WESTFORD — Voters will consider whether to approve $3.5 million in projects recommended by the Community Preservation Committee at Annual Town Meeting later this month.
The total cost of all requests is $3,481,608. The committee entered this round of applications with $3,885,000 on hand.
“We have enough money without borrowing, without bonding, without doing anything to pay for the projects we’re recommending,” according to committee vice chair Marilyn Frank.
The committee received 12 applications totaling $10,333,608.
“[It’s] the most in all the years I’ve been sitting on the board,” she said.
Recommendations for funding
These projects include:
- $30,000 for the Westford Museum handicapped accessibility plan. This project would conduct an accessibility and design study to expand access to the second floor and create an accessible restroom.
- $190,000 for the Conservation Trust Fund. This funding could be used by the Conservation Trust for future open space land purchases. “They’ve come back most every year,” said Frank.
- $4,208 for the June Kennedy oral histories digitization project.
- $60,000 for the supplemental funding for the O’Brien Farm footbridge. This project previously received $37,294 in funding at a 2021 Annual Town Meeting and a $27,970.50 MassTrails grant, with a local match of $17,148.50.
- $163,000 for the restoration of the Parish Center of the Arts bell tower, bell cradle and window project. Additional enhancements will include emergency exit doors and fire escape stairs.
- $2,220,000 for the Stony Brook Track rehabilitation project. This total was reduced from $2.32 million. According to an application from Director of Facilities Jeff Goodwin, the condition of the existing track is “a real safety concern” and impairs our town and school district to safely host track and field events.”
- $725,000 for the Nabnasset Playground Project. The town has already secured $100,000 in state funding for the project. The project would eliminate both existing playgrounds and create one, larger playground. The new playground would be ADA-compliant and located in the field adjacent to the school.
- $89,400 for a comprehensive condition assessment for the First Parish United Church.
Projects withdrawn, rejected
Additionally, some projects were withdrawn or deemed ineligible for funds.
An application for funding for the American Legion Fields project was withdrawn, while requests for the Conservation Commission and Conservation Recreation Management Plan and an open space and recreation plan update were deemed ineligible for funding.
A $510,000 request to replace tennis courts at the Roudenbush Community Center was not recommended by the committee.
