The Benson Park Advisory Committee met on May 15 with a review of crucial restoration work for the park’s recently donated lion statues. Committee member Jack Madden announced a long-term plan for the statues.
“These concrete lions, a male lion, a female lion, and two cubs, they were in the original Benson’s Wild Animal Farm. When everything was sold off 50 years ago these wound up in the ownership of a family here in Hudson,” explained Madden. “We were happy to take the lost lions back, and when they’re rehabilitated, we don’t want kids climbing up on them, swinging on a tail or that because they’re not meant to be a playground.”
Paul Tracy, who helped the park restore the Old Lady in the Shoe, was willing to help refurbish the lion statues as well.
“He teaches classes on how to fix tombstones and things like that,” added committee member Sue Clement. “He was interested in coming in, taking a look, and getting started on that. I think he’s looking to do that this summer. So, I asked, when he comes in, if he could give an estimate prior to buying the supplies and doing it so we can get an idea.”
The Department of Public Works also suggested building a permanent platform to contain the lions, separating them from being handled due to their fragile nature. The statues were originally slated for the park’s Gorilla Cage before that location was deemed unsuitable for long-term storage.
“We’re in the process right now of step one, fixing them and making sure the cracks are sealed so they look good,” said Clement. “That’s our plan; I think we can do it.”
At least one statue was in “rough shape” due, in part, to weather-related damage.
Clement reminded the public that Benson Park was still accepting applicants interested in the Adopt-A-Spot program and announced that a representative of the Life is Good company recently chose to participate.
“They’re going to start and come to work as part of community service for the company,” she said. “It’s good for morale and getting out of the office to do something outside, which I think is a great idea for any other company looking to do something like that. We have many Adopt-A-Spot’s that are still available.”
Additionally, Benson Park and the Friends of Benson Park organization announced it was still looking for new volunteers to help with everything from historical preservation to helping out with the Elephant Bar’s Park Store, to regular park clean-ups.
Clement added that volunteers do not need to live in Hudson.
“We do have a lot of volunteers that are not from Hudson. One of the girls I met with, she is from Derry. We have a lot of our volunteers that are from Nashua. We’ll take any volunteers; they all use the park,” said Clement.
The next Clean-up Day is scheduled for Saturday, June 21, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. The next meeting of the Benson Park Advisory Committee is set for Thursday, June 19, at 7 p.m. in the Hudson Cable Access Center.
