For those of you who may not know, Governor Patrick filed the environmental bond bill (H.4446) this past December. Open space for outdoor recreation (as we all know) is extremely limited in Somerville. These funds can be used to develop Foss Park into the Urban Oasis we so desperately need in Somerville. There is tremendous potential to significantly upgrade the park for all who utilize the area. We must maximize this critical moment by taking advantage of these opportunities

Those of you whose children are involved in sports know how limited our resources can be, especially during busy simultaneous multisport playing seasons. Those of us who have played or watched games at Foss Park know the work that must be done to bring this park up to par with what our children and our children’s children deserve. With all the improvements along the Broadway/Route 28 exchange and the surrounding area, it is time we give Foss Park the attention and resources we as Somervillians deserve.

With the support of the Commonwealth’s delegation, the Somerville Board of Aldermen, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, State Representative Sciortino, along with the support of Senators Jehlen and Galluccio, and State Representatives Provost and Toomey, we urge you to sign and send the enclosed letter, bringing the issue of Foss Park front and center of Governor Patrick’s agenda.

Please follow these instructions when sending email to the 5 delegates:

1. Copy and paste to email header for each individual delegate – Subject should read “Bill Bond H.4446″
2. Place your name in the letter where it says “Sender’s Name”
3. Send email to the following individual delegates:
   Senator Jehlen:Patricia.Jehlen(at)state.ma.us
   Senator Galluccio:Anthony.Galluccio(at)state.ma.us
   Representative Sciortino:Carl.Sciortino(at)state.ma.us
   Representative Provost:Denise.Provost(at)state.ma.us
   Representative Toomey:Timothy.Toomey(at)state.ma.us

Please feel free to forward the message below to anyone you feel would be interested in supporting this request. Our children deserve safe, healthy, and secure recreational environments.

Please help us make this dream a reality!

Thank you all for your support and cooperation!

Kindest Regards,

John

Letter Below>>>

RE: Environmental Bond Bill, H.4446

Dear (Senator or Representative Name)

I, (Senders Name), am writing to you in support of bond bill (H.4446). As a constituent in your district, I would like to congratulate Governor Patrick on filing the environmental bond bill (H.4446) this past December. This is a monumental step in the right direction, especially when considering major urban recreational areas in need of attention. Open space for outdoor recreation is extremely limited in Somerville. DCR’s Saxton Foss Park is Somerville’s largest green space, providing numerous amenities to the city and surrounding towns. With tireless efforts of State Representative Sciortino, Board of Aldermen Members Bill Roche, Walter Pero, along with the support of Senators Jehlen and Galluccio, and State Representatives Provost and Toomey, Foss Park has begun to shed much of its dismal past and has begun it’s progression to a potentially “visionary” urban park, but we need assistance.

Foss Park contains three baseball diamonds, two tennis courts, two playgrounds, football and soccer fields, a basketball court, an adult swimming pool, a children’s spray pool, and several picnic areas. Improvements along the Broadway/Route 28 exchange, with the imminent arrival of Ikea in the development of the Assembly Square area and nearby greenline extension, have ushered the Foss Park neighborhood from existing at the edge of Somerville to a prominent destination point for a vast number of outdoor activities, yet much work is still to be done.

The countless residents who visit Foss Park are extremely grateful for the governor’s historic environmental bond bill and can attest with absolute certainty that an investment in Somerville’s Foss Park would be a very prudent and commendable allocation of these resources. It would greatly benefit the people of Somerville as well as the scores of citizens from neighboring towns who travel to enjoy this urban oasis. There is tremendous potential to significantly upgrade the quality of life for all who live in and utilize the area. We must maximize this critical moment by taking advantage of these opportunities.

DCR and Somerville each have their share of responsibilities, which add up to creating the safe, healthy, and secure environment your constituents deserve. With a clear path already laid out by Mayor Curtatone, any investment the Commonwealth makes in Foss Park would be cared for and very well maintained. Please help us make this dream a reality and act quickly to turn Foss Park into one of Governor Patrick’s “visionary” urban parks!

I thank you for taking the time to consider my opinion on this matter. I hope that my expressed concern will make a difference in your decision.

Sincerely,
(Sender Name)