Maintenance lacking at Farnham & Connolly Park
By Canton CitizenDear Editor:
We take a brisk evening walk to the very end of Farnham & Connolly Park on Neponset Street every evening. It has been an excellent alternative since our gyms closed in mid-March.
Until a month ago, the park was well maintained, with a wide path for the full mile heading north and the quarter mile heading east. Families, couples, dog walkers and others were able to socially distance while enjoying the beautiful scenery, inhaling the fresh air, and getting good exercise.
However, since the weather warmed up about a month ago, the bushes and weeds alongside the path have grown two to three feet and are blocking the path (see photo at right). In many places, you have to duck under or around them. In the back portion, the weeds are growing right on the path and are more than a foot high. We used to be able to walk side by side and easily distance from other people. Now we can’t even walk side by side.
I have written to Mass. DCR, and the response has been to mow the grass and the shoulder at the front of the park, where the path is already 10 feet wide. DCR seems to think that mowing the grass near the parking lot for dog walkers is “maintaining” the park. It is not. The path quickly narrows, and the branches must be pruned on both sides, all the way to the end. Furthermore, the foot-high weeds in the back portion must be killed.
Canton and area residents should be able to enjoy this beautiful park. It is more important than ever for those of us who want to exercise outside during the pandemic while staying safe.
Sherry Alpert and Jay Foley
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=68361
Posted by Canton Citizen
on Jul 3 2020. Filed under From One Citizen to Another, Opinion.
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