Worcester Common Ground

Meet our Greenspaces! Part #2

Next up in this series is the Preston St Community Garden!

This greenspace is stewarded and farmed by 4 local gardeners and their extended families, they raise everything from corn and cilantro to kale and squash.

You can spot the handmade trellis structures which allow gardeners to maximize their growing space and incorporate innovative agriculture methods into our urban greenspaces.

This is one of our sites where gardeners are using intercropping, also known as Milpa or "Three Sisters" agriculture to increase production, support pollinators and grow up to 4 crops in the same plot!

This Saturday - join us in cleaning up Peace Park! The City Manager's Clean Team will be holding a clean-up from 9 - 11 AM

Address: 374 Pleasant St, Worcester MA
When: June 29, 9 -11 AM

We hope to see you there!

Happy First Day of Summer from everyone at WCG!

How will you spend your summer?

Whether you live in Worcester or come to the city to visit, there is always something to do and new places to explore - swipe through the sides to virtually adventure through the Piedmont, Pleasant, and Chandler St neighborhoods and maybe even find a new place to explore this season!

Comment your choices down below, or any other recommendations you may have for businesses and other places to visit in the neighborhood!

Worcester Common Ground's target area spans these neighborhoods and slightly beyond (check out our Target Area post for more detail), so this is just a small sample of what is available to see and experience in the area. We are thankful for Mass Development's Transformative District Initiative for their recent contributions to the small businesses in the Pleasant St corridor, helping them improve signage, add beautiful murals (find one at The Raven!), and form a strong network with other businesses.

🌱✨ From Seedlings to Success! ✨🌱

Swipe to see the incredible journey of our community greenhouse, where tiny seeds have grown into thriving, luscious crops! 🌿🥕🥦

It's amazing what a little love, care, and community effort can achieve. 💚 Check out the growth, beauty, and power of working together 🌻🌾

We want give a huge congratulations to our dedicated Executive Director Yvette Dyson, on her well deserved Renaissance Award from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation!

We are so pleased to announce the winner of our 2024 Renaissance Award is Yvette Dyson, Executive Director of Worcester Common Ground!

This $5,000 award for personal renewal is in recognition of Yvette's outstanding contributions to community development. New this year, the Foundation will make a matching $5,000 grant to Worcester Common Ground.

Please join us in congratulating Yvette!

Learn more: https://buff.ly/45pahvO

Free Summer Fitness Series in Worcester Parks from June 10th through August 31st!

Classes range from Zumba, Yoga, Meditation, Tai Chi, HIIT, Basketball Drills and more!

Each week, classes will rotate through some of the city's parks - come get active, get outside, and enjoy a new public space this Summer

The new Austin St Playground "Tot Lot" and Public Park is now here!

During the Working4Worcester Build Day this past Saturday, over 100 volunteers came together to remove all of the old playground equipment, install the new playground structure and woodchips, plant flowers in the border gardens, paint benches and install a new sign to welcome everyone into the park.

Check out the new improvements -
Address: Corner of Austin St and Newbury St, Worcester MA

Thanks to Working 4 Worcester, Consigli Construction, and the Robert J. Stransky Foundation for their generous contributions, and to everyone who lent a hand to rebuild the site! We could not have done it without you!

This Saturday we need YOU to volunteer at the Austin St Public Playground known as the "Tot Lot"!

In a partnership with the local non-profit, Working for Worcester , we will be renovating the entire site, installing a new playground, cleaning up the border gardens, and beautifying the space for all to enjoy!

If you are interested in helping for 1 hour, or the whole day - contact Annessia Jimenez to sign up and lend a hand. No prior experience or skills required - tools and supplies are provided. Build a new playground & build our community!

See you there!

Attend free tech classes at the YMCA for seniors! This course will focus on fundamental digital skills, more info below!

Meet Our WCG Greenspaces:

Our first greenspace being featured is the Public Park & Community Garden at 22 Newbury St, Worcester

Fully open to the public, this property includes 6 raised beds, a pergola, benches, walkways, and border gardens that support pollinators like butterflies, birds, and beetles right here in the city.

We have hosted Back to School BBQ events for the neighborhood here in previous Summers at 22 Newbury and hope to bring some free fitness classes to the park this Summer for all to enjoy!

Part of our community development goals include protecting and preserving greenspaces for local residents to use, enjoy, and build community through. These green oases activate our neighborhoods through community garden programming, health and fitness classes, block parties, and offer a space for residents, young and old, to gather, grow and have fun!

This week's Community Spotlight is on a local small business, Horizon Acupuncture, Horizonacu.com Worcester

Formerly located at our 133 Chandler commercial and residential building, Horizon Acupuncture moved into the first-floor commercial space at our 126 Chandler building in 2022 - just across the street!

He provides Acupuncture services and Traditional Chinese Medicine tailored for each individual patient. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Dang and his clinic provide a host of holistic and well-rounded services that can be combined with Western medicine practices to address a variety of ailments and health concerns right here in Worcester!

Hours:
MONDAY: 8AM - 4PM
WEDNESDAY: 8AM - 4PM
FRIDAY: 8AM - 1PM

Address: 126 Chandler St, Worcester, MA

Did You Know?

In 35 years, WCG has built 25 Housing Buildings, ranging from multi-family homes and triple-deckers to 35+ unit apartment buildings. In total, we have created 174 housing units, 77 of which we currently manage.

In addition to apartment-style living, WCG has a first-time homeownership program that aims to stabilize the community through long-term ownership, tackling the issue of absentee landowners one building at a time. To date, we have built 29 Homes for First-time homeowners in the Piedmont neighborhood.

Join your neighbors to hear proposed strategies to help Worcester have a safe, equitable, and connected transportation system. Join any of the three upcoming meetings!

Monday, February 12th 5:30-7:30
Thursday, February 15th 5:30-6:30 (Virtual)
Wednesday, February 21st 5:30-7:30