Pumpkins in the Park - Oct 28

The Franklin Police Department and Franklin Recreation Department are offering a free Halloween celebration on October 28, 5:00 - 8:00 PM at 911 Panther Way. 

The Police Department will turn the station into the Hall of Justice with superheroes and villains. They will have a spooky trail, bounce house, obstacle course, face painting and games. 

The Franklin Recreation Department will also be hosting a carved pumpkin contest. Please drop off finished, already carved pumpkins to the Sculpture Park on Panther Way between 5:00-7:00 PM. 

We will provide tea light candles. Contest starts right at 7:00 PM. 

Light refreshments will be provided.

Ages: Pre-school- 5th grade.

Pumpkins in the Park - Oct 28

Shared from the Facebook event
https://www.facebook.com/events/281559379347664/

Fund raiser for Franklin Dog Park - May 6

Fundraising event wine/beer tasting, complimentary snacks, entertainment, and door prizes to benefit Franklin Dog Park on Sunday, May 6, 1-4 PM. 

At Pour Richards Wine and Spirits, 14 Grove St, Franklin, MA.

Fund raiser for Franklin Dog Park - May 6

Follow the event on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/events/410574679353426/

Franklin Dog Park Fund Raiser - May 6

Friends of the Franklin Dog Park Committee meeting on March 14, 2018 at 7 PM at the Franklin Library on the second floor conference room. New members are welcome.

We are having a wine and beer tasting fund raiser for the Franklin Dog Park on May 6 from 1 PM to 4 PM, to be held at Pour Richard's Wine and Spirits, 14 Grove Street, Franklin, Ma.02038. There will be snacks and door prizes. Tickets will be $10.00 per person plus live entertainment. All profits will be for the purchasing of 4 dog park benches and Agility equipment for the dog park.

If you can't make it on that day how about sending a donation to help us out. Make your donation out to: Franklin Dog Park, P.O.Box 111, Franklin,Ma. 02038.

dog park at Dacey Field on a sunny summer day

In the News: Franklin students play in Central District honors concert; missing art mystery solved

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Sixteen Franklin High School musicians are scheduled to play at Mechanics Hall in Worcester on the evening of Saturday, Jan. 13, as part of the Massachusetts Central District Honors concert. 

Students from chorus, orchestra, band, and jazz band, made this year’s ensemble. Music Director Diane Plouffe said about 300 students from about 90 towns will qualify for the central districts. 

She said during their auditions, judges look for several qualities like tone-quality, articulation, knowledge of scales, and sight-reading skills. 

“They’re all very responsible kids,” she said. “They’ve been studying music since middle school, or some since elementary school.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180112/franklin-high-musicians-perform-at-mechanics-hall

some of the 100 books hanging from the trees framed Ursus

"The disappearance of Tyvek-covered books contained in an art exhibit was not vandalism, but rather an act prompted by misunderstanding by a public-spirited citizen. 

Franklin Police announced the end of the investigation regarding the missing art installment at Sculpture Park, and while the person responsible was found, those in charge of the installment chose not to press charges. 

Leader of the investigation, Lt. Mark Manocchio, said the previously suspected vandalism of the property was in fact fallout by a resident who chose to take things into their own hands. 

The installment was a project authorized by the town, where art students from Wheaton College were hanging 116 Tyvek-covered books in the park to commemorate the books donated to Franklin’s first public library by Benjamin Franklin. They plan to redo the project in the spring, along with two other sculptures."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180112/franklin-police-say-theft-of-books-in-art-exhibit-was-misunderstanding

Franklin Police: "no malicious intent behind the removal of the sculpture"

The Sculpture Park's missing art has been resolved:

"The Franklin Police Department has concluded its investigation into the missing Sculpture from the Town’s Sculpture Park, which was originally reported on December 1st, 2017. The missing sculpture was one of three graciously donated by a public art class from Wheaton College. Before the final installation was complete Wheaton Students noticed the majority of the sculpture that was previously installed had been removed.

