Drainage and Park Improvement Project

Return to Parks & Recreation Committee

At town meeting in 2011 the town appropriated $5,000 for the Parks, Recreation, and Trails Committee to study drainage repair and overall recreation field improvements in town. This project completed and project documents follow. In 2012 the town approved $90,000 for the engineering and permitting required to move forward with construction and applying for available grant monies. The committee is moving forward quickly with Weston & Sampson Engineering so as to not miss any grant deadlines. On July 27, 2012 the town also closed on the property at 37 Academy Hill Road, which will be included in the overall planning.

Update: While not being selected for the MassWorks grant in 2012, the committee completed permitting and resubmitted the application in 2013 with changes. The non-matching grant was awarded in December of 2013 for $997,521. In February, 2014, another non-matching grant application specific to recreation was submitted requesting $197,000 which would help complete the field underdrains, remaining stormwater, and grading of the field. Results will be announced in April.

Update: The $197,000 grant was not awarded and initial construction bids were higher than budgeted. The project was rebid and residents voted on $200,000 of Community Preservation Funds to pay for the unfunded portion (ball field specific) of the park improvements. The contract was awarded to Mass-West Construction.

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS THE WEEK OF JULY 14, 2014.

Meeting Schedule:

• The committee meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, 6:00 at the Town Office. No additional meetings are currently scheduled.

The following meetings were held related to this project:

• July 14, 2014 – Construction began. Construction is expected to be completed by November.
• June 16, 2014 – Special Town Meeting (Presentation and CPA Funding), Grammar School, 7:00 PM
• March 12, 2014 – Informational Meeting (Status, Bidding, Construction Schedule), Town Hall, 7:00 PM
• August 15, 2012 – Parks Planning Forum, Town Hall, 7:00 PM
• May 7, 2012 – Pre Town Meeting, Grammar School, 7:00 PM
• April 26, 2012 – Forum, Grammar School, 7:00 PM