New Pavilion Pays Tribute To Former Town Planner

FOXBOROUGH, MA — If you're going to place a tribute to the late Sharon Wason anywhere in Foxborough, there's no better place than the Payson Road Recreation Complex - one of the most visible displays of the late town planner's work.

With a playground and fields funded by grants and work spearheaded by Wason in the background, the town formally opened the Sharon Wason Pavilion at the complex. The small structure with picnic tables will be open for use by the public.

Wason suddenly passed away in late May 2015, four years after coming to Foxborough. The home of the pavilion was made possible in part by a $232,000 state grant she obtained to complete the project.

"She went above and beyond for every department to get grant money because she felt the community needed her to do that. That was her expertise. She had great ideas for what would make this community a better place," planning board chairman Kevin Weinfeld said.

Many who spoke at the opening praised Wason's work on the complex. Nearby residents who moved in over a decade ago said the end result was more than they could have ever imagined. What was once houses with very little activity and a field once used for New England Patriots practice became a neighborhood with sidewalks, speed humps to slow vehicles down, a playground, a lacrosse field, and more.

"She is responsible for everything that you see," Payson Road resident Pat Monahan said. "She cared about everyone, the people she works with and the people she hardly knew. If you could take away a message it's that, care about everyone.

Foxborough Board of Selectmen Chairman David Feldman said while he did not have many opportunities to work with Wason, he knew he had to be prepared the few times that he did.

"I learned something from her. If you're going to take a case, do your homework, do your research and be prepared. Anyone who worked with her was up against it because she was coming with her research, knowledge and work ethic," he said.

Gordon Greene, a longtime member of the planning board remarked on the longevity of the project.

"She wasn't with us long but the memories and things she did will last forever. We were cheated that she left us so soon," he said.

Image Credit: Dan Libon