|
|
|
If work goes according to plan in less than two months the new Hedges Pond recreation site in South Plymouth will open for business, at least partially.
At this past Tuesday night’s Selectmens meeting Recreation Director Barry DeBlasio gave the Selectmen an update on the progress of the plans to transform the town owned land around Hedges Pond into a day camp and recreation site.
The most important information – the grand opening – has not been formally set but looks likely to be the last Saturday in June, timed to match the opening of the other town beaches at Morton Park and Fresh Pond.
That opening will offer residents access to Phase 1 improvements at the recreation site, including walkways, playground and swings, and a renovated beach area and bath house.
Phase Two improvements relate to the town’s plans to create a day camp at the site, in direct competition with the YMCA’s Camp Clark, which also occupies space along Hedges Pond Road adjacent to the town's property.
Those specific improvements on the town’s property would include two tennis courts, two basketball courts, a multi-purpose sports field, and renovations to an existing building which would serve as the camp’s office.
The second phase improvements were included in the $975,000 in CPC funds approved for the entire project last year, but the town is hoping to offset a large portion of those renovation costs with grant monies and/or by using DPW staff to perform some of the earth removal work.
DPW head Jonathan Beder was at the Selectmen’s Tuesday night and told the board that he felt the DPW could save the town $200,000 by using town workers at the site during the second phase of the project.
But some on the board, notably Selectmen Dicky Quintal, expressed concern that any DPW staff used on the Hedges Pond project would be staff not available to address long-neglected areas such as town cemeteries.
The first phase is nearly complete though, and DeBlasio assured the Selectmen that he sees nothing standing in the way of a late June opening.
If work goes according to plan in less than two months the new Hedges Pond recreation site in South Plymouth will open for business, at least partially.
At this past Tuesday night’s Selectmens meeting Recreation Director Barry DeBlasio gave the Selectmen an update on the progress of the plans to transform the town owned land around Hedges Pond into a day camp and recreation site.
The most important information – the grand opening – has not been formally set but looks likely to be the last Saturday in June, timed to match the opening of the other town beaches at Morton Park and Fresh Pond.
That opening will offer residents access to Phase 1 improvements at the recreation site, including walkways, playground and swings, and a renovated beach area and bath house.
Phase Two improvements relate to the town’s plans to create a day camp at the site, in direct competition with the YMCA’s Camp Clark, which also occupies space along Hedges Pond Road adjacent to the town's property.
Those specific improvements on the town’s property would include two tennis courts, two basketball courts, a multi-purpose sports field, and renovations to an existing building which would serve as the camp’s office.
The second phase improvements were included in the $975,000 in CPC funds approved for the entire project last year, but the town is hoping to offset a large portion of those renovation costs with grant monies and/or by using DPW staff to perform some of the earth removal work.
DPW head Jonathan Beder was at the Selectmen’s Tuesday night and told the board that he felt the DPW could save the town $200,000 by using town workers at the site during the second phase of the project.
But some on the board, notably Selectmen Dicky Quintal, expressed concern that any DPW staff used on the Hedges Pond project would be staff not available to address long-neglected areas such as town cemeteries.
The first phase is nearly complete though, and DeBlasio assured the Selectmen that he sees nothing standing in the way of a late June opening.
