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CONNIE
DAVIS WATSON PARK
"PROJECT
IN PROGRESS"
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We're
almost finished - These are more recent pictures of progress:
The
Park with sod and plantings.


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Work
continues as the small agricultural building is restored by
David Shedd of Jackson.
The entire building has been restored including a new roof.
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Representatives
of many of the businesses, agencies and private volunteers behind development
of the new Connie Davis Watson Park in North Conway,
gathered
to mark the end of Phase 1 of improvements in November of 2005.
In
front (from left) are Jim Mesereau and Claudia Needham,
representing the Cranmore Mountain crew;
Meghan Murphy, Kennett High Key Club member;
Sue Tuttle, Tuttle Land Care;
Jessica Brown and Diana Lynch of Lynch’s Land Maintenance;
Carol Westervelt, committee member and liaison with the Connie Davis
Watson Fund;
Kim Beals, committee member,
Ethel Saunders, White Mountain Oil; and Cindy Russell, Monarch Events;
and middle (from left) Merv Wilson and Ben Falcey from Arthur’s
Memorials;
Jim Tuttle, Tuttle Land Care;
Joe Berry, committee member;
Blair Lynch and Mike Lynch of Lynch’s Land Maintenance;
Glenn Saunders of White Mountain Oil;
Chet Lucy, committee member and spokesperson with the Selectmen;
Nat Lucy, Lucy Hardware;
Dick Brunelle, committee member;
Connie Briggs, committee member and liaison with Upper Saco Valley Land
Trust;
and Ben Saunders, White Mountain Oil;
and back (from left) Curtis Kennett, Kennett Corporation;
Joy Tarbell, Tarbell Prudential Realty;
Mark Curran, Green Thumb Farm and Earl Sires, Conway Town manager. |
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Stay
tuned . . . .for the completion of the Agricultural Building;
the arrival of the Bronze Plaques commemorating the project;
...and check below for information about how you can continue to help
make this project complete, and maintained.
Thank you to everyone who has helped in any way.
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The History of the Project
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“Our goal is to remove a “wart” and replace it
with a small town park, positioning it back with the original property
now owned and maintained by the Town of Conway and known as the
Whitaker Homesite Recreation Area.” This is the one and only
goal of a citizens group that has been working since September 2004
to secure the former Sunoco station located on the corner of Pine
Street and Main Street in North Conway Village. “Many businesses
have leased the property and none have been able to survive on that
corner,” stated Cindy Russell, spokesperson for the group.
“So, since the property was on the market, it seemed an appropriate
and once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire it, turn it into a
green space and give it to the town to be appreciated in its proper
historical context, rejoined with the original neighboring property
from which it was separated more than 60 years ago.”
In order to carry out the entire mission, the group has raised the
funds necessary to purchase the property. Thank you, to everyone
who helped, and in particular, the Connie Davis Watson Fund.
In
addition to purchasing the land, funding will include removing the
buildings, returning the property to green space, and adding some
simple landscaping. It is hoped that some of the work that will
need to be done will be supplied by local corporations who will
make an in-kind contribution, thereby reducing the total amount
of cash to be raised.
See
Below for photos of this work in progress - contributed by
Glen
Builders ~ Hanson Construction ~ Valladeres Construction:
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Thanks
also to the crew at
Cranmore
Mountain Resort
who
came to clear away debris and brush
to make way for a shaded picnic area.

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There is much to be done ~ grading, sand, loam, more grading, irrigation,
sod - and more!
We have
hopes of saving the "blacksmith shop" as an
educational/historic part of the site.
This building sits next to the Whitaker barn and both are part of
the original Whitaker Homesite property.
Funds are needed to repair the roof and shore up the sides.
Fencing to surround the building to keep it for
'display purposes only'
and include an interpretive historical sign are also in the projected
plans.
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Any
individual or business wishing to assist with this beautification
project is urged to contact the CDW Park Project Committee:
Cindy Russell - chairperson - 447-8914;
Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to the
Upper Saco Valley Land Trust, fiscal agent for the project at
P O Box 424, North Conway, NH 03860, attention: CDW Park Project.
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