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Middleborough trustees approve applying for state accessibility grant to update Pierce Playground and pool locker rooms
Summary
Trustees voted to pursue a state accessibility grant and an updated ADA transition plan to add accessible routes and renovate pool locker rooms and restrooms at Pierce Playground; cost estimate cited at about $172,000.
On Feb. 4, the Town of Middleborough trustees voted to pursue a state accessibility grant and to update the town's Americans with Disabilities Act transition plan to fund accessibility upgrades at Pierce Playground and the adjacent pool locker rooms.
The vote follows an assessment that the town's transition plan had not been updated since the early 1990s and did not list needed improvements at Pierce Playground. Diane (disability commission member) told trustees the town received a fiscal-year-24 grant to pay a company to update the transition plan and said the consultant’s package estimated the recommended work at “a little under a hundred and $72,000.”
The consultant’s recommendations cited by Diane include providing a lift between the upper and lower fields, improved signage and parking, renovated doors and accessible hardware, renovated locker and changing rooms, assisted-listening devices for outdoor movie nights, renovated toilet and shower rooms, and at least one accessible picnic table. Diane said the disability commission voted to pursue the grant application and asked the trustees for their support; trustees then moved and seconded pursuing grant-writing for the project and approved it by voice vote.
Superintendent (speaker 3) and other trustees discussed practical next steps. The superintendent said he would reach out for an engineer to draw plans and return with a more concrete scope and cost breakdown before formal project approvals or construction. Diane said having an updated transition plan and targeted improvements will strengthen the grant application.
The trustees did not adopt final construction contracts or spending at the meeting; the action was to pursue grant funding and to prepare plans to support an application and future work.
The meeting record indicates the town has some immediate general-fund pressures: revolving funds of $26,264.19 and donations of $4,481.27 were reported, and the general account was noted to be in arrears for salaries and over budget on electric costs. The superintendent said the town intends to return later with engineering plans and precise cost estimates if grant funding becomes available.
