Dean Rea/The Herald The master plan envisions adding shade trees to Paul Fisher Park, which is adjacent to the Lowell City Hall on Third Street.
By DEAN REA/Correspondent/The Herald —At least one “memorial” tree will be planted this fall in Paul Fisher Park.
“I’ll pay for it,” Hall O’Regan told Lowell City Council members Tuesday night while urging the city to “jump-start” the tree-planting project rather than wait until the city can finance improvements outlined in the park’s master plan.
“Several years ago we surveyed the community, and people complained about the lack of green grass during the summer and absolutely no shade trees,” said O’Regan, who has led the parks and recreation committee for four years.
Dean Rea/The Herald Hall O’Regan
“The city doesn’t have a half-million dollars to complete the master plan,” he said. “I’m proposing that we see what minor projects we can do without busting the park budget. We can do it by sections year by year.
“Let’s get proactive in this family park,” he added. “It’s time to stop talking and to get doing.”
Councilor Tim Stratis quickly responded in support of the proposal and offered suggestions on how grading and tree planting could be accomplished. Councilors Gail Harris and John Myers supported the project in which people would be invited to contribute “memorial” trees. A citizen speaking via Zoom also endorsed the proposal.
Councilors nodded approval of a suggestion by Mayor Don Bennett that the city determines what money may be available to help finance a tree-planting project, to involve a landscape engineer in the process and to invite people to contribute money and “memorial” trees.
In other action, the council:
— Appointed Michael Galvin to the Lowell Planning Commission, which is still a member short. Galvin also is chair of the Lowell School Board.
— Chose Public Works Director Max Baker to act as city administrator during Jeremy Caudle’s vacation absence.
— Approved an “exclusive authorization of sale” agreement with Campbell Commercial Real Estate for the sale of city property at 8 N. Hyland St.
— Met in executive session to negotiate real property transactions.
