:University Park (Worcester, Massachusetts)

Image:University Park, Worcester MA.jpg

University Park, also called Crystal Park, is a public park in the Main South neighborhood of Worcester, Massachusetts. The {{convert|13|acre|m2|adj=on}} park was acquired by the city from 1887 to 1889, costing nearly 62,000 dollars.[https://books.google.com/books?id=FGENAQAAIAAJ&dq=crystal+park+worcester+massachusetts&pg=PA123 Dictionary of Worcester (Massachusetts) and its vicinity] by Franklin Pierce Rice, 1893 It is located across Main Street from Clark University, thus the name.[http://www.ci.worcester.ma.us/dpw/parks-rec/city-parks/university-park University Park] Worcester, Massachusetts University Park Campus School, a local nearby public high school founded with help from Clark, is named after the park.

On September 20, 2010, Clark University announced a "20-year voluntary Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement" with the City of Worcester, with some of the funds going directly to improvements in University Park.{{cite web|last=Kotsopoulos|first=Nick|title=Clark to pay city $6.7M|url=http://www.telegram.com/article/20100920/NEWS/100929977/1116|work=Worcester Telegram & Gazette|access-date=28 March 2011}} On March 24, 2011, the $1.5 million park redevelopment project was formally announced, and residents were informed that there would be a several-month-long community engagement and participatory planning process.{{cite web|last=Gangi|first=Jim|title=$1.5 million in improvements planned for University Park|url=http://www.telegram.com/article/20110324/NEWS/110329834/1246|work=Worcester Telegram & Gazette|access-date=28 March 2011}}