Tag: Swasey Parkway Exeter NH

“What’s with that boulder ?”

Mark Damsell has done it again, through direct action he continues to demonstrate his love  and respect for the Swasey Parkway. Mark also keeps his eye on Route 85  with his one man trash cleanup every year, from end to end. Doozie has been inquiring about this boulder every time we float by on the River. I had no answer for her.

I am sure many others were wondering as well. A giant boulder in of itself is not much of a landscape feature though  it’s widely used.

We  might have figured Damsell had a hand in the mysterious boulder.

Well, today we get to see the finished product of  Mark Damsell’s efforts . The stone cutter is just about ready to begin sandblasting the face of the 6 ton  boulder with a Welcome message. It might be all done by the Farmers Market today, so stroll on down.

The boulder was donated by a fellow in Kensington.

Another gent brought his backhoe over to  provide a depression in which to place the stone.

Al’s Automotive weighed in with a big wrecker to haul  and place.

A  local organization  quietly provided some  monies.

It’s done, well, almost.

The tape marks  the location of a bronze plaque with a  simple engraving. The name of Ambrose Swasey and the date the Park was opened.

Bravo Mark Damsell!

Mike

Just read the Newsletter

The Swasey Parkway Trustees are just coming up with all sorts of ideas! The best one mentioned in today’s paper, was  archiving the historical photo’s of our beautiful sanctuary.
That’s a brilliant idea, so future generations can see what the Parkway looked like prior to the tenure of the current trustees.
Mike

Park Street Common

This Park has been here since the 1700’s. It has always  been ringed by a cluster of homes. There was also  a store at one time. I think it was in the Bendroth Manse. Doug Dicey told me that he once screened  movies  in the Summer on the Green. Nice. It’s a jewel in our system and  is well taken care of  by the crew. The  ice skating was wonderful this year, and the  lawn that was damaged over the Winter was repaired today. The Park & Recreation  crew also  repaired damage by the  sidewalk plow to the median between the sidewalk and Epping Road. This is my neighborhood and I wondered who was going to  do the repair of that area. It was all new since the  water main project was completed. In the old  days  this would have been an issue  between Park & Recreation and the Highway  Dept. It was  good to see the Park Crew just got it done, no  hot potato . Here is little tidbit. When a  developer “gives back” to the Community  to satisfy the Planning Board. He often will  donate a little  triangle of grass. The Park & Recreation Crew has to cut it.

The water main  project is completed. I think the Park would look much better with the  Project Billboard removed,a year is long enough.

Oh, by the way, no dogs are allowed on the Park Street  Common. The Swasey as well and  I hope the placement of the  doggie poop bag station at the Water Street end of the Swasey does not  confuse visitors with dogs. There is actually a hefty fine. You know a hundred here and  a hundred there we could be talking some pretty good revenue!  I read the State is actually going to  double speeding fines. Watch your speed  and pick up the poop this Summer.

Mike