CONNIE DAVIS WATSON PARK

"PROJECT IN PROGRESS"

 
 

 

We're almost finished - These are more recent pictures of progress:

The Park with sod and plantings.






 
   
Work continues as the small agricultural building is restored by
David Shedd of Jackson.
The entire building has been restored including a new roof.

 
   
 

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.

 
   

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.

 
   


The History of the Project

 
   


 
 



“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:

 

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.


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.

 

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.

 

Monarch Events, PO Box 934, North Conway, NH 03860
E-mail: info@mwvevents.com