By Sherry Anders

The Town of Shirley received an FY25 Earmark Award in the amount of $35,000 through the office of State Senator John Cronin to conduct an engineering study for design walkways compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA, at Fredonian Park and Nature Center. The design includes a crushed stone nature trail loop around nature center pond and a pathway to the gazebo. The Town contracted the engineering firm Howard Stein Hudson of Boston to do the work, fully permitted as of February 24. The firm also will provide bid-ready design specifications for the Town’s use.

The idea to create ADA accessible pathways at Fredonian Park began nearly a decade ago when former Conservation Commission Chair Dave Bortell recognized a need for accessible nature and recreation areas in town. Given that it has relatively flat terrain, he saw potential at the park.

Bortell and local business owner Eric Shapiro funded an ADA review of the park in 2018, which outlined conditions to be met for ADA accreditation. Shapiro, CEO of the Lexvest Group, the parent company to Phoenix Park, has personal ties to Fredonian Park. He is the great-grandson of Ida and Hyman Perlstein, Shirley residents who took over the Phoenix Spring Beverage Company in 1930 and to whom the gazebo at the park is dedicated.

While the Covid-19 epidemic derailed initial efforts to move the plan forward, in 2021 Bortell partnered with the Town Greenway Committee to help move the project forward. Addressing a significant invasive plant infestation was a necessary step outlined in the 2018 review to meet accreditation requirements.

The Greenway Committee launched a restoration effort with grant funding from Nashua Rivers Wild and Scenic Stewardship Council and mobilized community volunteers to help. Initial progress sparked support from local businesses to help restore the park. The Lexvest

Group donated four new park benches, BoomX purchased restoration plants, and Bemis provided funding for historical and interpretive signage, now underway. In addition, the Town appropriated funds through Town Meeting to replace heavily deteriorated fencing.

With the ADA pathway design complete, the Greenway Committee will work with the Town Administrator to seek grant funding for implementation. The project may also be eligible for Community Preservation Act, CPA, support.