A new “pocket park” to be built in Orange

The downtown park would feature new benches, raised vegetable gardens, a mural, and a walkway.

August 8, 2016 : WWLP.com, by Mike Masciadrelli

ORANGE, Mass. (WWLP) – Expect to see a “pocket park” soon in downtown Orange.

That’s a small park built on a small piece of property, possibly between buildings. MassDevelopment and the town of Orange launched a crowdfunding campaign to build a new pocket park back in June. The town had an August 7th deadline to raise at least $9,500 to qualify for a matching grant from Mass Development. Orange met that goal.

The idea of a new pocket park in downtown Orange has residents and businesses excited.

“It’s something that adds to the beauty of the town,” said Paul Anderson of Trail Head Outfitters, in Orange. “It’s a gorgeous town, it needs some perking up and needs new interested people to come into the town.”

This downtown park would feature new benches, raised vegetable gardens, a mural, and a walkway that would connect to a local food co-op. 22News found out that it took donations from across the state to reach the $95 hundred dollar goal.

“Usually these types of projects we have to pull right from Downtown and it gets difficult doing that again and again,” said Director of Community Development in Orange, Kevin Kennedy. “We really appreciate this group effort to raise this money.”

Kennedy said a few donations came in right at the deadline, pushing the town over its goal. Orange is talking with local artists and contracters to begin construction on the site.

The town plans have the park completed sometime this fall.