Nearly $1 million in funding for construction of Black Point Park could be in the hands of Scarborough voters in November.
The Scarborough Town Council was scheduled to vote Wednesday on whether to send to referendum the proposed bond for $975,000. The meeting was held after The Current’s deadline.
The project, which will cost a total of $1,325,000, was at first planned to be built in phases, so that the cost of each phase would be less than the $400,000 allowed by the town charter to be spent before a project needs voter approval. But now, the town council wants to consider the project one expenditure.
“We’re going to consider it a single capital expenditure, so we want to send it to the voters,” said Jeff Messer, council chairman, prior to Wednesday’s meeting.
Messer said that $325,000 had already been appropriated in the 2006 budget. He also said that revisions have been made to the original park design to make it more “multigenerational.”
Nancy Gaudet, a member of the subcommittee of the Scarborough Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, said the changes were made based on input received last year from residents. Originally, the park was to include lighting, a turf field and a public address system. Those features have been eliminated, and the park will now include walking trails, a pavilion, a basketball court, tennis court, picnic area and restrooms.
“We want this to be a park for all generations. We need these spaces for kids and adults and everybody. It’s a growing town and we need these parks so people can have more passive recreation,” said Gaudet.
Gaudet said that though plans have changed, the total cost of the park has remained the same. She is pleased that the council has moved to vote to send the referendum to voters.
“I think that’s the best way to do it,” said Gaudet.
Gaudet said she did not know when construction would begin if voters approved the bond.
“I’m not sure what the timetable will be at that point, because the whole project will have to go out to bid to whoever puts it together for us,” said Gaudet.
The construction site for the proposed park is off of Black Point Road in Scarborough. If approved, the park will include walking trails, basketball and tennis courts, and a picnic area. Send questions/comments to the editors.
