WORCESTER – Notwithstanding the natural beauty of the lake, parts of the Indian Lake neighborhood in north Worcester had become rather uninviting over the years.
West Boylston Drive was known for an ugly, weed-ridden wall separating it from West Boylston Street. Nearby, Norton Drive was something like an old industrial wasteland.
So when Carl Gomes developed plans for a Community Teaching Garden Literacy Project on West Boylston Drive, some people may have been unable to see the good from the weeds.
But Gomes, a retired probation officer who lives on West Boylston Drive and is also the founder and president of the nonprofit Indian Lake Community Association, dug in.
Now the garden is in its sixth season as an educational and welcoming space that promotes food literacy, environmental stewardship and community engagement among residents of the Indian Lake neighborhood. The garden is a project of the Indian Lake Community Association. “We’d love to create a healthy, connected, beautiful community,” Gomes said of the association’s goals.
The next phase or step along the way was realized with an announcement June 24 that AARP has awarded the Indian Lake Community Association a $15,000 challenge grant for the Community Teaching Garden Literacy Project.
‘An age-friendly community’
AARP says on its website, “High-visibility crosswalks, curb bump-outs, reflective signs and a street mural will be added near a neighborhood garden. These features will slow traffic and make crossings safer for older adults and other pedestrians.”
“We want to be an age-friendly community,” Gomes said.
More than 5,100 applications were submitted from communities across all 50 states for the AARP grants and 721 projects were selected to receive funding.
“This grant represents far more than funding. It is an investment in community, creativity, education, environmental stewardship, healthy living and creating a more welcoming and age-friendly Worcester for everyone,” Gomes said.
Gomes and well-known local mural artist Sharinna Travieso were planning to meet with Worcester officials to begin the permitting process. That’s not quite as straightforward as it sounds as a previous mural plan hit red tape.
Upcoming association meetings including with state officials will address other issues and more announcements may be upcoming soon.
‘Crazy about plants and the environment’
Through it all Gomes is sure to remain energetic and upbeat. At a recent meeting with a reporter at the garden, no sooner had we sat down than Gomes was laying out garden design plans on a table and giving a fast and heartfelt history of the association and the garden project.
Indian Lake area resident Kenol Etienne shared in the enthusiasm as Gomes was talking. “It is wonderful,” Etienne said. “I’m crazy about plants and the environment, so this is really good.”
In front of a white wall that has replaced the old barrier wall on West Boylston Drive is a long stretch of grass that previously was more like debris. The Community Teaching Garden itself is about 300-feet long and 36-feet across. There are currently 20 small garden plots tended to by residents dotting the grass in front of a larger garden area and a shed. Twenty more are planned. There also two Blessing Boxes, about which more later.
The plans include the garden having a performance stage (“create an actual entertainment space,” Gomes said), demonstration kitchen, a free little library for book exchanges between residents a kiosk, murals, rotating sculptures, compost, greenhouse and a lot more, all ADA compliant.
“Everything we do is free,” Gomes added.
However, asked how much the total project would cost, Gomes said “north of $300,000.” But he quickly added that the association is working to bring it about in phases. “We do everything in phases.”
The association has formed partnerships with many entities to try to make it all happen. Working with the state Department of Transportation the debris at West Boylston Drive was cleared up with five pieces of heavy equipment over two days, Gomes said. There are also efforts underway for the beautification of Norton Drive.
Working with Worcester Public Schools, Gomes has said, “the garden can provide a living laboratory where students can learn about horticulture, plant science, biodiversity, food and water insecurity, and their impact on land use in the context of climate change.” Also, he sees collaboration with organizations such as Worcester Artist Group and the local art community as a way to brighten the Community Teaching Garden’s landscape.
‘Growing a community’
The association has a “footprint of 2,000 bodies, let’s say six different ethic groups,” Gomes said. Events can also include the “cooking of heathy ethnic food, music, dance and entertainment.”
He’d like to see West Boylston Drive redesigned to be “a mini-Shrewsbury Street.” Also the placement of a WRTA bus stop on West Boylston Drive so that “everyone can get to it,” Gomes said of the community garden. That would mean the WRTA changing a bus route, since its buses currently do not run on West Boylston Drive.
Gomes said he previously did mission work worldwide. “I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others,” he said. An “epiphany” led to him realizing, “I could make a difference in my own backyard.” And so the association and garden project took root.
Also at the garden is a turquoise table and two Joey’s Blessing Boxes which can be used to donate non-perishable food items for community members in need. In their own way the tables and boxes embody the spirit of what the association and community garden has become. They are in memory of of Joseph Wilson “Joey” Johnson, who died in 2021 at the age of 35. Joey had neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy and was blind and deaf “and yet had a remarkable public legacy,” said his father, .Joe Johnson. The idea for the table and boxes is simple, he said. “Food for people who need it, a place to sit and talk, and a visible reminder that everyone belongs.”
Gomes said, “We are not only growing food but growing a community.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.telegram.com ’
