POSTED: May 22, 2026
Senior’s Day at the Park Event - Held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026
The Association’s “Senior’s Day at the Park” event was held at the clubhouse at Mount Hood Memorial Park & Golf Course on Tuesday, May 12th from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm to a full capacity hall. It was a perfect sunny day for the event, which included several lectures, a lunch, and later a trip to Slayton Tower for sightseeing. This free event was sponsored by the Mt. Hood Park Association with support from the Melrose Park Department.
At the start of the program, Association President, Myron Dittmer, welcomed all those in attendance and mentioned the 55-year history of the organization and their efforts to promote, preserve and protect the 235 acres which make up the largest green space in Melrose which is known as the “Green Jewell of Melrose”. Next, Erica Drummond, Executive Director of the Council on Aging, spoke and informed attendees about the many social and cultural programs available to seniors at the Milano Senior Center, Finally, Mayor Jen Grigoraitis welcomed all attendees and thanked the Association for sponsoring this popular event each year for seniors and bringing attention to the wonderful resources and recreational opportunities at Mount Hood
The first speaker was Annie Harris, CEO and founder of the Essex National Heritage Commission, which includes thirty-four cities and towns that make up Essex County. She explained that the Essex National Heritage Area (NHA) consists of regions which have concentrations of significant natural, scenic, history, and recreational resources. The concept of Heritage areas is about developing partnerships among residents, businesses, and governments who work together to create more livable and economically sustainable regions. The goal for the Commission is to connect people and places by: (1) preserving and enhancing the historic, cultural, and natural resources of the National Heritage Area (NHA, (2) celebrating and acknowledging the many stories representing all the residents of NHA, and educating and supporting opportunities for learning and engagement in the NHA. She went on to explain examples of how the Commission carries out their mission. She encouraged attendees to join in the upcoming 25th anniversary celebration, this year, of the Essex National Heritage area, “Trails & Sails” event from Sept. 13th through Sept. 28th – with over 200 events and all are free! For more information – go to TrailsandSails.org.
After lunch, the second speaker was William de Constant, an environmental policy analysist, currently working with Sagamore Golf, Inc., which runs the Melrose Mount Hood Golf Course. Will was hired to prepare the necessary documentation and implement the programs required to meet the certification standards of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for both the Melrose Mount Hood golf course and Sagamore Spring golf course in Lynnfield. This is a program specifically for golf courses under the Audubon International program, which focuses on sustainable land management while working with golf courses, parks, and other managed landscapes. Obtaining this certification is considered a major achievement for a golf course and demonstrates its commitment to improving natural habits, improving turf health, and enhancing sustainability. He noted that progress is being made since the project began last year and includes:
· Environmental Planning: Site Assessment - Environmental Plan - Mapping / GIS
· Wildlife and Habitat: Wildlife Inventory - Nesting boxes - Sensitive zone signage - Monarchs in the Rough
· Bluebird and Tree & Swallow Housing: Installing housing in the park.
Following the talk, attendees travelled up to Slayton Tower, the highest point in the park, to experience the panoramic view of the area including Revere Beach and the Boston skyline.
As noted earlier, this event was sponsored by the Mount Hood Park Association and the Melrose Park Department. Also, we would like to extend our thanks to the following people for their support: Rob Carrillo, Superintendent of Melrose Public and Open Spaces; Erica Brown, Executive Director of Melrose Council on Aging; and from Sagamore Golf, Dean Scarito, General Manager, and Katrina Dean, Function Manager.
