Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Parks, Building and Recreation Management (PBRM) Director Thomas Ashe joined with Springfield Garden Club (SGC) President Janine Boland and past SGC president and current member Dr. Vana Nespor for a special donation presentation on behalf of the Springfield Club to the Horticulture and Learning Center planned for Forest Park. Also in attendance were Director of Open Space Pete Krupczak and Mayoral Aide Rose McCaffrey.
The Springfield Garden Club is excited to share that through their December flower sales, raffles, and inaugural Tablescape Exhibit, the SGC raised over $2,000 for the proposed Horticulture and Learning Center in Forest Park. On behalf of the City of Springfield, Mayor Sarno and Director Ashe extend their gratitude for this generous support.
Mayor Sarno states, “The SGC’s beautiful and festive ‘Tablescapes that Celebrate the Season.’ exhibit this past December was so creative and took our recently renovated historic Forest Park Monkey House space to a whole new level with their intricate and eye-catching designs. PBRM Director Tom Ashe and I want to thank President of our Springfield Garden Club Janine Boland, Vana Nespor, and the entire SGC team for their generosity and support of the Horticulture and Learning Center developments planned for Forest Park. I always enjoy visiting with our Springfield Garden Club and celebrating the many positive accomplishments we have done throughout our beautiful parks system, especially for our historic and iconic Forest Park.”
“Some improvements to our beloved Forest Park, like the major Monkey House renovations, the installation of the historic-replica Forest Park picnic pavilion and enhanced picnic grove, and the beautiful restoration of the historic Trolley Gazebo right at the main entrance, have already been completed,” explained Mayor Sarno. “We are looking forward to completing the restoration of the iconic Walker Grandstand structure, and of course the Horticulture and Learning Center and expansion of our flower shows with the SGC which and draws hundreds of people to the Park from across New England.”
PBRM Director Tom Ashe states, “The Garden Club does such wonderful and tremendous work in our community helping to stimulate the promotion of civic beauty through horticulture and conservation. The Parks are honored to partner with the SGC on many great events like Welcome to the Park’ Flower Show at our beloved and historic Carriage House at Forest Park and the Tablescapes Exhibit and Holiday Luncheon at the beautifully restored Monkey House. The Springfield Garden Club have been tremendous supporters of our parks for many years. We deeply appreciate the generosity and support from Janine, Vana, and the whole team. We are excited to continue our work on the Horticulture and Learning Center project and look forward to holding many more events to showcase the wonderful floral exhibits that highlight the many different activities and passive recreational areas in our neighborhood parks.”
“I always enjoy visiting Forest Park, reminiscing on the previous state of the Monkey House – ‘it doesn’t smell anymore!’ We also got to stop over at the Parks Administration office and got to see the hardworking park staff, and two four legged staff members – Eddie Fischer, the Fischer Cat, and Theodore the Beaver” Mayor Sarno added.
