November 10, 2024



~ Building Community One Positive Story at a Time.

D.W. Field Park Revitalization Master Plan: Phase One

D.W. Field Park, Brockton’s largest and most popular open space, is one critical step closer to revitalization for the community and environment. In late September, the D.W. Field Park Initiative, led by Southeastern Massachusetts nonprofit Wildlands Trust, released a new master plan that calls for ambitious improvements to Brockton and Avon’s beloved park. The importance of this park to the community is underscored by the participation of over 1,400 people in a park survey, the results of which were used to develop a vision for park revitalization that will progress over the next ten years. The plan sets goals to improve environmental resilience, upgrade user experience, and expand community opportunities.

Wildlands Trust embarked on plan development in 2022 in partnership with the City of Brockton, the Town of Avon, Old Colony Planning Council, the D.W. Field Park Association, and Manomet Conservation Sciences. The engineering firm Environmental Partners was hired to assess stormwater management and produce the final master plan. The Conway School was commissioned to create concept designs for key gathering areas.

Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan wrote in his letter of support for the plan, “With the City of Brockton being the largest Gateway City in Southeastern Massachusetts, and one of the 20 Environmental Justice communities in the state, it is critical that we come together to support initiatives such as this that seek to remedy the gaps in providing our residents with safe, functional green spaces within our community.” Avon Town Administrator Jonathan Beder agreed, stating, “The D.W. Field Park Master Plan is a testament to the power of collaboration and partnership, and we are proud to support this initiative as it continues to progress.”

At 700 acres, D.W. Field Park is one of the largest municipal parks in Massachusetts. The master plan addresses phase one of planning for the Initiative, focusing on the most popular area of the park between Oak Street in Brockton and South Street in Avon. The phase one plan calls for seven capital improvement projects, including advancing the design and reconstruction of the popular D.W. Field Parkway that circumnavigates the park, and six park-wide projects, including expanding access to restroom facilities and developing standardized signage.

Phase two will address the area of the park north of South Street around the Brockton Reservoir, and phase three will address the southern portion of the park between Pleasant Street and Oak Street.

With the plan in hand, the Initiative now seeks to fund the implementation of these projects from a variety of federal, state, and private revenue opportunities. The park community can read the plan in its entirety and track revitalization progress at dwfpi.org.

Story Credit: D.W. Field Park Initiative & Wildlands Trust, Inc.

Photo credits: Marc Osborne

Cultural Affairs & Tourism Meeting

Thu, Nov 14

6p

North Baptist Church

899 No Main St

At the Cultural Affairs and Tourism (CAT) meeting, learn what is happening in Brockton or announce your own event! These meetings are short and taped by Brockton Community Access, and you can also ZOOM them. For more information, contact Anne Beauregard at 774-297-4939 or ambeauregard@outlook.com.

South Middle School Hall of Fame Awards

Thu, Nov 21

6-8:30p

Joe Angelo's Mulligan's Function Room

11 Crescent St

Join us for Brockton South Middle School's 4th Annual Hall of Fame Awards! The ceremony will honor Mike McGillis, Brent Warren, Jay McGillis, Tremeda Martin, Lea Serrano, Ernie Webby, Steve Murphy, Brian Droukas, Ortez Vandross, Anthony Palermo Jr, Karin Bliznik, Chris Hall, Barbara Garvey, Matt Flaherty, and Kara McCormack. Refreshments will be served at 6:30p, and inductions will begin at 7p. To RSVP, please contact Jim Stapleton at 508-521-7075.

We hope you, too, can become part of the tradition!

Brockton High School Boys Soccer vs Durfee - MIAA Playoffs Round of 32 11/6/24

Video Courtesy of The Brockton Channels

Brockton Planning Board Meeting

11/6/24

Video Courtesy of The Brockton Channels

Climate Can Do:

Drinking Water Without Nano-plastics

Plastic water bottles are filled with tiny bits of plastic called nano-plastics. These are bits of plastic that have broken down so small we cannot see them. But they are there, according to studies by Consumer Reports, Columbia University, University of Missouri, and many others.

