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Winnie began her involvement with Grant Square Park eleven years ago. Back then, the park was run-down and a space where crime happened frequently. After years of phone calls to the City of Worcester, Winnie received a call saying that her advocacy had paid off and that the city would be setting aside money to renovate Grant Square Park. Since the park’s renovation in 2015, crime in the area has decreased and people have been able to gather in the park. Thanks to Winnie, Grant Square Park has become an epicenter for community activities such as neighborhood picnics, basketball games, and gardening. Winnie also formed the Green Hill Neighborhood Association (GHNA), a neighborhood group that meets once a month to discuss issues ranging from local crime to improvements in the local parks.
In addition to the city’s efforts, Winnie was able to secure 6 fruit trees for the park through the Worcester Tree Initiative (WTI), with funding from TD Bank. The trees were planted in September of 2018 and consist of apple and peach trees. The trees could bear fruit as soon as spring 2020. In the short term, these fruit trees have brought the community together, and in the long term, they will provide food for the community. The clean-up and planting efforts in the park’s recent history demonstrate how green space and community bonds grow together.
The community garden located within Grant Square Park contains 30 community garden beds. Winnie is currently in the process of adding more beds due to the level of interest from the neighborhood. During the renovations in 2015, the city of Worcester added a water line and spout to provide the water for the crops grown in the garden. In addition to the water lines, the renovation added lights to illuminate the park at night. Since the park is better lit during the night, events are able to extend into the night. What used to be a dark and criminally active park is now a source of light and activity in the neighborhood.
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