A Rye Recreation Commission meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday to discuss long-overdue improvements to Gagliardo Park.
A flyer for the meeting, which will be at Damiano Recreation Center at 281 Midland Ave., says attendees will “review proposed park improvements, share input with the commission, and help shape final plans.”
“The consistent feedback from both residents and council members is that it is time to make a meaningful investment in the park,” City Manager Brian Shea told The Record. “A range of potential upgrades and improvements are under consideration, but the final plan will be shaped by community input.”
Gagliardo Park, a 2.5-acre park located on 31 High Street, includes a basketball court, baseball field, playground, and picnic shelter. Due to its frequent use, the park has deteriorated over time, a common complaint throughout the community and online.
Hopes for a revival of the city-owned park have rested on failed attempts at securing money from the state. Rye applied for a $1 million grant through the state Municipal Parks and Recreation Grant Program in May, but learned in August the application was denied, according to Shea.
It was the park’s second grant rejection, which means improvements may need to be funded by the city’s capital reserves. The city estimates a full renovation would cost about $1.6 million.
“Once a preferred concept is established, I will be in a better position to speak to the funding strategy and project timeline,” Shea said.
