City of Worcester to Receive $400K Grant for Playground Renovations

Sunday, January 07, 2018

GoLocalWorcester News Team

The City of Worcester will receive a $400,000 grant from Governor Charlie Baker for phase 2 of playground renovations.

The project includes the construction of a new walkway connection; installation and expansion of a new playground with poured in place safety surfacing; and the construction of new support facilities, accessible walkways, lighting, benches, utility upgrades, landscaping, park edge improvements, and signage.

Overall, Baker announced more than $6 million in Municipal Park and Recreation Grants to 22 communities to help develop parks and outdoor recreation space.

“Increasing access to parks across the Commonwealth helps our communities grow and promotes healthier lifestyles. We are proud to secure 30 acres of new parkland and help fund the renovation of existing parks to make them more accessible, usable, and modern,” said Baker.

The grants were administered through the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities grant program and funded through the capital budget.

The PARC Program

The PARC Program was established in 1977 to assist cities and towns in acquiring and developing land for park and outdoor recreation purposes.

Any community with an up-to-date Open Space and Recreation Plan is eligible to apply for the program.

There are two categories of PARC grants: the Small Town grant category for towns with less than 35,000 residents, with a maximum grant award of $50,000, and a separate category for cities and towns with more than 35,000 residents, which has a $400,000 grant award maximum.