Saturday’s cleanup at the park next to Creekside Commons in Chelsea took place under intense heat, with temperatures climbing toward 90 degrees from an initial 83. Despite the oppressive conditions, members of the Chelsea Enhancement Team (CET) showed up ready to work, focusing their efforts on beautifying the park and its walking path, which runs behind Beth Israel Deaconess Healthcare and extends to the Locke Street Apartments.
Leading these regular beautification efforts are Sharon Fosbury, senior engagement manager at The Neighborhood Developers, and Michael Sandoval, founding member of CET and recycling and solid waste coordinator for the City of Chelsea. The events they coordinate have become known as “Chelsea Shines – The
Neighborhood Cleanup.”
Fosbury explained that “We do these events in various parts of the
city,” “At our last meeting, the group decided that they
wanted to go to Creekside Commons for July, so we’re here cleaning, weeding,
picking up trash, trying to keep our parks clean.”
According to Sandoval, both the city and CET remain dedicated to ensuring that Chelsea residents can safely access local parks and recreational spaces.
Sandoval noted that “We’re very committed to stepping up our
cleanings and educating the public and creating an awareness for the importance
of reducing litter in our parks,”
At this particular site, city workers maintain a bag dispenser and dog waste station weekly—one of 33 stations positioned throughout Chelsea, as Sandoval pointed out.
Crediting City Manager Tom Ambrosino with supporting CET’s mission, Sandoval acknowledged his role in facilitating ongoing citywide cleanup initiatives. “This is a work in progress and we have an
amazing leader in our city manager, Tom Ambrosino,” Sandoval stated. “He’s been
our backbone and given us all the support we need as far as doing the outreach
and talking to residents about the importance of keeping our city clean.”
Beyond this location, Fosbury noted that CET regularly tends to the area at Marlborough and Willow streets as well.
Fosbury shared that “We’ve adopted this little area right where
the Silver Line goes by,” “We’ve planted a bunch of
sunflowers. Every year we do plantings and weeds.”
A prominent figure with the highly successful TND agency—which has spearheaded major transformations including the residential community development on Gerrish Avenue—Fosbury welcomes Chelsea residents to join CET at its monthly meetings, held on the third Wednesday of each month.