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Massa Park Fate Uncertain
Author: mt43news staff reporter

MT43 News Staff Reporter

Larry Massa, his wife Marcia, and Penny Massa were in town last week trying to make sense of what has changed with their lot on Broadway Street, Massa Park.

The little park has, until recently, been watered, weed-sprayed, and mowed by the City of Townsend maintenance people. The City no longer maintains the little park at 203 Broadway, as the 10-year lease with the Massa family, from 1993, had long since run out, according to Mayor Vickie Rauser in an interview last Thursday.

The Massa family has a strong connection to the lot: their father Mike bought the lot and moved a small log cabin to the back of the lot from Toston in the early 50’s. Mrs. Massa signed a lease with the City to maintain the park in August of 1993, according to City office documents. In 1994, the park was dedicated as Massa Park after Townsend Rotarians and city employees hauled in sod, installed a sprinkler system, planted the now large fir tree, and added wooden benches, which were later replaced by city employees as they deteriorated.

During the creation of the park, Townsend Rotarians and city employees erected a fence to separate the back of the lot from the park. Massas paid for the materials to build the fence.

Two trees dedicated to Massas’ mother, Gwen, and long-time high school band teacher Polly Ragen were planted in 2014. The Massa family added a “Massa Park” sign as well. The Job Corps- built concrete benches were added by the Massa family. “The whole idea,” Larry Massa said, “was for the town to be able to use and enjoy it as a park.”

Rauser said the lease expired in 2003, but it was never formally renewed by either previous City Councils or the Massa family. It wasn’t until 2024 that she began contacting the Massa family, all of whom live out of town, to see if they wished to renew the lease. A Massa brother, Dean, indicated the family would be interested in renewing the lease. After two public City Council meetings mentioning the park, the Mayor sent a draft lease in April of this year. “We were prepared to repair or replace the fence upon receipt of the signed lease. Everyone on the Council was in favor of continuing maintenance of the park,” Rauser concluded.

For whatever reason, the Massa family elected not to sign the lease outlined in a letter to the City from their attorney. On June 25, City Attorney Ed Gaza sent a letter notifying the family’s attorney that the City would no longer be maintaining the park. The City’s Facebook page post acknowledged the same information.

Massa finished by saying he and the family would now pay for someone to mow and spray the park but would not pay for the power to run the sprinkler system. “Since we are now liable for accidents in the park and we can’t afford liability insurance, our plan at this time is to sell the property. In the meantime, we’ll have a large fence around the entire lot to ensure no trespassing takes place,” he said.

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PhotoCredit: mt43news photos
Image 1 Caption: City Hall Sign
Image 2 Caption: Penny Massa and her brother Larry with his wife Marcia, stand by a tree dedicated to Massas' mother Gwen who started Massa Park in 1993. MT43 News Photo