News

Dix Park set to get a $75K fix

By Paul Leighton
Staff writer
Published: November 9, 2009

BEVERLY — Two Beverly Farms organizations and the city of Beverly are set to begin a $75,000 project to improve Dix Park in Beverly Farms, including two new tree-lined entrances.

The Beverly Farms Improvement Society and the Friends of Dix Park have developed a master plan that would also create a new tennis court and multipurpose court and resurface the basketball court.

The Farms Improvement Society has donated $35,000 to jump-start the project, known as "Operation Fix Dix." The city of Beverly will donate all labor costs, general contracting services and a portion of the materials for the project, according to organizers.

Beverly Farms Improvement Society president Wendy Drinkwater said work is expected to begin this month. She said the improvements will ensure that the park "will be enjoyed for generations."

The plans call for the installation of a pedestrian path from Hale Street into the park along Dix way. The path will be paved in stone dust, lined in granite, and planted with more than 1,000 indigenous plants. The entry sidewalk will be lined with square stones to be carved with family names and messages.

On the other side of the park on Haskell Street, the steep stairs will be replaced with a handicap-accessible pathway on a house lot next to the park donated by the Townsend family, owners of Townsend Oil. The lot donated by the Townsends will also be used for parking and as a staging area during construction.

Dinart and Roy Serpa, owners of the Beverly Farms Dunkin Donuts, have donated $5,000 for the installation of a new basketball court at the park. Drinkwater said the basketball court could be installed within two weeks.

The groups would also like to fix the tennis courts and install bike racks, benches and picnic tables. Drinkwater said the plans could be modified depending on how much money is raised.

The section of Beverly Farms where Dix Park is located has been plagued by flooding problems over the years. In fact, Dix Park is designed as a location to hold water during flooding.

Drinkwater said the plans to upgrade the park have been made with flooding in mind. The plans have been designed and engineered by the city of Beverly, which has been working to alleviate the flooding problems.

Organizers are offering several "naming opportunities" to raise money for the project, from a $30,000 donation to have the new tennis court named in the donor's honor to $500 for donors' to have their names on a plaque at the basketball court.

For more information or to make a donation, go to fixdix.org.

Staff writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2675 or by e-mail at pleighton@salemnews.com.

Operation Fix Dix

Install tree-lined pedestrian path along Dix Way with stone dust paving, lined with more than 1,000 plants and four granite benches

Replace tennis courts with one new tennis court and one new multi-purpose court

Resurface basketball court

Install bike racks, benches and picnic tables

Replace steep stairs at Haskell Street entrance with handicap-accessible pathway