
This group of volunteers helped reform Prospect Park and organized Saturday’s event. (Photo/Evan Walsh)
SHREWSBURY – What was once a vacant, unused parcel overcome with weeds has – thanks to the attention and volunteerism of a group of Shrewsbury residents – become one of the town’s most beautiful retreats, complete with flowers, trails and opportunities to connect with nature.
On Sept. 15, hundreds gathered at Prospect Park’s Garden of Sweet Remembrance to rediscover this gem in the Shrewsbury Center and attend the first annual Art in Prospect Park event, which featured booths and artwork from local creators. All proceeds went toward rebuilding the garden’s pergola.
“It fills your heart. Oftentimes I’m working here on my own, doing my own gardening work, and people will come here and just thank me. That gives you so much back, when someone comes to us here and appreciates it. People are so amazed at what a beautiful place it is. It’s not for naught – it gives back to the community,” said Brenda Goodwill, the master gardener who designed the space.
The event was inspired by Rose Wang, a Shrewsbury artist who recently underwent treatment for cancer. Famous in town for her watercolor portraits of Shrewsbury landmarks – including the Garden of Sweet Remembrance – Wang often posts her artwork to Facebook for the town to see, and her work was available for purchase during the event at Prospect Park.
In addition to showcasing art, the event served as an opportunity to reintroduce the park to the community.
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In the 1910s, the site featured sprawling gardens and a mansion built by Matthew Whittall; after Whittall died, a pergola was constructed in his memory. The land was briefly owned by the Masons before it became town property and most structures on the site were razed.
Much of the park was reclaimed by nature in the years following, until Bill Davis and Chris Kirk teamed up in 2003 to found the Friends of Prospect Park. The group worked hard for the last two decades to restore the park for recreational use. The park was weeded and cleared several times, but despite the volunteers’ best efforts, the changes never quite had staying power.
“The garden was enveloped in vegetation. Overgrown. Vines climbing up every standing tree, strangling all the trees. Pretty blossoms, but it was killing everything else. My first reaction was, ‘Oh my God, it’s Jurassic Park.’ I was quite surprised by it,” Davis said.
With the help of Goodwill, a renewed effort to restore the park started in 2019. The design features over 1,000 plants, 80 percent of which were donated. Volunteers worked over 1,000 combined hours on the project.
“I just found this to be a beautiful, magical spot with so much potential. There was something special about it. I was drawn to it,” said Davis. “It affirms our vision of 20 years… It’s a real special spot, and we just hope everybody can come and enjoy it.”