South Worcester handball/basketball renovation grant pending; Green Hill fencing unfunded

Parks Department staff told the commission the department applied in July for a Parklands grant for South Worcester that would renovate the handball court and the basketball court, add lights and perform minor path and amenity work. The department reported it has "not heard on that grant yet. It's a $450,000-$475,000 grant," and said that if awarded construction would begin in July 2026.

Longtime park advocate Nancy Ortiz, representing the New England Handballers Association Inc., described ongoing deterioration and repeated volunteer repairs at Green Hill and South Worcester, said the courts are "amenities to the parks, and that's affordable recreation," and urged action on perimeter fencing and resurfacing to prevent balls from reaching nearby streets and to deter skateboarding and other use that damages surfaces.

Rob told the commission the July Parklands application covered South Worcester and estimated a broader full renovation at that site could be around $1.4 million. For Green Hill Park he said "there is no funding available at this point" and that recent department spending had been allocated to other high-priority Green Hill projects.

Commissioners and staff discussed alternative funding pathways, including the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) fund (commonly called CPA/CPC in the meeting) and other state and federal grants. Staff said CPC funding is an option to explore and offered to connect advocates with the city’s CPC staff member; commissioners encouraged Ms. Ortiz and her group to pursue nonprofit applications to CPC and other grant programs.

Ending: The department will notify advocates when the Parklands grant decision is received (staff estimated four months after July 8 but cautioned the timeline can slip); if the Parklands grant is not awarded staff and advocates will explore CPC and other funding sources.