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Council approves $636,858.50 in CPA funding for eight projects including Balch Playground and Holcroft splash pad
Summary
The Beverly City Council approved Community Preservation Committee recommendations for eight Round 12 CPA projects totaling $636,858.50, including park renovations and historic preservation work. Most projects passed unanimously; the YMCA item passed 5-0 with one recusal.
The Beverly City Council approved the Community Preservation Committee's Round 12 recommendations on a series of votes that advanced eight projects totaling $636,858.50 in CPA funds.
Derek Beckwith, representing the Community Preservation Committee, summarized the package and said the recommended projects fall into two categories: recreation and historic preservation. He told the council the committee recommended four recreation projects (including the Balch Playground renovation and a planned splash pad at Holcroft Park) and four historic-resources projects (including work at the Cabot House and the Beverly Cemetery fence), and that the round's recommended total is $636,858.50.
Beckwith provided specific amounts for several projects: $56,490 to study and design an Abbott Street right-of-way pocket park; $150,000 for Balch Playground renovation; and $100,000 for the Holcroft Park splash pad. He said the YMCA project would receive about $25,000 toward restoration of the 10-footer shoe shop on Essex Street and described the Cabot Performing Arts Center rose-window restoration as part of a larger $3,685,000 renovation that will include a clawback provision in the memorandum of understanding because the Cabot is a private nonprofit.
Councilors asked about matching funds and project partnerships. Beckwith said some projects included private or foundation matches (for example, Lynch Park-related work has Lynch Foundation and private donations; Balch Playground and Gillis Park projects include local fundraising and city work). He also noted that Jean Delios serves as the city's CPA administrator and helps shepherd projects through schedule and compliance requirements.
During council action, each project was moved and approved individually. Votes were recorded as follows: the Abbott Street right-of-way project (6-0); Balch Playground renovation (6-0); Holcroft Park splash pad (6-0); Gillis Park pavilion (6-0); Cabot House porticos (6-0); final phase of the Beverly Cemetery fence (6-0); the YMCA 10-footer shoe shop renovation (5-0, Councilor Rotondo recused); and the Cabot Performing Arts Center rose-window restoration (6-0). Beckwith said that after this round the CPA fund balance would be about $1.7 million.
The council approved the committee-recommended slate during a Committee on Finance and Property vote and then confirmed each item in the full council session.
