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Date: 12/20/2022
CHICOPEE – Chicopee’s flagship recreational park, the Frank J. Szot Memorial Park, will receive a series of improvements thanks to $350,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The funding will jumpstart phase one of a holistic master plan for the park.
According to Mayor John Vieau, Szot Park continues to be the city’s most active recreation space since its creation in 1937. It remains the largest park in the city, including a diverse array of recreational amenities and athletic facilities that are utilized by residents, student athletes and city visitors. Szot Park also serves as familiar stomping grounds for signature community events, such as the city’s annual fireworks celebration and the Halloween Spooktacular.
Over the years, Szot Park received sporadic improvements funded by small scale grant resources, but some of the additions created now-outdated amenities that are either overused or underused by the public. The park also lacks American with Disabilities Act requirements and other accessibility accommodations.
Vieau, the Department of Planning and Development and the Parks and Recreation Department are now envisioning extensive improvements for Szot Park as a part of the city’s new approach for recreation spaces. Vieau stressed that developing a master plan for recreational spaces is an essential step for shaping a comprehensive view of a park’s development.
“We would really like to see comprehensively what our premier park could be,” said Vieau in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
The reliance upon master plans is a key component in the city’s updated Open Space and Recreation Plan. In August, Vieau, Planning Director Lee Pouliot and Superintendent of Parks and Recreation Benjamin Strepka hosted a public forum to discuss the city’s recreation plan, which is updated every seven years.
During that forum, Vieau shared that Chicopee is placing extra emphasis on improving parks and recreational offerings across the city. Part of those improvements is incorporating new additions with extensive foresight into how each component impacts the recreational space as a whole.
“Looking at planning park development is what we do now. We used to just add a piece of equipment or a bench. Now, it’s really a comprehensive look at what’s at a park and how we can improve it to benefit that particular neighborhood,” said Vieau during the Aug. 24 forum.
Chicopee recently implemented major renovations at Lincoln Grove Park, Nash Park and Rivers Park with this approach in mind.
With $350,000 in ARPA funding, Chicopee will work to develop a master plan for Szot Park to address amenities, facilities, accessibility, infrastructure, design standards and a phased implementation plan for the series of renovations. Planning Director Lee Pouliot submitted the ARPA request to the city’s ARPA Advisory Committee as they begin to focus on utilizing the city’s second round of ARPA funding.
The funding will finance the Planning Department and Parks and Recreation Department as they collaborate to select a design consultant for the master plan’s vision for Szot Park. Once a consultant is selected, city leaders will determine a schedule for beginning the project’s first phase, according to the Planning Department’s formal ARPA request.
Pouliot also shared in his ARPA request that a budget of $1 to $2 million will be required for phase one as the city looks to supplement the project further with supporting grant proposals. Pouliot stressed that the Master Plan will help best utilize Szot Park’s ample space.
“A master plan will ensure that the park provides the recreational amenities desired by Chicopee’s residents in an accessible layout that best utilizes the park’s acreage,” said Pouliot in the ARPA request.
While specific improvements have yet to be determined, Vieau mentioned that Szot’s roads and sidewalks are in “disrepair.” The mayor expressed his support for the project as an opportunity to award Szot Park the same improvements that other recreation spaces have recently received.
“Szot Park could use that same opportunity … timing wise, it seems ideal,” said Vieau.
Chicopee was awarded $38 million in federal ARPA funds. A first portion of $14 million was received by the city in 2021. The ARPA Advisory Committee, which is made of city leaders like Vieau, City Councilors James Tillotson and George Balakier, and department directors, utilized the first round of funding for numerous city projects, such as $5 million for the South Fairview Sewer Separation, and essential worker bonuses for contributions made during the coronavirus pandemic.
ARPA funds derive from federal legislation signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021. The creation of ARPA generated community funds focused on mitigating the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Chicopee received its second portion of ARPA funding in August and continue to meet about project proposals. Readers interested in contacting the ARPA Advisory Committee can email at arpafunding@chicopeema.gov.