Town seeks groups to support local parks, playgrounds
News staff photo by REBECCA LEONARD This skateboard park in Templeton was transformed from a tennis court about 10 years ago into a place where kids could come instead of skating on the streets. The park could now use a revamp with new equipment.
Rebecca Leonard
News Correspondent
TEMPLETON The town is looking to organize a “friends group” to create and restore playgrounds and parks around the area.
“The friends group will be used to support the potential projects and fundraise money,” explained Alan Mayo, superintendent of the Cemetery and Parks Commission.
Before the new Templeton Center playground was started, Mr. Mayo, selectmen Vice-Chairwoman Diane Haley Brooks, and police Officer Brian Rosengren discussed community projects that would benefit the town.
“We discussed an ice rink up at the common for the wintertime and a skate park committee, but when the school couldn’t be built near Crow Hill, we had to put all of it on hold,” Ms. Brooks explained to the Board of Selectmen last week.
Mr. Mayo and Ms. Brooks both say there are many parks throughout Templeton that are in need of repair or replacement.
One plan for which the potential friends group would raise money is a new playground at Town Hall in East Templeton.
“We want to build a playground at Town Hall for older generations, not just younger,” stated Ms. Brooks.
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| News staff photo by REBECCA LEONARD The playground behind Town Hall in East Templeton, which was once completely gravel, is now overgrown with grass and weeds. A “friends group” could help raise money to replace the old equipment. |
The preliminary sketch of the new playground estimates the completed project to cost about $90,000. A friends group would raise money and accept gifts, eliminating the need for the town to apply for another grant.
Neither Ms. Brooks nor Mr. Mayo say they are comfortable with applying for another grant from the state and “won’t be for a while.”
The playground to be focused on in Otter River was built in 1991 and has been maintained over the years, but with past budget cuts has been neglected lately.
“Templeton Center was older and in more need, so we chose to replace that one first,” Mr. Mayo said.
Residents responded well to the new Templeton Center playground and Mr. Mayo said he hopes that they continue to support future community projects.
A new skatepark is involved in the planning for the friends group as well. The current park was recommended by Mr. Mayo about 10 years ago because it was dangerous for skateboarders to be riding on the streets.
“We see a lot of kids in the street, which is dangerous, or on private property making too much noise or causing damage,” explained Mr. Mayo.
A new skatepark would include updated equipment, such as ramps, for the kids to use.
In order for a friends group to be created, Ms. Brooks and Mr. Mayo would need to file it as a nonprofit group and complete a 501(c)(3), a common type of tax-exempt form.
“We’re really trying to bring the community together with the group and these projects,” expressed Ms. Brooks.
You would think that getting the Town Hall renovation finished would be somewhere on Ms. Haley Brooks radar. This project will not get done by it's self. Maybe Mr. Columbus and the rest of the Selectmen will roll up their selves, and contribute some elbow grease. After all, this is for the benefit of all of the town's people, and the hard part is already done. The people in our Town of Templeton can thank Pete and Julie Farrell, Will Spring, David Smart, Kevin and Ashley Bird, Jeff Bennett, Dough and Dianna Morrisson, for what has been accomplished so far.
ReplyDeletetown hall needs new windows for starters,winter is coming we will be heating east templeton"outside again".plastic doesn't insulate,is this what Al Gore means by grobal warming.lets spend $$$$$$ on town hall or we will be renting again
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