The city held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday at the new Chuckie Harris Park in East Somerville.

The new park, which is being constructed with a $500,000 PARC grant from the state (PARC stands for Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities), will be constructed at 15-25 Cross Street, near the intersection of Broadway.

Together with extensive streetscape improvements on Broadway that will begin this summer, the new Chuckie Harris Park is part of an effort to transform the Lower Broadway area of East Somerville.

The new park will include play structures for children, a water spray feature that will double as a community theatre, integrated lighting for a unique nighttime look, a seating area with cafe tables and community gardens, according to information provided by the city.

The park will also have 80 new trees, rain gardens that will capture storm water and low-flow water features, the city said.

The park is expected to open in spring of 2013.