For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 978-841-9948
Email: john@jgpr.net

Maynard Officials Break Ground on New Crowdfunded Public Park

MAYNARD — Town Administrator Kevin Sweet is pleased to announce that Maynard Honeybee Meadow Project organizers held a ground-breaking ceremony today to begin preparing for the installation of the crowdfunded public park.

Maynard’s Honeybee Meadow Project aims to establish a working beehive and wildflower meadow garden to increase the number of pollinators in the area. The goal is to create a bee sanctuary, educate residents about threats to honeybees and construct a green space for people to visit.

The garden will also have a library, where visitors can borrow books about bees and beekeeping. Benches placed throughout the park will give people an opportunity to relax and be inspired.

On Nov. 29, officials gathered to turn the soil of the park, which is located on the same parcel of land as ArtSpace — the former Fowler Middle School, which was converted into a community art center that houses studio space for more than 80 artists.

The groundbreaking acknowledged the efforts of the two local artists who conceived the idea, Melissa Ljosa and Denise Shea, and who pushed it forward to its start.

“Today marked a huge step forward for the creation of the Honeybee Meadow Project, and a big thanks goes to Melissa and Denise for overseeing this project every step of the way,” Town Administrator Sweet said. “This park will be a great addition to the community and I look forward to its completion next year.”

To ensure the meadow’s creation, the town received $8,595 from 139 donors, and will receive an additional $6,500 from MassDevelopment’s placemaking grant program.

The majority of work on the meadow will begin in the spring, with the hope that the park will be fully constructed by the end 2017.

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