The Franklin Police Department has determined that there was no malicious intent behind the removal of the sculpture. It was removed as a result of a miscommunication and misunderstanding. The town resident that removed it has contacted Wheaton College, explained their actions, and offered an apology.

There will be no charges filed as a result of the incident. “The Franklin Police believe this to be a teaching moment.” said Franklin Police Lieutenant Mark Manocchio, the principal investigator. “Art is looked at and interpreted in different ways, by different people.” Manocchio said. 

If you see something and are not sure if it belongs in the park please contact the Town Administrator’s office or the police department for clarification."

This was shared from the Franklin Police Dept page
http://www.franklinma.gov/police-department/news/media-release-sculpture-park

In case you missed the prior notice, you can view it in the archives
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/12/missing-100-sculptures-at-sculpture-park.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/12/they-put-in-all-that-time-and-they.html

some of the 100 books hanging from the trees framed Ursus

This was one of several photos I had the opportunity to take on the Sunday before the books were found missing.

Additional photos of the Sculpture Park can be found here

https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157646895588736/

Where is the Sculpture Park?

MISSING 100 Sculptures at Sculpture Park

Please help. If you know or saw something at the Sculpture Park from Sunday, Nov 26 through Friday, Dec 1, please call the Franklin Police Dept.




I can confirm the books were hanging from the trees as I took photos of them Sunday morning, Nov 26 on my walk

some of the 100 books hanging from the trees framed Ursus

Furry Friends of The Franklin Dog Park - Work Day - Sep 9

Hello dog lovers, Furry Friends of The Franklin Dog Park Committee have scheduled a clean up and to spread wood chips on September 9th at 8 AM.

Volunteers are needed and students who need credit for community service. We need wheelbarrows, spade shovels, rakes and bring your own work gloves. 

Refreshments and snacks will be there for all the volunteers. 

Rain date is September 16th at 8am. thanks, Furry Friends of The Franklin Dog Park Committee. 

Woof! Woof!!

https://www.facebook.com/FranklinDogPark/

Franklin Dog Park: Clean up day - Aug 12

Hello Dog Lovers, 

We have scheduled a clean up on August12h at 8am to spread wood chips and clean up the park. Volunteers needed. 

We need about 8 wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes. Refreshments and snacks will be there for all the volunteers. 

Rain date is August 19th at 8am. 

Thanks, Furry Friends of Franklin Dog Park Committee.. 

WOOF! WOOF!!

dog park at Dacey Field on a sunny summer day

#ShopFranklin features Elizabeth's Bagels (video)

#shopFranklin - supporting small business speaks with Jen Garcia of Elizabeth's Bagels in Franklin,MA. Elizabeth's Bagels preserved the age old art of perfectly kettle boiled bagels. This delicacy is then augmented with a great selection of in house blended cream cheese options, seasonal offerings, loose leaf teas and an assortment of coffee creations







One of my favorite breakfasts is to walk to Elizabeth's Bagels, grab a bagel breakfast sandwich and coffee, then walk over to the Sculpture Park to enjoy breakfast before continuing the walk around Franklin and home.

Elizabeth's Bagels and the Sculpture Park a breakfast combo

Green Infrastructure in Parks: A Guide to Collaboration, Funding, and Community Engagement

INTRODUCTION 

"This guide is intended to encourage partnerships between park agencies and stormwater agencies aimed at promoting the use of green infrastructure on park lands. Green infrastructure can help to maximize the environmental, economic, and social benefits of parks. By building strong partnerships, agencies can improve park lands and access to parks, better manage stormwater, increase community resiliency to shifting weather patterns, and provide funding to implement and maintain park enhancements that benefit the community. 

