Officers of the Friends of Christopher Columbus Park at the March meeting. From the left, Beverly, Meghan, Joanne, Virginia, Trish, Liz and Anne. FOCCP meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at the Mariners’s House in North Square.
This year is a milestone for the Friends of Christopher Columbus Park – their 10th Anniversary! Yes, that’s right … FOCCP has outgrown the tot lot and ready to hang with the big boys and girls under the trellis and on the large lawn. (Ed: In answer to an email, that is not a literal statement. The tot lot is staying in the park.) At their March meeting, FOCCP President Joanne Hayes-Rines announced that the anniverary will be incorporated into several new activities and projects this year.
A major effort will be made this year to bring a weekly series of outdoor movies to Christopher Columbus Park, starting as soon as June 2011. Exec-at-large, Joe Bono, presented the idea of working with ROC Teen’s Steven Virgilio, who shows summer movies at the Gassy (DeFilippo Playground). Joe Bono offered to donate the funds for the effort. FOCCP members were enthusiastic about the idea and planned to set up a movie committee to work on the project.
In addition to outdoor movies, the Friends are well-along in their planning for the year. Some highlights:
- May – Horticulture Committee starts up and the annual membership drive
- June – Tot Lot Cleanup on Saturday, June 11th, 10:00 a.m.
- June and July – Movies in the Park
- July – Sunset Cruise on the Harbor
- September – “Ahts” in the Park (City of Boston)
- October – Christopher Columbus Day Event with the North End Parade this year
- November – The Gala is set for Nov. 18, 2011 at the Marriott Long Wharf Hotel
- November – Trellis Lighting
The park is gaining broad recognition as a true Boston landmark through a recent set of AP photos that are appearing worldwide in newspapers, magazines and online, such as shown here on Forbes.com.
Several FOCCP members have been attending workshops with other city “park people,” sponsored by Boston Parks Advocates. Subjects have included “Growing your Friends Group,” “Social Media to Build Your Group,” and “Fundraising through Donors and Grants.”
For more information or to become a member of the Friends of Christopher Columbus Park, see www.FOCCP.org.
The Friends of Christopher Columbus Park humbly thank Matt Conti for being such a wonderful, interested and committed "friend." Great photo of the Ladies on our board, Matt. Just want to assure all, we do have our share of male members and activists, Wouldn't mind having a few more Dad's in the mix, 'tho.
Y'all come !!!!