Brookline Community Invited To Join 'Park Stories Project'

Brookline MA

09 February, 2022

12:45 PM

Description

BROOKLINE, MA — Brookline has announced a new online initiative to collect memories, stories, and photos of community members' favorite parks and open spaces in the town. The goal of the 'Park Stories Project," created by the Department of Public Works' Parks and Open Space Division, is to create an archive of stories that reflect the personal connections, culture and community that define Brookline's parks. By documenting the collective history of these parks, the Parks and Open Space Division will be able to rediscover and preserve local histories and document living histories. The stories captured will be used on an ongoing basis to inform future parks projects and public art installations, including the upcoming installation of three murals on utility boxes. Jessie Waisnor, Landscape Architect of the Parks and Open Space Division, shared her own fond memory of the grand reopening of the Corey Hill Playground in 2017, the first major design project she worked on as a Town of Brookline employee. "It was a gorgeous fall day. I still remember how the park seemed to be flooded in beautiful yellows, oranges and reds," Waisnor said in her story. "My son, who was 8 years old at the time, stood by my side and helped cut the official ribbon. He then ran off to show his friends the playground his Mom had designed — which he thought was amazing." "It was so cathartic getting to celebrate the new park with the neighborhood after such a long design and construction process," she continued. "Everywhere you looked there were people enjoying the park. The band was playing, neighbors were socializing, kids were running around thrilled with a brand new playground and there was a continuous line waiting to walk through the "magical door" (an art installation piece by Jennifer Lockwood). It's a day I will never forget and a beautiful reminder of what we can create when we all come together." Brookline officials said they hope there will be an outpouring of similar memories and personal connections shared about open spaces, parks, and playgrounds around town. "Our parks and open spaces are such treasured places in the Brookline community," said Director of Parks and Open Space Alexandra Vecchio in a statement. "They hold ecological, historical, and recreational value for so many of our residents. I love that this project offers us the opportunity to both learn about those memories and personal connections to our green spaces, but also provides the chance to memorialize why open space is so critical to the health and wellbeing of a community." Stories can be submitted online or in person. For more information, click here. Anyone with questions should contact Parks and Open Space Division by emailing [email protected].