History

Carlisle Town Board of Selectmen

On April 12, 2016, the Carlisle Board of Selectmen appointed three members, Gretchen Anderegg, Giovanna DiNicola, and Edith Pendock, to the Carlisle Center Park Standing Committee. The committee formulates and promotes the affairs of the park, as described in the following Statement, which was unanimously adopted by the Board of Selectmen on November 10, 2015. Please take a moment to read about the mission, vision, purpose, and goals and objectives of the park’s Standing Committee.

Carlisle Center Park Standing Committee

Mission Statement
Carlisle Center Park is a scenic landmark and place of retreat in Carlisle, MA. It was created to preserve and maintain in perpetuity an open public space designed for the use and enjoyment of its residents, their families, friends, and visitors.

Vision
The Center Park Standing Committee aims to foster a sense of community engagement with the park that contributes to the social, environmental, and economic fabric of the town of Carlisle.

Purpose
The Center Park Standing Committee will provide general oversight of the park. The Committee will seek to maintain the quality and character of the space in order to ensure its continued enjoyment by future generations.

Goals and objectives
The Center Park Standing Committee—comprising five to seven residents appointed by the Town’s Selectmen—is committed to the continued support and beautification of Center Park. This will be accomplished through fundraising and potentially timely recommendations to the Board of Selectmen for additional funds to maintain and improve the park to be included during the standard annual budget cycle.

The History of Center Park from 1974 to 2012

Articles published in the Carlisle Mosquito
How a parking lot became Center Park by Ellen Miller
Center Park, a splendid little oasis by Ellen Miller
Center Park – a peaceful garden in the center of Carlisle by Cecile Sandwen

Update 2013

Viburnum on the South Boundary

The Community Preservation Fund allocated $10,000 to Center Park to be expended for capital improvements over a four-year period from 2013 to 2017. The first project was a new path that links the park with the Carlisle rotary, Fern’s Country Store, Gleason Library, the school, churches, the Veteran’s Memorial on Carlisle Common, and business offices.

Also, a paperbark maple tree (Acer griseum) along the North boundary was donated by Brian J. Prosser in memory of Katharine Dru Prosser.

Center Park celebrated its 6th birthday on June 29 with ice cream (from Kimball Farm!) and cake. The Ancient Mariners played Dixieland jazz and selections from the American Songbook.