The guide offers information on why partnerships between stormwater managers and parks managers can be beneficial and how you can create such partnerships. The guide presents an overview of green infrastructure and describes practices that can be used to manage stormwater in parks. In addition, you will find information on factors that influence the selection of appropriate green infrastructure practices, such as maintenance requirements. 

The guide is designed to provide you with a stepwise approach for building relationships with potential partners, and includes information on how to identify and engage partners, build relationships, involve the community, leverage funding opportunities, and identify green infrastructure opportunities. It includes recommendations on the types of projects that are most likely to attract positive attention and funding, and which provide a wide range of benefits. Case studies are included to illustrate the approaches presented in the guide. These real-life examples portray how partnerships between municipal stormwater agencies and parks departments have improved recreational resources in the community, enhanced environmental protection, and reduced risks and burdens. 

For those who wish to go deeper into a topic, the guide includes short descriptions and links to external resources that provide more detail on the material presented within."

You can find the full EPA document here



Or on the Town of  Franklin webpage (PDF)
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/epa_parks_book.pdf

Sculpture Park on Panther Way in Franklin

Franklin Dog Park - Clean Up - June 28 - 3:00 PM - CANCELED

Franklin Dog Park committee is having a clean up day on June 28th Wednesday at 3pm at the dog park located at Dacey Community Field, Lincoln Street. 

Volunteers needed. We need wheel barrows, shovels, rakes. 
Drinks and snacks will be provided by the committee.

Also on that day anyone that gives a donation to the dog park will receive a bag of home made dog biscuits.

Or you can make your donation out to: 
Franklin Dog Park, PO Box 111, Franklin,Ma. 02038



Updated 6/22/17
Date canceled and to be reschedule for another time

Facebook photo of volunteers at the Dog Park in 2013

Pumpkins in the Park - October 29 - 6:00 to 8:00 PM

"Come join us in our Second Annual Pumpkins in the Park Saturday, October 29 from 6 - 8 PM. 

Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 favorites via public voting 

Lights provided by the Franklin Art Center

Drop off times to be announced 

Dance performance by Inspire Dance Academy 

Trick or Treating with local merchants for children in costumes from 6 - 7 PM"

Pumpkins in the Park - Oct 29

Where:
The Franklin Sculpture Park on Panther Way (next to the Police Station)

This was shared from the Franklin Art Center Facebook event page
https://www.facebook.com/events/1807538506141251/

Franklin Dog Park clean up scheduled Oct 1

Hello dog lovers. Save this date, Saturday, October 1 at 8am. 

We need volunteers to help clean up and move wood chips at the Franklin Dog Park, 700 Lincoln St. at Dacey Community Field. 

We need at least 4 wheel barrels or more. Also shovels and rakes. 

There will be refreshments for those who help.. Rain date is Saturday October 22nd at 8am.

Woof! Woof!

Furry Friends of Franklin Dog Park Committee

Dacey Field dog park

Franklin Parks and Recreation Space (video)

Have you been to all the parks and recreation spaces in Franklin?



Franklin Park Compilation from Nick Nurnberg on Vimeo.


For more info on the parks and recreation spaces
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Recreation/fields/index

from the south end of the southern basin at DelCarte

For more about the ecology of DelCarte
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczS21jQkFfb19PeHc/view?usp=sharing

Dog park gates missing; committee to form

The actions are related to the Franklin dog park but the attempt to start the committee was underway before the gates were reported missing.

The dog park at Dacey Field is missing its gates. Someone apparently took them in the week before Christmas. The gates missing status prompted a conversation on a Facebook group and ad hoc action to create a barrier in place of the gates. The gates will be replaced by the DPW.

Dacey Field dog park

Haley is looking to start a Franklin Dog Park Committee. 

My name is Haley and I am starting up the Franklin Dog Park committee, I was wondering if you would be able to help me promote it by posting about it? 

The first meeting is January 13, 7:00 PM at the New England Chapel - any and all are welcome. If you have any questions or are thinking about attending yourself, my email is franklin.dogpark@gmail.com

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