The best way to avoid drinking nano-plastics is to use a metal or glass reusable bottle and fill it with filtered tap water.

Reusable water bottles keep you healthy and decrease one major source of nano-plastics in our environment: the disposable water bottle.

This Climate Can Do article was written by Jacquelyn Rose.

Source: National Institute of Health

Consumer Reports

BCA Volunteers Needed!

Brockton Cable Access needs your help with some of their upcoming productions!

Sat, Nov 16 Brockton NAACP: Honoring Local Veterans at Veterans of Foreign War (VFW)

Thu, Nov 28 Football Game: BHS vs. Bridgewater at Brockton High School, Marciano Stadium

Sat, Nov 30 Brockton Holiday Parade at City Hall Plaza

If you're interested in volunteering or for more information, contact BCATV at 508-580-2228 or send an email through their website at www.bcatv.org. If you're interested in becoming a member of the BCA team, visit their BCA Membership page.

Arc of Greater Brockton Support Groups

Arc of Greater Brockton Family Support Center works in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to provide planning assistance, information, education, and referral services to assist parents in managing the challenges of raising a child with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and autism spectrum disorder. These services extend to the people who love and support them: parents, sisters and brothers, grandparents, educators, and others.

Members of the Family Support Center Team include Coordinators who are fluent in Portuguese, Cape Verdean Creole, French, Spanish and Haitian Creole. They can also arrange for translation and interpretation in other languages upon request. To learn more about the Arc of Greater Brockton's Haitian, Spanish, Cape Verdean, Transition, Sibling, and Parent Support Groups, visit www.arcofgreaterbrockton.org.

Brockton Garden Club

Holiday Centerpiece Workshop

Mon, Nov 25

6:30p

Our Lady of Lourdes Church

433 West St

The Brockton Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting on Mon, Nov 25, 2024, with a holiday centerpiece workshop. This workshop is open to the

public and directed by James Bruce, a veteran floral designer originally from Boston.

You will be responsible for bringing old newspapers to spread out, your clippers and scissors, and the

$15 fee to be paid in cash or with a check to him. If you have greens or holly at home, please

feel free to bring them along.

Parking is in the lot on Torrey St.

brocktongc.org

Brockton Interfaith Community

Food Distribution

Sat, Nov 16

10a-12p

80 Legion Parkway



Join us for a food distribution event hosted by Brockton Interfaith Community! Everyone is welcome to come by and receive fresh, nutritious food. Let’s come together and make a difference in our community! For more information, visit Brockton Interfaith Community FB.

Sat, Nov 23

3p - 4p

Brockton Public Library

304 Main St

Join Miss Betty and Mister Wilks for a boxing demonstration! Get ready to throw punches and have a blast with these action-packed boxing drills. All ages are welcome. Registration is required.

To register or for more information, call 508-894-1431 or email vrodrigues@cobma.us.

Source: BPL FB

Hope Is Here in Brockton, Let's Carry It On

On October 18th, Massachusetts Community Action Network (MCAN) kicked off the Carry It On 2024 Fall fundraising season in Brockton by highlighting the work of Brockton Interfaith Community (BIC)! Serving Brockton since 1990, BIC works to improve and enhance the city through education, social justice, faith-inspired community collaboration, and campaigns committed to bringing together and lifting up diverse faiths and ethnicities in the greater Brockton area. BIC is one of eight MCAN affiliate locations celebrated by the Carry It On annual fundraiser for their work to shape a just and equitable future.

At the opening event for Carry It On 2024, BIC and attendees shared stories, built connections, and committed to the fight for racial and economic justice in our community. This initiative serves to remind us that hope is alive in Brockton, and when facing obstacles or hate, we will find power in our vote, in our voice, and in one another. Hope starts with us!

Source & Photo Credit: Brockton Interfaith Community, BIC FB, MCAN Carry It On 2024

Story written by Sara MacKinnon, BuzzAround Intern, Providence College

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