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Chelsea council appropriates $500,000 for Polonia Park renovations and designates it open space
Summary
The Chelsea City Council approved a $500,000 appropriation representing the full project cost for Polonia Park renovation (a reimbursement grant), designated the park as open space under Article 97 and Mass. Gen. Law, and authorized the city manager to enter agreement to receive funds.
The Chelsea City Council voted to endorse renovations to Polonia Park and to appropriate $500,000 representing the full project cost prior to reimbursement from the state Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
The order states the appropriation will be reimbursed through a state park grant; the council designated Polonia Park as open-space parkland in perpetuity in accordance with Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution and Mass. Gen. Law Chapter 45, Section 3. The order also authorized the city manager to enter any necessary agreements to receive the funds and authorized use of any surplus funds for other park improvements.
Councilors praised the restoration and emphasized the city’s need for open space. The clerk recorded the roll-call vote as 10 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 absent and the order was adopted.
Why this matters: the appropriation allows the city to pay project costs up front (a statutory requirement for reimbursement grants) so it can proceed with renovations once state reimbursement is processed. The perpetual designation under Article 97 places restrictions on future conversion of the park to non‑park uses.
