Residents have expressed their disappointment in the appearance of the holiday tree from last year. There have been accusations of vandalism (which thankfully turned out to be squirrels), some heated exchanges at Parks and Recreation Commission meetings, and some pretty major public outcry regarding the state of the lights on Nextdoor Harvard. Parks and Rec members have had it hard and don’t deserve the grief they’ve been getting. They worked really hard on the lights and had to be out there in the freezing rain putting them up last year. Once they were lit, the complaints came pouring in. We certainly appreciate the Parks and Rec folks for what they do for our common spaces in town. They get a lot done on a short budget and deserve a lot of credit. Having said that, the lights chosen and the method in which they were strung really left me disappointed last year. The contrast between the lights and the Common was glaring.
We must come together and make a decision about the existing tree and future tree-lighting efforts. The current tree is diseased and very expensive to light every year due to its height. I’d much rather see a smaller tree decorated grandly than a really tall tree looking shabby. It may need to come down and be replaced by another one. A 25-foot-tall fir tree on the north side of Town Hall near Ayer Road comes to mind, having been planted too close to the building and road. We may need that tree for next year, as it can be moved with a tree spade to where the old one is. As a key feature to town center, the Common deserves to look positively grand during the holiday season. It’s a poor reflection of a town when its Common is in disrepair and unkempt. The Common is the seat of our town government and the common area for our town’s residents, and ours is really a very lovely one—full of rich history and character. Let’s make the Common shine as a beacon of hope in the midst of winter once again.
Scott Roy
Harvard Historical Commission
Editor’s note: This letter was excerpted by Scott Roy from the Harvard Historical Commission’s blog: https://hhcommission.wordpress.com/2015/11/08/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like/.
