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Town Council accepts $50,000 Archibald Foundation gift for skateboard park; grant application planned
Summary
The Bedford Town Council unanimously accepted a $50,000 donation from the Archibald Foundation to support design, maintenance and reconstruction of the town’s skateboard park and agreed to consider a related state grant application requiring a 50% local match.
The Bedford Town Council on May 21 unanimously accepted a $50,000 donation from the Archibald Foundation to support design, maintenance and reconstruction of the town skateboard park.
The gift builds on an earlier $50,000 from the same foundation, bringing total donated funds for the project to about $100,000, town officials said. Council members and project volunteers said the money will be used for design work and to supplement a future state grant application.
The donation was introduced by the town clerk, Sally Keller. Keller briefly described the honor for the town’s police dog and then read the donation item before the council. Councilor David Scranton moved to accept the donation “pursuant to RSA 31:95-b,” and Councilor Kathleen Bemis seconded the motion; the council approved the measure 6-0.
Rick (Town Manager) and members of the Friends of the Skateboard Park told the council the group has raised about $100,000 total, and that volunteers plan to seek a state grant for $800,000 that would require a 50% match. According to the presentation to the council, the $100,000 already raised could be applied toward the town’s matching requirement if the council accepts the new gift and if the match meets statutory timing rules: “the money that has been spent … can also go towards the match as long as it's been within the last 3 years,” a town staff member said during the discussion.
Council members discussed next steps, and the town manager said the council would be asked to pre-authorize submission of the state grant application at a future meeting. Officials said the state grant application will be placed on a future council agenda so the council can consider authorizing the application and the matching strategy.
The council vote formally authorized the town to accept the Archibald Foundation donation and to expend the funds for skateboard-park design, maintenance and construction activities.
At the meeting Councilors Lori Rafter (chair), Michael Strand, Kathleen Bemis, Gayle Levesque, Becky Soule and Bill Briazo voted in favor; no members voted against.
Looking ahead, council members said they would present the state grant authorization at an upcoming meeting and continue to work with the Friends of the Skateboard Park on design and fundraising.
