Somerville Receives $500K Grant to Build New Harris Park

Somerville has received a $500,000 grant from the state to help build the new Harris Park on Cross Street in East Somerville, according to an announcement from the state.

The Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) grant comes from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and it will help the city move from its current location, butting up against Interstate 93 service roads, to a more desirable location a few blocks away.

In its present location on Cross Street East, Harris Park is a small concrete space with some run-down basketball hoops. It's rare to see children playing there, though . Last year, the city used the park as .

The new Harris Park will be built close to Broadway, at 15-25 Cross Street East, near the old Broadway fire station, now home to some community organizations. The new park will contain play structures, a half basketball court, a water play feature and a social gathering space, according to the state's announcement.

A presentation delivered by the city in November says construction on the new park could begin this summer, and it could open in the summer of 2013. The city is paying $281,250 in matching funds, according to the presentation.