Worcester Community Preservation Committee holds public hearings on 13 CPA project applications

Worcester's Community Preservation Committee on June 10 opened public hearings on 13 project applications seeking Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds, hearing presentations from city staff and nonprofit and faith-based applicants on proposals ranging from park construction to historic‑building preservation.

The hearings are part of the committee's inaugural year of public hearings under the city's new CPA process; members will score applications after the second hearing on June 12 and vote on a recommended slate at a June meeting before the City Council considers final allocations.

Projects highlighted the meeting included: the city of Worcester's Great Brook Valley Park Phase 1 improvements (CPA ask $1,250,044) to add a softball field, sports lighting, accessible walkways, stormwater bioretention and site security; the Worcester Art Museum's request to replicate three historic arch‑top windows (CPA ask $200,000) tied to its Arms and Armor gallery work; a request from the Museum of Worcester to replace a 40‑year‑old HVAC system to protect collections (CPA ask $273,937); major building repair requests from historic churches including Pilgrim Congregational Church (CPA ask $764,564.01) and Belmont AME Zion Church (CPA ask $750,000); and a range of smaller and mid‑sized historic‑resources and open‑space proposals such as restoration of gravestones at Hope Cemetery (Friends of Hope Cemetery, CPA ask $49,150) and preservation and…