Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Police Commissioner John Barbieri, Sergeant John Delaney, and Patrick Sullivan, Executive Director of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management announced that the Springfield Police Department’s Ride to Remember is in its final phase of accepting contributions towards the construction of the Alain Beauregard and Michael Schiavina Memorial Park. The city has received a PARC grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The project is out for public bid with groundbreaking planned for early October 2017. The Ride to Remember is providing matching funds totaling $150,000 towards the memorial and construction of the fields.
This memorial park is part of Mayor Sarno’s commitment, along with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to improve Springfield’s open space and generate improvements in areas across the city. The city, in conjunction with the Sixteen Acres Civic Association and area residents, developed a master plan for the former Mary Lynch School field. The new park will include a granite memorial plaza, construction of one soccer field and two practice fields, ADA walking paths, new trees, grading the sloped terrain, benches and other site amenities. The new park will be named in memory of Officer Alain Beauregard and Officer Michael Schiavina.
Mayor Sarno stated, “We are honored to have this new soccer complex being named in memory of Officer Beauregard and Officer Schiavina. The city is grateful to Sgt. John Delaney for his commitment and tenacity to ensure no fallen police officer is ever forgotten. Not only has John raised funds for this memorial locally, but he has secured funding for the Police Memorial in Boston. The Springfield Police Department and the Ride to Remember organization are working hard in raising $150,000 towards the memorial at this new field and their tremendous commitment to this project is praiseworthy.”
Patrick Sullivan, Executive Director of PBRM stated, “On behalf of the Springfield Park Commission we want to thank Sgt. John Delaney for his continued work in ensuring this project is successfully completed. This memorial park is in no small part due to John’s dedication to his fellow officers and his ability to raise the funds necessary for this fitting memorial. We are honored to dedicate these fields in memory of Officers Beauregard and Schiavina.“
Commissioner John Barbieri said, “I would like to thank Mayor Sarno, Pat Sullivan, Sgt. Delaney, the state, and the residents of Sixteen Acres for their tireless efforts in making this memorial park a reality. Officers Beauregard and Schiavina remain in our hearts, highly respected, much loved and sorely missed.”
Sergeant John Delaney stated, “During long training rides for the Ride to Remember, I would travel down Tinkham Road past the memorial for my friends Alain and Michael. The field was in shabby condition and the sign was in disrepair. I thought someone should do something. After hitting a few roadblocks, we approached Pat Sullivan and set a plan in motion to build a new field and monument on North Branch Parkway. We needed to raise $150,000 and our fundraising efforts have raised $75,000 to date. We have contributed this amount to this cause that is so close to my heart. With the Fifth Annual Ride to Remember set for September 16, 2017, I am confident we will reach our goal. The new field and monument will now be a fitting tribute to two local heroes. Fallen but not forgotten....”
Superintendent of Schools Daniel Warwick said, “I would like to thank Mayor Sarno, Pat Sullivan, Commissioner Barbieri, Sgt. Delaney, and the citizens of Sixteen Acres for their vision and commitment. I also would like to thank the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for their generous financial support. This beautiful new park will hold a special place in the heart of the community, as it will pay homage to the legacies of Officers Beauregard and Schiavina while laying the foundation of fitness and wellness for our youth. We are certainly grateful for and honored by this moving initiative.”
Contributions to this project may be sent to:
Ride to Remember
1500 Main Street
P.O. Box 15265
Springfield, Massachusetts, 01115
(Check payable to: Ride to Remember Inc.)
