Wetherell Park (Duffy Field) is a wonderful neighborhood park. It is an open green space which is so critical to the fabric of our City. On any given sunny day in any season, you can find children playing on the playground, kids practicing baseball on the field, families having a picnic, owners chatting as they walk their dogs. Walk by on a weekday afternoon and you’ll see classes from nearby Midland Street School having gym class or students from Yeshiva Academy enjoying the fresh air. On a rainy day, you will find that parts of Duffy Field, especially the wooded area, turn into wetlands as the park offers much-needed stormwater management preventing flooding in other areas of the neighborhood. This is important today and will become increasingly important as climate change may cause increased or more intense precipitation. This park is central to the fabric of the surrounding community.

The City of Worcester is now proposing to completely change this natural welcoming park. As part of the Doherty Memorial High School Building project, they have proposed to add a turf football field and a parking lot into the park. The conceptual design includes fencing, lights, and cutting down a wide swath of mature trees. We cannot let the City pave and lock Duffy Field. It is a beloved natural open space by many. We must save Duffy Field. Please join us by signing this petition.