Erving Parks Commission Begins $5,000 Grant-Funded Strategic Planning Process

ERVING -- April 24, 2020, Erving Parks and Recreation Commission kicks off a $5,000 grant-funded strategic planning process with a regional consultant. Meeting virtually for the first time as a commission, members reviewed a three-task scope of work presented by Helena Farrell of the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, covering a parks inventory, a stakeholder visioning workshop, and a phased park improvement plan, all funded through a District Local Technical Assistance grant at no cost to the town. The Commission agreed to model the final deliverable on the Town of Montague's Parks and Recreation strategic plan and to focus capital planning efforts on Park Street Park and Veterans Field. Members discussed playground equipment sketches for Park Street Park budgeted at $66,000, with up to roughly $150,000 in combined available town funds potentially in play. The group scheduled a follow-up working session with Farrell for Wednesday, June 3, at 4 p.m., with the full plan due before the grant closes at the end of 2020.