PROJECT CHRONOLOGY

Fall 1998. Greater Egleston Community High School science teacher, Elaine Senechal designs and implements a curriculum on garden design to provide students with skills to design and plan the new garden.

December 1998. ESAC, as the fiscal agent, receives a grant from Greater Boston Urban Resources Partnership in the amount of $26, 576 and a contract is executed beginning December 1, 1998. The purpose of the grant is to transform an Egleston Square vacant lot into a community park while also serving as a science laboratory for students at Greater Egleston Community High School (GECHS). The grant was a collaborative effort of GECHS, ESAC and the Egleston Square Neighborhood Association (ESNA).

Winter - Spring 1999. Students complete garden design project and present their plans to ESNA for feedback. Students continue to learn science relative to the garden project including topics on plant growth and soil quality. Students test soil and conduct experiments on plant growth processes with an emphasis on lead contaminants in soil. EPA is asked to conduct a lead test on the garden soil and reports that the soil is not considered hazardous but suggests adding turf or mulch during garden construction. In conjunction with ESNA, students develop a community survey to solicit their input and assess interest in project. The YMCA's Earth Service Corps, hosted by Egleston Square YMCA, cleans the lot, removes graffiti and conducts resident surveys. The YMCA commits to a regular clean-up schedule.

Summer 1999. Project retains the services of a landscape architect to work with students on garden design. Three students were hired to complete survey of neighborhood residents and complete design for garden. ESNA begins negotiations with landowner AK Media to discuss land transfer. AK agrees to lease land to community for purposes of garden project. A leasee is sought within the community to sign lease with AK Media.

Fall 1999. GECHS Science teacher conducts an advanced level garden design class. Landscape architect works with students and community residents to finalize garden design. Students design a web page on the Peace Park, which includes memorial tributes. GECHS staff presents the garden project at the Coalition of Essential Schools national conference in Atlanta Georgia. ESAC submits a grant to the City of Boston's Grassroots Program for additional funds for Peace Garden.

Winter 2000. Garden design is completed. Grassroots grant funds awarded pending resolution of land issues. Community meetings scheduled to present garden design plan and develop expanded community interest. Community groups continue to meet to secure a community organization to sign lease. Discussions focus on working with Boston Natural Areas Fund as the leaseholder. Due to ongoing negotiations with AK Media related to a billboard on another BNAF property, BNAF is unable to sign lease on the Egleston property.

Spring 2001. The City of Boston Parks Department visits the site. They are unable to sign lease but will assist the project with plant materials and compost as needed. Community groups reach out to landscape contractors to solicit a proposal and bid for the work to construct the garden. A total of five contractors are contacted; only one actively responds. Group meets with Fairview Landscaping Company to discuss the garden project. Fairview submits a proposal to remediate the soil and construct the beds and paths and to plant the major trees and shrubs. AK Media drafts the first lease document for review. GECHS holds it first annual Pedro Sajous Road Race and conducts its opening ceremony from the garden lot.

Summer 2001. Grassroots grant is forfeited due to land ownership issue. City encourages group to reapply once the issue has been resolved. The Rafael Hernandez School students working in conjunction with Citizens Schools involves the children in Peace Park. The students discuss the park and paint trash barrels with their own designs to illustrate peace and community. The Mishler Foundation awards a grant of $6,000 to support the development of a mural at Peace Park in Egleston Square. The barrels are presented to Peace Park organizers at a small ceremony near the garden lot. ESNA and the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation begin regular clean up of garden space.

Fall 2001. Groups continue to meet to recruit additional community organizations to support the garden project. During this period ten community meetings were held for this purpose. A dozen community groups sign letters of commitment to participate in garden maintenance plan. A leaseholder is identified, Egleston Square Main Streets, Inc., and negotiations begin to execute a lease prior to September 30, 2001. Lease is executed on September 28, 2001. A proposal to spend the balance of the URP grant is signed with Fairview Landscaping for construction of the garden in the spring of 2002. Twelve community organizations have signed up to help with garden maintenance.

Winter 2002. A local fence company visits park to prepare an estimate of installing new fencing at Peace Park. Carlyle Engineering, whose building abuts Peace Park, agrees to work with community on mural project.

GECHS students begin work designing the mural that will form the backdrop for Peace Park. Community meeting is held in February to continue to inform community of the development of Peace Park and enlist additional support. ES

Spring 2002. Construction of garden commences. Community ceremony is held for the ground breaking.

Fall 2002. We celebrate the Egleston Square Peace Garden & Mural Dedication