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Date: 8/31/2021
CHICOPEE – The Chicopee Department of Planning & Development and the Chicopee Department of Parks & Recreation are preparing to apply for funding to revitalize the Fairview Memorial Park located on 263 Montcalm St. in Chicopee.
According to Chicopee Planning & Development Director Lee Pouliot, the city is preparing a grant application to the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program. He said this federal program is funded by Congress through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The program rewards grants ranging from $300,000 to $5 million for proposals across the country.
If the grant is received, Pouliot explained that the money would go toward reinventing Fairview Park. “We are looking at submitting a proposal for this grant competition to make a significant investment in Fairview Park and its facilities,” said Pouliot. According to their press release, the Fairview Park has not benefited from significant investment since the 1990s.
Among the improvements, Pouliot said the grant would go toward upgrading existing facilities like sports fields, the basketball court and the playground. The grant would also lead to the creation of new facilities for the park, including a pavilion space and a water splash pad, according to Pouliot.
Currently, the Department of Planning & Development has created two schematic concept plans for the park’s potential renovations. Pouliot explained that his team is seeking public comments in order to revise one of the plans to create a preferred concept. “We’re going to do cost estimates [on the revised plan] and then submit it to the grand competition for consideration,” said Pouliot. Updates on the schematic will be made after the public comment period ends on Aug. 27.
Readers can view the public presentation on https://www.chicopeema.gov/365/Planning-Department and on the Chicopee Planning & Development Website https://www.chicopeema.gov/365/Planning-Department.