The Story Behind the Richard St. Onge Community Garden and Memorial Park at Sunny Meadow
A personal introduction
Over the years I have noticed that many people refer to the raised garden area at Sunny Meadow simply as “Garden C.” That label appears on garden maps and paperwork, but it hides something important.
That area is far more than just another section of community garden plots. It carries a history tied to sacrifice, community memory, and the long effort to turn Sunny Meadow into a place where people gather, grow food, and remember the past.
For the last 26 years, the Sunny Meadow property has been evolving as a public open space, but since 2010 this particular area has carried a more profound meaning. What many people casually call “Garden C” is actually part of the Richard StOnge Community Garden and Memorial Park, a place created to honor a firefighter who lost his life on this very land.
Remembering that story matters.
The Fire That Changed the Site
On December 5, 1970, a major fire broke out at Sunny Meadow Farm on Robin Hill Road in Chelmsford. Mutual aid departments responded from surrounding towns, including Westford.
During the firefighting operation, Westford Firefighter Richard Tilton St. Onge, age 29, was overcome by smoke while battling the blaze. He later died from smoke inhalation while fighting the fire.
The incident left a deep impact on the regional fire service community and permanently tied the Sunny Meadow property to the memory of a firefighter who died in the line of duty protecting others.
Although the farm itself eventually changed hands and the land transitioned into public use, the story of that fire never disappeared.
Creating a Garden and Memorial Park (2010)
When Sunny Meadow began its transition into a public open space, the town and community created something unique on the property.
In 2010, the Richard StOnge Community Garden and Memorial Park was dedicated.
This project was intentionally designed to blend remembrance with accessibility. Instead of building only a monument, the site was created as a living public space that people could actively use while remembering the history of the land.
The project included several key elements:
• Accessible raised garden beds so residents with limited mobility could garden
• Wide, accessible paths and ramps allowing wheelchair access
• a memorial park area connected directly to the gardens
• Interpretive signage honoring Richard St. Onge
• Landscaping and open space designed for reflection and gathering
The goal was to create a place that honored a fallen firefighter while also welcoming people of all abilities into the space.
The park and garden together formed a living memorial rather than a traditional monument.
A Community Space That Grew Over Time
As Sunny Meadow continued to evolve into one of Chelmsford’s most active public open spaces, the community gardens expanded, and additional garden sections were added.
To help manage the site, the different sections were labeled with simple designations like “Garden A,” “Garden B,” and “Garden C.”
But those labels were never meant to replace the meaning of the original space.
The StOnge Community Garden and Memorial Park remained the heart of the garden area, even as the site grew around it.
Over time, however, the simple planning label “Garden C” began to overshadow the deeper story behind the location.
A Renewed Dedication in 2025
In 2025 the community took another important step to strengthen the connection between the site and its history.
A permanent memorial sculpture honoring Firefighter Richard St. Onge was installed within the garden and memorial park area at Sunny Meadow.
A dedication ceremony held on June 1, 2025, brought together firefighters, residents, and community members to remember his sacrifice and formally recognize the memorial.
The sculpture features a firefighter’s coat and helmet resting in remembrance, a powerful symbol often used to honor firefighters who died in the line of duty.
This event effectively renewed the purpose of the site and reinforced its role as both a community garden and a firefighter memorial park.
Why the Name Matters
Places carry stories.
When we refer to this area only as “Garden C,” we lose the connection to the people and events that shaped it. The name may work for organizing plots on a map, but it does not capture the more profound meaning of the space.
This location is:
• the site of a firefighter line-of-duty death
• a community garden created to honor that sacrifice
• a memorial park dedicated in 2010
• An accessible space designed so everyone could participate
• a site renewed with a permanent memorial in 2025
For more than two decades, Sunny Meadow has grown into one of Chelmsford’s most important public open spaces. And since 2010, the Richard StOnge Community Garden and Memorial Park has been one of the most meaningful parts of that landscape.
Remembering the Story
Community spaces become stronger when we remember the stories behind them.
The Richard StOnge Community Garden and Memorial Park reminds us that Sunny Meadow is not just farmland, trails, or garden plots. It is also a place where history, community, remembrance, and accessibility come together.
When you are there next, take a moment to slow down.
Read the plaque.
Look at the sculpture.
Walk over to the park and look up at the flag.
Take a moment to remember Richard St. Onge and all fallen first responders who put community over self.
Rededication in 2025