News from Friends of Christopher Columbus Park:
Boston’s Family-Friendly Waterfront Park
Hits Decade Mark of Friends Support
Friends of Christopher Columbus Park Celebrates 10th Anniversary
The Friends of Christopher Columbus Park (FOCCP) celebrates its 10th anniversary next month, with activities planned in the Park each month for the rest of the year.
The all-volunteer non-profit group was founded in July 2001 by a small group of North End / Waterfront business people and neighbors whose mission was to further the utilization, care, preservation, maintenance, enhancement and improvement of the Park.
“Over the last ten years, the growth of this neighborhood organization and its impact on the Park has been dynamic,” says current President Joanne Hayes-Rines. “Since its beginning with just 12 founding members, FOCCP has grown tremendously, with more than 200 members today. We have an incredibly involved and active membership and wonderful support from local businesses.”
FOCCP kicked off its 10 year anniversary with a new members social at the Living Room on June 2. Members invited a friend or neighbor to the social to learn more about the activities of the Friends group and ways to get involved. FOCCP monthly meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month (except December) at the Mariners House.
In addition to support from local businesses and neighbors, the FOCCP works closely with the City of Boston Parks and Recreation Department to keep the park clean and well maintained. FOCCP’s contributions to the Park include maintaining the Rose Kennedy Rose Garden, working closely with arborists and purchasing new trees and plants for the Park, providing the funding and organization for the Annual Trellis Lighting each winter, and organizing special events in the Park.
Activities in the Park for the rest of the year that are sponsored by FOCCP or the City of Boston ParkArts program include:
· June 11: FOCCP Tot Lot Clean Up!
· June: ParkART’s Landscape Watercolor Painting Workshops
· July and August: ParkART’s Artists in Residence Craft Workshops
· June, July and August: FOCCP Sunday Night Movies in the Park sponsored by Al Dente and Benevento’s restaurants
· July 8: ParkART’s Presents: Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
· July 19: ParkART’s Marionette Puppet Show
· July 20: FOCCP Members’ Only Sunset Harbor Cruise 10th Anniversary Celebration
· August: ParkART’s Presents: Waterfront Performing Arts Series
· August 6: Waterfront Concert Series
· September 10 and 11: “Ahts” in the Park
· October 9: FOCCP Christopher Columbus Day Celebration
· November 18: FOCCP 10th Anniversary Gala at the Marriott Long Wharf
· November 21: FOCCP Trellis Lighting
More information about FOCCP membership and events in the Park can be found at http://www.foccp.org, on our Facebook page and on our bulletin board in the Park.
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The current officers FOCCP are Joanne Hayes-Rines (President), Trish Baumer (Vice President), Virginia Kimball (Treasurer) and Sandra Harcourt (Clerk). Board members are Joe Bono, Cole Landers, Meghan Denenberg, Mary Ann Esparo, Beverly Knight, Anne Devlin Tagliaferro, Audrey Tortolani.
Founding members of FOCCP were William Lee, Chris Fincham, Christopher Carbone, Victor Brogna, Francine Gannon, Ileen Gladstone, Susanne Lavoie, Arlene Lowenstein, Deborrah Calcagno, Danny Nuzzo, Anne Devlin Tagliaferro and Dr. Selma Rutenburg.
