Groundbreaking held for Grandmothers' Garden outdoor classroom pavilion

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14 hours ago

WESTFIELD — Mayor Mike McCabe, Ward 3 Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane, School Committee member Kathleen Hillman, board members and friends of the Grandmothers' Garden performed a ceremonial groundbreaking on Wednesday for the new outdoor classroom pavilion set to begin construction this week.
Friends of Grandmothers' Garden board member Allen Steiger thanked everyone involved in helping to get the project to this point, singling out the mayor, councilors, the Conservation Commission and all of the volunteers. 'More to come as this takes place,' he said.
Jackie McDowell, outreach coordinator for Grandmothers' Garden, said the silt fence will go up later this week, and excavation will begin next week by R.A. LaPlante Construction and Rob Levesque of R. Levesque Associates, architect. McDowell said the Westfield Technical Academy's horticulture department will be doing the landscaping and planting design, under department head Nate Sperry.
McDowell said the project should be completed, including an attached restroom, by September or October.
In February, the City Council unanimously approved the Community Preservation Commission's funding of $528,200 for the new outdoor classroom pavilion and rest area at Grandmothers' Garden, which sits in a portion of the 10-acre Chauncey Allen Park.
At the groundbreaking, McDowell said the project is a wonderful collaboration with Westfield Public Schools.
The 30-by-40-foot wood pavilion will be used by local schools for nature-based programs, STEM instruction, arts, photography and community field trips. For Westfield Technical Academy across the street, they foresee class instruction for students of horticulture, construction, technology, history, science and environmental studies; and for Westfield State University, for students and faculty who are pursuing biology studies, visual arts education, environmental sciences and urban planning to use the facility.
The pavilion will also be available for private classes, social and special events, small gatherings, picnics, meetings and reunions.
At the groundbreaking, McDowell said the project is a wonderful collaboration with Westfield Public Schools.
Elementary school STEM Coach Lindsey Ayers, also present at the groundbreaking, said with both the Westfield River and Highland elementary schools nearby, the new outdoor classroom will be a wonderful setting for studies students are already conducting on erosion and ponds. 'Doing those activities over here in an actual environment, and being able to bring students here to do projects, is really going to enhance their [education].'
An ADA-compliant restroom will be built on one end of the pavilion classroom, and a paved area for seating, just outside the other end.
'A lot of people put in a lot of work, so we're thankful,' said Friends of Grandmothers Garden board member Dan Florence. 'We're looking to grow the community of Grandmothers' Garden with what we're doing here. It's gorgeous — one of the best kept secrets in Westfield,' he added.
'I'm just thrilled. It's going to make this space even more available to the community. It's a wonderful addition,' said Ward 3 Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane.
Read the original article on MassLive.