City councilors said they do not want to have to forfeit a $400,000 state grant to do work at School Street Park.
Children play on a merry-go-round at School Street Park in Agawam.
AGAWAM – The Agawam City Council Tuesday accepted a $400,000 state grant and appropriated $1.8 million in Community Preservation Act money to help build the second phase of School Street Park, a project estimated at more than $2.5 million.
Councilors voted 8-2 in favor of both measures, with Councilors Robert E. Rossi and Cecilia P. Calabrese casting the nay votes. City Councilor Donald M. Rheault was absent.
Several councilors said they would vote in favor of accepting the grant because they do not want to see the city lose the money. The council must accept the grant or else the money will have to be returned to the state by the end of the month. The grant is from the Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities program of the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
The city is required to spend $1.8 million as a match to get the grant.
“We don’t want to lose the $400,000,” City Councilor Paul C. Cavallo said.
City Councilor Robert A. Magovern commented that he does not think the park will cost anywhere nearly as much as estimated.
“There is a lot of fat in this,” Magovern said.
Several residents as well as councilors spoke in favor of moving forward with the project.
“It is a beautiful park. It is used constantly....Phase 2 will be used as much as Phase 1 is,” former City Councilor Jill S. Messick said.
“It seems to me we have a lot more important priorities that need to be addressed (than the park),” Calabrese said, naming making City Hall handicapped accessible and repairing sidewalks as examples. “We really need to talk about our infrastructure before we spend money on some of these niceties.”
City Councilor Gina M. Letellier countered by pointing out that Community Preservation Act money cannot be used to fix sidewalks, infrastructure and roads.
“I don’t want the public to think if we don’t build this park we will have money for sidewalks and roads,” Letellier said.
Cavallo commented that in Needham, where he said his son lives, Community Preservation Act money was used to do work on that municipality’s town hall.
Community Preservation Act money is raised in Agawam by a 1 percent property tax surcharge and with the state providing some matching funds. It may be used only for projects involving open space, historic preservation, recreation and affordable housing.
The first phase of the project focused on playing fields and athletic amenities.
The second phase of the project may include open space covered with picnic shelters, a volleyball court, a playground, rest room facilities, parking for more than 200 cars, a band shell, a multi-use field, an educational wetlands overlook and maintenance facilities.
Henry A. Kozloski, who chairs the Community Preservation Committee and who spoke in favor of the project, said additional Community Preservation Act money is available to fund the balance of the project. He noted that it will not be known exactly how much the project will cost until it is let out to bid.
Children play on a merry-go-round at School Street Park in Agawam.