The park improvements were completed with state and federal grant funds totaling $408,230.
Springfield officials and residents celebrate the completion of renovations to Johnny Appleseed Park Wednesday. City Councilor Melvin A. Edwards is second from left. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, center, with tie waves. Paul J. Sears stands between the mayor and Patrick J. Sullivan, director of Springfield Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management, at right.SPRINGFIELD – Rats, drugs and drunks.
That was how residents described Johnny Appleseed Park in Six Corners prior to a recently completed, $408,230 renovation project.
City officials and residents gathered at the park Wednesday for a reopening ceremony that culminated a three-year effort to transform the park at Mill and Hancock streets, along the Mill River.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said a letter from neighborhood residents, pleading for improvements, got the ball rolling about three years ago. The city allocated $150,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funds and obtained a $258,230 grant from the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to afford the project, he said.
The project includes new play equipment and new basketball court, benches, picnic tables, walking path, landscaping, and a black chain-link fence that borders the river.
“It’s wicked,” said Wendy L. Alicea of Leyfred Terrace, who was with two grandchildren, among residents enjoying the improved surroundings. “It’s 110 percent better. It’s perfect.”
The improvements, including the fence, are helping to keep the children safe while discouraging past problems that included drug dealing, drunks, littering and even rats, she said.
Francheska Reveron, who was among three people who sent the letter to the mayor, seeking the park improvements, said she is “very proud of the way it turned out.”
In the past, the there were discarded needles and drug paraphernalia, bottles, and people sleeping in the park, Reveron said.
“I feel wonderful,” said Santy Reveron, her sister and a co-writer of the letter. “I am so excited. Everything turned out so well. I am happy to see the people smile.”
The park was very troubled in the past, and looked “like a dump,” Santy Reveron said.
“Before, it was dead,” she said. “It had no life. Now, it’s a park. It’s beautiful.”
Sarno said the project is a boost for green space, recreation and the quality of life.
Melvin A. Edwards, the Ward 3 city councilor, joined in praising the project, saying it is “great to see when government does listen to people.
“It was done, and it was done well,” Edwards said.
Patrick J. Sullivan, director of parks, buildings and recreation management, said the city is aggressively pursuing grants for park improvement projects in urban areas.