Acushnet’s Pope Park Is Getting a Facelift

Do you want the good news first, or the bad news? I'm a bad news first kind of guy, so I hope you are, too.

Here's the bad news: Pope Park in Acushnet will be shut down this week. Yes, I know it is school vacation week. Yes, I know the weather was absolutely perfect today for a day at the park. But the good news is that the park is closed this week for the renovations that are taking place at Pope Park.

We spoke to Chad Leclair, the head of the Acushnet Park Commission, about the construction that is happening at Pope Park this week.

"I realize it's not an ideal week, but when you are working with a contractor you are sometimes at their mercy when it comes to timing," Leclair said. The project has been in the works for three years.

"I really had wanted to completely revamp the playground," Leclair said. "We had plans to solicit local businesses for donations, but then COVID hit. We just couldn't ask businesses for donations during such a tough time."

In addition to a new dome for the children to use, a net and some of the other more popular toys were moved from the schools' playground, renovated, and installed at Pope Park.

The highlight of the project will be a new pavilion that is being constructed. The plan is to set up four picnic tables in the shade for people to enjoy lunch at the park.

The construction is likely to extend beyond this week, "but in the end, I think people will be very happy," Leclair said.