Ground has been broken for Symphony Park, a new addition to the recreational landscape of East Somerville.
— Photo by Jackie Rossetti

By Gabriela C. Martinez

The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction Symphony Park was held last Thursday on October 2. The new park, which will be located between Florence and Pearl Streets in East Somerville, is part of SomerVision’s long-term goal of creating 125 acres of open space.

“It’s important because we are the most densely populated city in New England. We want to improve the quality of life and we want people to be within a reasonable walking or biking distance from an unique and flexible open space,” stated Mayor Jospeh A. Curtatone

The park is scheduled to begin construction this fall and will be completed by summer 2015. The development of this park is partly funded by a Massachusetts PARC endowment granted by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 1 Alderman Matthew Mclaughlin, and the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development organized the groundbreaking ceremony as an initiation of the park’s construction. The park is meant to serve as recreational space and an adaptable venue for the neighboring community, a quiet ‘green’ space built according to a low impact, sustainable design plan. Groundview, a landscaping architecture firm in East Somerville, is in charge of Symphony Park’s design. The architectural firm has worked extensively to integrate the community’s recreational and social needs.

“There were three public meetings held to work on the design of this park. The community expressed a desire for a multi-generational, quiet neighborhood park with opportunities for seating, gardening and a small performances space where musical performances can be held that honor the history of the site,” said Luisa Olivera, the Project Manager of Symphony Park. Oliveira is in charge of holding community meetings and working with the designers from Groundview.

The park was named Symphony Park because the abandoned lot between Florence and Pearl streets used to be the location of the home of Samuel Hadley, a renowned American musician who was the Director of Somerville Public Schools. The entire Hadley family was made up of talented musicians and composers who contributed to the cultural life of Somerville. The musical legacy of the Hadley family will be commemorated by Symphony Park. Many of the park’s architectural features are meant to represent music visually.

“Growing up, people would identify themselves based on the park where they are from, so I’m very happy to have Symphony Park here. We’ll have to have a Symphony Park group. We’ll have events and different things. It really makes a neighborhood that much brighter,” expressed Alderman Mclaughlin.