WESTFIELD – A committee came together late Monday afternoon in the board room at Stanley Park.
The committee is charged with preparing for the annual Stanley Park gala event which takes place on Sept. 9, 2017 in the new pavilion.
Each year the annual Stanley Park gala raises funds towards something specific in the park, this year the committee announced that the money raised at the event will help with the renovations of the Colonial Village.
Buildings inside the Colonial Village include The Mill House, Blacksmith Shop, and the Carriage House, which all need to be refurbished.
Co-chairs of the committee, Donna Herman and Angela Derouin, are heading this project. The upcoming 2017 event in September will mark the 10th year that the event has been around.
“What we’re basically focusing on this year is the Carriage House,” said Herman.
As it needs to be renovated inside, the Carriage House has stalls that need to be fixed up. There is also a Diorama of what Stanley Park would have looked like hundreds of years ago.
Members of the Stanley Park Committee get together for a meeting in the board room at Stanley Park to prepare for the event next year in September. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
The committee is also working on adding new aspects to the Carriage House.
“We’re hoping to get some artifacts in there,” said Herman and the point of having the artifacts is important to the committee.
“Everyone thinks it’s time to get it out so the public can see the history,” said Herman.
With the Colonial Village as the theme of the event in September, the event will be a community friendly event.
“It’ll be a fun evening,” said Mary O’Connell, who is a member of the committee. “Some people may be able to go in costumes.”
The Colonial theme will allow people attending to dress up in colonial clothes. The committee also noted that a meal will be served and entertainment will be provided.
Tying into the event is the 350th anniversary of the city of Westfield. That anniversary will happen in 2019, so the committee will be working to get the renovated Colonial Village to be part of that anniversary.
“We hope to be a part of that, to preserve that part of the past,” said Derouin.
Having several more months in order to prepare for the Stanley Park event, the committee is encouraging anyone seeking information on the event or has any questions, to call the Development Office at Stanley Park. They can be reached at 568-3912 at extension 108 or 112.
