jackiedoherty.org

You must have noticed this park if you ever drive by the 99 Restaurant in the Highlands, especially if you turn the corner from Chelmsford Street onto Stevens. For me, it has been a personal joy to watch this neglected pie-slice of land transform into a beautiful garden oasis. But then, in addition to being in that area often, I know a little of the land’s history. It was over a year ago that I attended a Greater Lowell Community Foundation luncheon and first learned about Alfred Coburn and his vision for this neglected corner. Apparently the land, which belonged to Alfred’s great grandparents, was all that was left of the old Coburn homestead and dairy farm. (The farm was in its heyday during the 1850s.) Even though the Coburn family had donated the corner to the city in 1907, it had become overgrown with weeds and trash. Last year, Coburn worked with the GLCF and the Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust to establish a fund in memory of his family that would create a park from this tiny slice of land and maintain it forever. Sandwiched between two busy streets, the park has enhanced the quality of life for many commuters and neighborhood residents, as well as providing an exceptionally pleasant gateway into the city. Next time you’re in the area, be sure to check it out.