HADLEY — Renovations of Zatyrka Park, the 6-acre site at the corner of Huntington and Breckenridge roads, will soon resume after the Select Board this week agreed to hire a company to complete the third phase.
The board Wednesday approved a $193,201 contract with Omasta Landscaping Inc., of Hadley, which was the lowest of five bids submitted.
While only $190,000 is available from the Community Preservation Act account, the Park Commission recently agreed to supplement that with $3,201 from $25,000 available in what is known as the Woodchuck account, which includes money donated to the town several years ago as part of the arrangement to bring a Lowe’s Home Improvement Store to Route 9.
The work at Zatyrka, which when complete will total $320,398 in spending, began with the removal of a fence surrounding a former baseball diamond and demolition of old tennis courts last year. Before winter, the property was reseeded and a hill at the rear of the property was stabilized.
David Elvin, a member of the Friends of Zatyrka Park that has supported the project, said the most noticeable change will be a parking lot off Huntington Road, with a portion of this serving as a half-court basketball.
Next to the parking area will be a rain garden, with a new sign that will be funded privately. Omasta will regrade the slope so it’s less steep, before installing a looped path, with a hard surface, that makes it accessible.
There will be several spots along the path with benches, and possibly picnic tables, leading to a playground. Most of the space will remain open for passive recreation.
The Select Board also accepted a $38,508 bid from New England Recreation Group of Westborough for installing a pavilion at the elementary school.
This will be paid for through $35,000 from the CPA account and a portion of a PTO gift from Steve Lewis Subaru.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
