By Jim Piotrowski, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – Prospect Park has a lot of history. The 74-acre parcel of land on Prospect Street was originally owned by Matthew and Gertrude Whittall who, in 1912, built “a great white Georgian summer estate” that they named Juniper Hall.
The Whittalls owned the land until 1927, when it was deeded to the Massachusetts Grand Lodge of Masons, who transformed it into the Masonic Hospital.
In 1976, the town purchased the property and demolished the mansion in 1979. Some of the only remnants of that past glory are the pergola, named the “Garden of Sweet Remembrance” by Gertrude who had it erected to commemorate her husband’s death, and the stone walls and steps of the original gardens.
Today, Prospect Park is cared for by the Friends of Prospect Park, Inc., a nonprofit organization which has seven board members but more importantly, a lot of friends and community groups who help maintain and enhance the beauty of its grounds.
In a recent interview, Bill Davis, president of the Friends of Prospect Park, Inc., and Chris Kirk, its treasurer, explained that, in 2003, the Shrewsbury Garden Club met with the Parks and Recreation Department to propose developing the land for “passive recreation.” The Friends of Prospect Park incorporated in 2005, and started to reach out to the community for support.
Since then, they have worked with the Girl Scouts, who created a flower garden on the property, and the Boys Scouts, who built a 30-foot bridge and marked the five trails throughout the park. Worcester Sand and Gravel donated the crushed stone for the entrance and the gravel for the parking area. Joseph Aslanian built the sign that marks the park’s entrance, while Heritage Executive Landscape of Shrewsbury has disposed of piles of tree cuttings. Town resident Darryl Henry has brought in wood chips for the trails and Steve Levine has organized cleanup projects with the Leaders of Tomorrow. The list of helpers goes on and on, including the Shrewsbury Historical Society and the Artist Guild of Shrewsbury.
With so much community spirit and work going into the park, more and more visitors are spending their days there, photographing the pergola, walking their dogs, or just enjoying the peaceful trails. More groups are organizing events on the property as well. Every April, the Shrewsbury Trails Committee organizes the Full Moon Walk, which are guided tours by moonlight, and St. Mary’s Church Group holds an annual Day of Service. Additionally, there are geocaching treasure hunts being held in the park.
Whatever brings you to Prospect Park, you will find a hidden gem with a lot of history just a short walk from the town center. Currently, the costs for park maintenance are covered by donations and funds received through the Health Department’s battery recycling program.
Anyone wishing to donate their time or financial support for the park can do so by contacting Friends of Prospect Park, c/o 40 Westwood Road, Shrewsbury, MA 01545. The main entrance to the park and parking area are on Prospect Street, just off route 140.