Town Awaits Word on Grant For Blocksidge Field Renovation

Town officials have their fingers crossed now that Christian Urbano of the Friends of Swampscott Athletic Fields has submitted an application for grant money that could be used to help fund artificial turf at Blocksidge Field.

But getting the PARC grant application, and Open Space and Recreation Plan, to the state's Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs by the July 17, deadline took work not luck.

Selectmen on Wednesday said thank you to work done behind the scenes — over two days as the deadline loomed — by Administrative Assistant Maureen Shultz and former Town Planner Pete Kane to help Christian Urbano get in the grant application.

The town should know in about 100 days whether it will receive a grant.

PARC grants help pay for suitable outdoor recreation purposes, according to the Mass PARC Program.

Municipalities like Swampscott are eligible to receive up to $400,000 in reimbursement for construction and/or engineering, Urbano said.

Looking ahead to the next few months, the Friends of Swampscott Athletic Fields "will continue to reach out to the town's residents and Town Meeting Members to ask for their support in making the Blocksidge Field Renovation a reality,' Urbano said in an email update on the grant application.  

"It is our position, as it was the position of the Athletic Field Study Committee, that, among other things, "an artificial turf field is no longer a 'want;' it is most certainly a need for the town.

" Findings and Recommendations,  at p.12-13.  And while there are certainly other pressing needs of the town, we hope that the Blocksidge Field Renovations will fit into a sound 5 year capital plan."

Urbano also thanked all "who have submitted or intend to submit a letter of support of the PARC Grant application before the July 24 deadline for support letters.