The College Community and the City Come Together to Dedicate Park

Members of the College and Worcester communities came together in the College Hill Civic Association building on Tuesday, Oct. 21 to celebrate the completion of phase one in the Cookson Park restoration project. Though the rain forced the ribbon-cutting indoors, it didn’t dampen the excitement of those in attendance. All of the speakers attributed the success of the project to a perseverance and progression of the partnership among Holy Cross, the College Hill Civic Association, the City of Worcester, the Holy Cross Student Government Association (SGA), the Holy Cross Marshall Memorial Fund, and neighborhood residents.

In 2000, the College dedicated $20,000 to revitalize Cookson Park, an 18-acre park between Kendig Street and Boyden Street. The project has been divided into four phases, the first of which was the construction of the Cookson Field Playground and the pocket parking area abutting the College Hill Civic Association building. Phase one took about six months and $115,000 to complete. The other three phases propose trail clearing, an overlook and clearing, and additional parking, with a total estimated cost of $600,000.

Beyond a financial donation, members of the College community, particularly students, have demonstrated a commitment to the revitalization project. The speakers present provided testimony to the student involvement. “Holy Cross has really made the difference in this project,” said City Councilor Barbara Haller. Councilor Haller brought her five-year-old grandson, Ezra, to the ceremony to test out the new playground, which he declared, “good.”

Evelyn Dutton, a lifelong resident of the College Hill community and member of the Civic Association, praised the continuing work and effort of Holy Cross student involvement in the project. She explained how much she and the rest of the association appreciate the “help, sweat, and continuing effort [of the students] to help us make this a great neighborhood.” She also referenced the art project that resulted in the series of mosaics on the side of Jenkins Hall, an initiative in 2003 that involved both the Holy Cross and College Hill communities.

More than anything, student participation and presence at the event showed the continued collaboration between the College and the surrounding community. Melissa Ogonowski, a member of the class of 2009 and SGA director for environmental concerns was the representative student speaker of the ceremony. “The partnership engages students in the College motto of ‘men and women for others,’ and we’re glad we can continue that for the Worcester community,” said Ogonowski, a political science major with a concentration in environmental studies.

Ed Mullaney ’09, SGA co-chair, was also present at the ceremony, and after the ribbon cutting said that “the SGA will be committing to a revitalization of the Civic Hill Association building in addition to ongoing efforts to restore the park.” Student efforts involve Earth Day clean-ups, faculty incorporation of the park into academics, and possibly dedicating a team of students during the annual Holy Cross Cares Day.

City Manager Michael O’Brien called the project a “celebration, by all accounts.” However, this celebration was not limited to the completion of a phase of the Cookson Park revitalization project. It was also a celebration of the continued partnership with the city, “this park bears testament to relationships…we share the same space,” said Kathy Robinson, special assistant to President Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J.

By Alicia Lincoln '09