Board tables Pulaski plan, discusses CPC funding and a parks master-plan RFP

The Fall River City Park Board of Commissioners tabled two agenda items on Jan. 21 concerning Pulaski Park and proposed Kennedy Park projects for the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), and discussed pursuing a parks master-plan RFP to guide longer-term priorities.

Members said the Pulaski Park tennis-court area remains locked after summer issues with unauthorized activities, and the board wants more input from absent members before deciding on reuse. The board voted to table items I and J until a full board is present so Commissioner Burns and Commissioner Farias can participate.

Separately, the board discussed two CPC proposals — Kennedy Park bathrooms and Kennedy Park walkways — and learned staff had been advised that available CPC funds likely will be tight this year and projects may be more realistic next year. The board characterized the walkway as the higher priority between the two Kennedy Park ideas.

Commissioners also discussed seeking a consultant to prepare a parks master-plan-style engagement and priority study that would align with the city's open-space planning. A firm the board discussed, identified in the transcript as West and Sampson, provided a ballpark proposal that the presenting commissioner recalled as about $40,000; board members asked staff to circulate the proposal for review. One commissioner said consultants can help identify grant sources and strategies to increase project readiness for CPC or other funding.

The board placed updates on the Kennedy Park CPC items on file and agreed to revisit Pulaski Park and the consultant proposal when the full membership is present.