Stanley Park Project With Kelsey's Philosophy

Stanley Park Project With Kelsey's Philosophy Stanley Park: Addressing community needs. "Stanley Park was made possible because thousands were interested in doing something worthwhile for their fellow man" according to its founder Frank Stanley Beveridge (What's new at Stanley Park, 2012, Stanley Park). Stanley Park is located on twenty-five acres in Westfield, Massachusetts. It is open to the public although it is not funded or run by the city or state. It is a private, not-for-profit facility (What's new at Stanley Park, 2012, Stanley Park).

The park is largely supported by the Beveridge Family Foundation, donations from the community, membership fees, and fees from events such as weddings, sporting events and photo shoots (FAQs, Stanley Park, 2012). Charges for these events, depending upon the size, timing and type of event, range from $75-$300 (Schedule of fees, Stanley Park, 2012). Stanley Park serves the community by providing opportunities for residents to participate in music and educational programs as well as cultural activities. On the park's expanse are trails, gardens, and sporting venues (Ways of giving, 2012, Stanley Park).

Beveridge, a Canadian businessman who made his fortune as director of sales for the Fuller Brush Company intended the park to serve multiple functions, which is why it also encompasses wildlife sanctuary. There is also a historic area to teach the community about the past, including "a Colonial Pond area with an orchard, working mill and waterwheel, an old town meeting house, carriage shed and blacksmith shop, and arched bridges all with a backdrop of flowering azaleas and rhododendron" (Frank Stanley Beveridge, 2012, Stanley Park).

Upcoming scheduled events run a wide gamut, from musical programs; sing-a-longs and educational programs for children; nature walks; walks specifically designed for persons in wheelchairs; gardening workshops; to educational programs for children with titles like 'Nature Detectives' and 'Little Picassos' (Stanley Park brochure, 2012, Stanley Park). There is even a home improvement dry-walling workshop. Thus, the interests of people with many different needs and aptitudes are served by the park. Its philosophy is fundamentally inclusive rather than exclusive.

The park's open attitude even extends to the hours when it is officially closed. Although the park is "officially open from the first Saturday in May through the last Sunday in November," its gates are always open (FAQs, Stanley Park, 2012). Dogs (as long as they are leashed and their owners clean up after them) are also permitted in the park year-round. The main restrictions are that picnicking must be conducted in designated areas and 4X4 dirt bikes are not permitted in the park.

Although Stanley Park is a privately-run facility, it sets a positive example of a community space embracing different community needs. Adults flock to the park to learn about how to make their homes and gardens more beautiful and to find a respite in the beauty of nature or to use sports facilities. Children gain their first connection to nature in the park through various park-sponsored activities.

Although the park is supported through a foundation, it is able to sustain itself as well through offering its space to the public for private events without fundamentally compromising its.