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Politics & Government

New Gazebo for the North Common

Gazebo gifted to the town.

The North Common, says Mansfield native and philanthropist Joe Gonsalves, "is like an old lady who has lost a lot of weight." In other words, she deserves some attention.

"Let's dress her up," Gonsalves told selectmen Wednesday. He has ordered a bandstand much like the one on the South Common, and it is waiting in the wings to be delivered to town and installed on the North Common near the train station.

The problem is, selectmen had heard nothing about it until recently, when the gazebo plan was scheduled to come up for site plan approval before the planning board. At an earlier meeting, selectmen discussed the matter, and member Doug Annino, a former planning board member and architect whose ideas have helped design the look of the changing downtown, said he wanted to approach the common revival in a more holistic fashion.

Gonsalves heard about the hesitancy through the town grapevine, and Wednesday he came into the meeting in person, leaning on a walker. The 82-year-old is not easily deterred from wanting to do good - in fact, he and his family donated an ambulance some years ago, and have contributed financially to many causes. He said he had conferred with president Ken Butler, as well as the town engineer, before ordering the gazebo. Butler had an immediate vision of productions and musical numbers that could be staged there, Gonsalves said.

Selectmen were quick to point out the idea for the gazebo was great, and they were thankful, but pointed out the common needs a complete overhaul. Annino had drawn up some plans, showing the gazebo moved closer to the railroad station rather than in the center, with a large expanse of lawn in front for people to sit on.

The old flagpole was probably put there by Walter Lowney, Gonsalves said. Lowney was the wealthy owner of the chocolate factory and Lowney Farm in the 1940's, and the common was then much larger. Route 106 and the underpass took a huge chunk of the land, altering forever the layout of the common. The flagpole is no longer in the center because of the change, and the walkways are unevenly placed.

"The most important thing is to preserve that flagpole before we lose it," said board member George Dentino. "The North Common has been the forgotten brother for a long time - it's been let go. We always appreciate what you have done," he said to Gonsalves. "But we have to take this piece by piece."

When the suggestion was made that it could take years to complete all the work that would be needed, MMAS board of directors president Dianne Royle stood up to say the board should accept the gift of the gazebo now and figure out where to put it. Royle, a former selectman herself, has known Gonsalves for years.

"He doesn't have time to see the North Common remodeled years down the road," she said of her old friend.

In the end, the board voted 5-0 to accept the gift of the gazebo and find it a home. Work will continue with the planning board to complete the design for the common overhaul, and president Neal Rhein said his organization is interested in working on the project as well.

In addition, Town Manager Bill Ross said he already has an idea of how to raise the funds for the whole project, but would not reveal quite yet what that idea might be.





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