Neighborhood residents gathered with community volunteers and Mayor James Fiorentini on Monday evening, March 31, to review plans and build support for the complete renovation of Portland Street Playground, scheduled to occur this spring and summer. The project is a partnership between the City of Haverhill and Team Haverhill, with enthusiastic participation by numerous individuals, businesses, and nonprofits.
Located between 4th and 5th avenues in a former schoolyard, this deteriorated facility is vitally important to the health and well-being of children and families in one of the city’s least-advantaged neighborhoods. Improving quality of life in this center-city neighborhood will also have a positive impact on Haverhill’s downtown revitalization efforts.
Preliminary plans for the site include:
- Replacing and repositioning the swings, and adding a large new structure with multiple play activities
- Creating a new, family-friendly grassy area in the middle of the site with seating and tables, in order to draw parents and grandparents to the site with their children, and to encourage a range of positive activities
- Repositioning and rebuilding the basketball court, to provide a safe setting for this important physical and social activity
- Creating more visibility from the street by removing chain-link fence on the street side of the site, and lowering a section of the wall to serve as extra seating.
Team Haverhill is working with various city departments to arrange for other improvements such as sidewalk repairs and security cameras.
During the Earth Day city-wide cleanup on Saturday, April 26, Team Haverhill volunteers will focus on the Portland Street Playground site and the surrounding area. At 11 am that day, Team Haverhill will conduct an informal Community Meeting at the playground site, with refreshments, in order to update neighbors about the renovation plans and announce a date for the “Community Build” day when the playground equipment will be installed. Notices of events related to the renovation will be posted from time to time on signboards at the playground site.
Two opportunities have just been announced for community participation in this important project. Team Haverhill is raising $25,000 to match the City’s cash investment in the renovation, and community members can help achieve that goal:
- “Friday Fun Night” on May 2 to benefit the playground: The Haverhill YMCA, located at the foot of Portland Street, will open its doors from 6-9 pm with more than a dozen activities for kids in grades K-5 (parents welcome too!), plus pizza and a drink. $10 for one youngster, and just $20 for a whole family. To register, email ekmanc@northshoreymca.org , or call the YMCA at 978-374-0506, extension 1603. Register by April 25 to avoid the $2 fee for last-minute registrations. Checks payable to “Haverhill YMCA” may be dropped off at 81 Winter Street.
- “Crowd-Funding Site” for community donors: Many individual donors have expressed interest in this project, and Team Haverhill has established a crowd-funding site that can be promoted through personal social networks. The crowd-funding link—for donating and for sharing with your networks—is http://www.gofundme.com/80kx4o . This information is also available the Facebook page for Team Haverhill.
In addition, community members can visit Team Haverhill’s “Playground Project” booth at KidsFest on Sunday, May 18, from 11am-4pm. This well-attended annual event is sponsored by the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, and will be held this year at Kimball Farm.
For information about any aspect of the Portland Street Playground renovation, please visit www.teamhaverhill.org, or email info@teamhaverhill.org.
