

Prior visits to the Sculpture Park recorded these photos and video
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/09/sculpture-park-update.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/future-sculpture-park-video.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/04/franklin-sculpture-park-imagine-future.html

Franklin's Dacey Field

On a beautiful sunny day in July, I stopped by Dacey Fields to take some photos. It is great recreational space. There are multiple soccer fields and two youth baseball fields. The playground lacking any shade cover was unused while the dog park with good shade cover was being used.

I did not venture into the field disc golf course to take photos there as the work to complete that is not done and the town doesn't really want to advertise it until it is complete.

The photos I took are in this slide show:

Sculpture Park update

In my prior visit to the Sculpture Park, I took a video and speculated on what would happen to cover the gap in the bank. Now I know and you can see that they have covered this water way very nicely.

water way covered

water way covered

back side of over grown pool

at the end of the trail

front side of pool

For more info about the Sculpture Park, visit the Franklin Art Center webpage
http://franklinartcenter.com/park.html

Contributions to help fund the construction of the park are still welcomed!


Related posts:
If you missed the video, you can view it here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/future-sculpture-park-video.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/on-hunt-for-venues-to-display-their-work.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/04/franklin-sculpture-park-imagine-future.html

Future Sculpture Park (video)

Saturday afternoon was such a gorgeous day, I had to be out and about to capture some photos and in this case a brief 5 minute video. I took a walk to highlight the development efforts for the sculpture park to be opened this fall on Panther Way. The park will be located on the ground of the old town pool next to the Police Station.

If you haven't been out there yet, do plan on going when the sculptures are in place. In the meantime, join me for this walk.




Additional information on the Sculpture Park can be found on the Franklin Art Center webpage.
http://franklinartcenter.com/park.html

New Sculpture Park Opening in Franklin

View it in your browser. New Sculpture Park in Franklin We need your help. The Town of Franklin has approached the Franklin Art Center to combine their resources in order to create a unique, and first of it's kind, Sculpture Park. The town has agreed to donate the land, the landscaping, and insurance. Construction of a parking lot is already underway as is the clearing of the land. Franklin Art Center will be responsible for contacting artists and sculptors, delivery, and design of placement of 10/15 pieces of sculpture, depending on size and complexity. Franklin Art Center has also agreed to approach the business and the community to try and raise money in order to make this an original and distinctive park, for the enjoyment and pleasure of the residents of Franklin, schools and surrounding areas. All donations raised will go to the artists involved to assist with transportation, the construction of foundations if necessary, and installation of these one of a kind works of art. Please help Franklin develop this special space that we call all enjoy. Even the smallest donation will help. Thank you. Donate now → More from the Center Know A Sculptor We are also looking for work to be on display at the park. Contact us now → Franklin Art Center The team at Franklin Art Center wants to extend a hearty 'thank you' to all of our wonderful students. You're made the Art community shine, and we want to keep that going! Learn about the Center →  Friend on Facebook   Forward to Friend  Copyright © 2013 Franklin Art Center Our mailing address is: 5 Main St Franklin Art Center Franklin MA 02038

Franklin Art Center · 5 Main St · Franklin, MA 02038

Rules for using Franklin's Dacey Field Dog Park

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Rules for using Franklin's Dacey Field Dog Park

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 1/24/12

Rules for the Dacey Field Dog Park have been announced.

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In the News - Bartlett, casino bill, national park

Meet the Franklin Candidate: Deborah Bartlett, town clerk

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Some object as Senate passes casino bill

by Krista Kano/Daily News correspondent

U.S. senators file bill to create National Historical Park

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Making the way for dogs!

A dog park has been part of Franklin's open space plan since 2009, said Town Planner Beth Dahlstrom, but hasn't been a priority in past years. When Goulet began work on the project about five months ago, she contacted Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting, who helped her figure out where to put the park, and to which departments she needed to talk. 

"It's something that's been in our master plan for some time and she's taking the initiative. That's great," said Nutting. "We hope she can move ahead with this in the next several months." 

To get the park opened, Goulet coordinated volunteers to help her clear the proposed space in Dacey Field, on the far side of the walking path between the sport field and playground; sought donations from local businesses and price quotes on fencing, mulch, trash bins and signs; and built a website, franklindogpark.webs.com, where people can go for more information.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1752170060/Girl-helping-Franklin-establish-dog-park#ixzz1W7v3QfOE