It’s a hidden jewel.
Drive down the shady length of Kensington’s quiet little Trundle Bed Road, and the trees part to reveal something wholly unexpected: Sawyer Park, an extensive, beautifully maintained recreation center.
On hot summer nights, crowds gather under the lights to watch kids parade onto the fields for baseball games. Neighbors get together at the playground while their children laugh and explore. The town’s Old Home Day happens here, with pony rides and a potluck dinner, while the library uses the beautiful pavilion to hold ice cream socials and musical events.
“It’s a hub,” says Dana Furbush, a resident of Kensington, member of the board for The Farm at Eastman’s Corner, and mother of three young children. “A place where I can go to connect with other families. And it will grow with us.”
With its wide range amenities, Sawyer Park seems like something that should be beyond the dreams of a small town like Kensington. But thanks to an innovative model of community, it’s not only possible, but sustainable.
This unique local resource, regularly visited by over 1,000 families from fifteen surrounding towns, thrives as the result of a unique partnership between the park and The Farm at Eastman’s Corner. As part of its mission, The Farm donates 5% of its net profits to support Sawyer Park.
It’s a policy that means the dollars you spend at The Farm work for the good of the community over and over again. They support local farmers, promoting sustainable agriculture and a healthier, more natural approach to eating, while also helping to maintain a wonderful place for kids and families to play, have adventures, and grow.
“I know when I shop at The Farm that my dollars are being spent locally, but they’re contributing also in a deeper way because of the symbiosis between The Farm and the park,” Furbush says.
While a generous donation by the Lewis Family Foundation took care of the land and funds to build the park, it’s up to the town to keep it running and to plan for the future. To date, The Farm has contributed over $37,000 to maintain, upgrade, and cover capital expenses for the park. Most recently, it put air conditioning into the concessions building and improved the infields of two of the park’s playing fields.
“It’s all about building and supporting the local community,” says Danielle Sullivan, the General Manager of The Farm at Eastman’s Corner. “We’re helping to provide a place for families in town to get out and play.”
Furbush agrees. “There’s a focus on creating a healthy community and raising healthy families in both The Farm and the park. Their missions aren’t that different. They fit together well.”
Click here for more information about Sawyer Park.
