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Town council accepts $50,000 Archibald Foundation donation for skateboard‑park design and repair
Summary
Bedford Town Council on May 21 unanimously accepted a $50,000 donation from the Archibald Foundation for maintenance, redesign and renovation of the skateboard park and heard that the Friends of the Skateboard Park plan to apply for a state grant that would cover up to $800,000 with a required 50% local match.
The Bedford Town Council voted unanimously on May 21 to accept a $50,000 donation from the Archibald Foundation for design, maintenance and reconstruction of the town skateboard park.
Town Manager Rick (spoke during the item) said the gift is a second $50,000 award from the foundation; combined with prior donations the Friends of the Skateboard Park now total roughly $100,000 raised toward the project. “So now they’ve got about $100,000 in donated funds,” Rick said.
Councilors noted the town has already used part of the donations to pay for designs presented last fall, which were incorporated into cost estimates previously considered by voters. Councilor (name on the transcript) said the Friends group has requested that the town preauthorize submission of a state grant application for an $800,000 grant; that state application would require a 50% local match and the council was told previously eligible expenditures from the last three years can count toward the match.
Councilor Scranton moved to accept the donation pursuant to RSA 31:95‑b and authorize expenditure for skateboard‑park design, maintenance and construction. Councilor Bemis seconded; the motion passed 6‑0.
Councilors asked that the state grant preauthorization appear on a future agenda so the council can consider authorizing the match ahead of a competitive state application.
Clarifying details provided at the meeting said the Archibald Foundation previously gave $50,000 to the project, bringing the current local donated total to about $100,000; the Friends group seeks an $800,000 state grant requiring a 50% local match, and money spent within the last three years may be eligible to count toward the match.
