To the editor:
My child recently came home from school full of pride and excitement after a tree planting project at Farrell Court. When I looked at the photo from that day, there was Larry Simpson — volunteering his time, hands in the dirt alongside the kids. That moment captured exactly what Marblehead needs in a Recreation and Parks Commissioner: someone who understands the importance of bridging the natural world and serving our community as a superfood for the soul.
As a board member of the Friends of the Park on Elm, I’ve seen firsthand what it takes to reimagine a community space that serves everyone — from young children to older adults — through thoughtful design and stewardship. Our project at the Old Gerry School playground is not just about play structures. It’s about creating a beautiful, welcoming green space filled with trees, gardens, and places for neighbors of all ages to gather. Larry shares this vision.
In an era of flat budgets, we need a commissioner who believes that parks are more than play — they’re places to connect with nature and each other. With his decades of experience in town as an ecological garden designer and as a former land manager at The Trustees of Reservations, Larry brings the kind of long-term thinking and environmental care our parks deserve.
Please join me in voting for Larry Simpson.
Sincerely,
Adam Smith
