Portsmouth Garden Club spruces up Legion Park

Spanking new sign completes refurbishing, replanting

Posted 11/12/18

PORTSMOUTH — Legion Park, a triangular patch of land in front of Portsmouth Town Hall that was set aside after World War II as a memorial to fallen soldiers, has gotten a makeover.

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Portsmouth Garden Club spruces up Legion Park

Spanking new sign completes refurbishing, replanting

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — Legion Park, a triangular patch of land in front of Portsmouth Town Hall that was set aside after World War II as a memorial to fallen soldiers, has gotten a makeover.

The Portsmouth Garden Club recently completed a refurbish and replanting of the park that began two years ago. Shade, overhanging branches, a decaying cannon carrier, tired-looking plants and poor soil created recent issues beyond merely planting and watering the flowers. 

The park was originally laid out by the American Legion with an anchor from an old British frigate and cedar trees. In June 1948, the Portsmouth Garden Club got permission from the Town Council to develop that garden plot more fully. Since that time the club has added and expanded flower beds, added a Liberty tree, helped the Portsmouth Historical Society place a cannon at the front, decorated for Christmas and placed flags on appropriate Veterans Days. 

The reconditioning of the park was made possible by grants from the Aquidneck Land Trust, a legislative grant from Sen. James Seveney, funds from the R.I. Federation of Garden Clubs and the Portsmouth Garden Club’s civic beautifications funds.

The project began with volunteer Manuel Sousa repainting the cannon and building its carrier. Improvements followed to the Liberty tree and surrounding flower beds, with red impatiens added.

This fall, more than 50 donated and purchased hostas were planted, framing the circle under the tree, and ground cover plants were planted closer to the trunk. 

Lastly, the club received permission from the council to install a “Legion Park” sign, designed and paid for by members, just in time for Veterans Day to mark the 100th anniversary of the World War I armistice.

Roberta Stevens and Marilyn Brockway, current and past club presidents, respectively, said members are grateful to the town administrator and Town Council for their encouragement, Brian Woodhead of the Public Works Department, all the financial sponsors, and the Island Garden Shop and Liptak Design. Carrol Goetzinger, Mary Di Bara and Brenda Sisson, civic beautification chairwomen, were instrumental volunteers who worked hard on the plantings.

The club will celebrate its 85 anniversary year next year and continues to work on civic beautification and other community goals. People wishing to join are encouraged to post a message at www.portsmouthgardenclub.com, write to P.O. Box 826, send an e-mail to ejtl@cox.net, or call membership chairwoman Eileen at 774/991-5226.

Legion Park, Portsmouth Garden Club

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.