For Immediate Release: 3/28/2011 11:03 am
Worcester, MA (March 24, 2011) - Worcester City Manager Michael V. O'Brien, joined by Mayor Joseph C. O'Brien, Councilor Barbara Haller, and Clark University President David Angel, announced today that University Park will undergo $1.5 million in improvements and upgrades. The announcement follows a recently signed PILOT agreement between the City and Clark University, in which a portion of these new revenues would fund improvements to University Park, to be guided by a master plan and to be developed with the assistance of the neighborhood and City stakeholders.
"Clark University is a tremendous community partner," said City Manager Michael V. O'Brien. "Together, we have structured an agreement that benefits our community and aligns with Clark's mission and its commitment to the Main South neighborhood."
University Park – also known as Crystal Park – is one of the City's oldest parks. It is 13 acres of parkland that provides many opportunities for those who live in the neighborhood, including tennis courts, basketball courts and areas to sit and reflect. In addition to upgrades to University Park, the City and Clark will look to make improvements to public safety in and around the park, as well as the continuity of the Clark campus, to include discontinuance of a short section of Downing Street from Florence to Woodland Streets in order to create a pedestrian plaza for students and the neighborhood. This effort would coincide with the design and construction of the federally funded streetscape improvements for Maywood, Main, Downing and Beaver Streets to create a Main South "gateway."
"This effort will continue Clark's long record of work with the city, and will deepen the University's already strong ties with the Main South neighborhood," said David Angel, President, Clark University. "We're pleased to begin and be a part of the community process to enhance and beautify this important community asset."
Over the last four years, the City has invested more than $11 million in our parks, while leveraging more than $9 million in public and private grant funding from various partners to support parks upgrades.
The City's Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Division has planned three community meetings for University Park on Wednesday, April 13, Thursday, May 12, and Thursday, June 16. All meetings will take place from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Clark University, Higgins Student Center.
