Making Progress at Pico Park

Dawn Sullivan had some good news for those families looking to use Pico Park this spring.

“I think we’re going to have a beautiful, small neighborhood park in a few months,” said Sullivan, chairwoman of the Winthrop Parks Committee, during a presentation at the Town Council meeting Tuesday night.

Council President Peter Gill launched the Parks Committee last September as a vehicle to allow residents to participate in park improvement efforts. Sullivan and other residents joined the committee and began dedicating their efforts toward renovations and improvements at Pico Park located on the corner of Sunnyside Avenue and Francis Street.

“It’s a beautiful area right on Pico Beach,” said Sullivan.

Updating the Council on the committee’s considerable progress, Sullivan said the Department of Public Works has removed the old playground equipment at the park. She said that as result of a $25,000 appropriation by the Town Council, the committee has purchased new equipment that will be installed in April.

Sullivan said the plans also include a new street hockey court at the park and a half court for basketball.

Fundraising efforts have begun to help the committee defray expenses for improvements.

“We still have to pay for benches, trees, landscaping, the asphalt and so forth,” said Sullivan.

The committee has started a memorial brick project in which residents will be able to purchase bricks that will be laid out underneath the park benches.

“Our goal is to sell 200 bricks and raise around $15,000,” she said. “Right now we’re up to about $3,000.”

Sullivan said a major fundraiser, Family Fun Night, will be held on Saturday, May 11 at the Cottage Park Yacht Club.

“We’ll have an auction and some fun and games for the families,” said Sullivan. “We’d like to supplement whatever we can with what the town has provided for the park renovations.”