A former gas station and town maintenance facility at 3 Barton Street in Oxford will soon be transformed into a pollinator park through a state-funded initiative aimed at improving climate resilience, supporting local wildlife, and creating new public green space.

The project, known as Petroleum to Pollinators, is a partnership between the Town of Oxford and Weston & Sampson and is funded through the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program. The proposed park on just over a quarter of an acre will feature native plantings, expanded tree canopy, stormwater management features, educational elements, and community gathering spaces.

According to Danielle Burney, Director of Communications for the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), the project stood out because it aligned closely with the goals of the MVP Program.

“The Town of Oxford’s Petroleum to Pollinators project embodies several of the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program’s core principles, which made it highly competitive for funding in both the FY25 and FY26 grant rounds,” Burney said.

The site will convert previously developed land into a public park designed to address multiple environmental challenges. 

This effort is taking place to combat the decline of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, which are critical to balancing ecosystems. According to the Xerces Society of Invertebrate Conservation, “of the foods and beverages that we consume daily, over 30 percent rely on or benefit from a pollinator.”

With a lack of pollination, plants are unable to reproduce which not only decreases agricultural yields but also puts entire ecosystems at risk. Oxford’s pollinator park will create a habitat for numerous pollinators and include new shrubs, trees, and perennial plantings that will help to reduce heat, improve air quality, and manage stormwater runoff.

“The project will transform a former gas station into a public park in an Environmental Justice neighborhood,” Burney said. “The project was designed in partnership with neighborhood residents to create a space that supports connections to nature and to one another.” 

The State Climate Policy Dashboard defines an Environmental Justice Neighborhood as “a group within a certain geographic location that experiences disproportionate environmental harms and risks and may share certain socioeconomic conditions.”

Community feedback has played a significant role in shaping the park’s design, with residents expressing support for native plantings, pollinator habitat, educational features, seating areas, and a natural aesthetic.

Oxford received an MVP Action Grant totaling $206,100 in Fiscal Year 2025 to fund the park’s site assessments, surveying, preliminary design work, and community engagement efforts. Additional funding was set aside in Fiscal Year 2026 to complete final design, permitting, and continue outreach with residents.

Burney said projects such as Oxford’s pollinator park are an example for how communities can use nature-based solutions to address long-term climate concerns while improving quality of life for residents.

“Over the next five to 10 years, we hope communities will continue to implement and learn from projects like this one, incorporating opportunities to restore and integrate nature into the built environment,” Burney said. “These efforts can help create healthier, more resilient places where people live, work, and play while building a stronger foundation for long-term climate adaptation.”

Once completed, town officials hope the park will serve as both a community destination and a demonstration of how underutilized properties can be repurposed to address environmental challenges.