Recreation grants awarded by Barry County Parks & Recreation Board totaling $10,000 were approved by county commissioners following a recommendation by the committee of the whole last week.
Barry Township will receive $5,000, the Village of Freeport will receive $3,000 and Central Elementary school in Hastings, $2,000.
At Central Elementary, the funds will be used to paint activities on the existing pavement at the school to include four-square courts, hopscotch, basketball court keys, fitness paths, yoga poses, a peace path and the U.S. map. Also, they will have picnic tables and storage for playground accessories.
The schools sees it as “an affordable, achievable, low maintenance option for enhancing the experience and appearance of the outdoor space used by school children during the school year and as a local park by the community during the year.”
The Village of Freeport will use its grant to remodel both the men’s and women’s bathrooms at CJ Moore Park to be handicapped accessible. The total project cost is $4 360, the difference will come from rentals of the Community Center.
Unless the community center is open or the village office opens for a meeting, there are no handicapped accessible bathrooms available to the public near the park. Village officials expect more generations will use the park, not just children with disabilities.
Barry Township will put its grant toward a playground set that provides free entertainment and recreation for area families in an ongoing project in William Smith Park in Delton. When the township committed to an amphitheater for the park as part of a five parks & rec year plan, they quickly realized they would need a safe and fun place for the kids to play while the family listened to music.
They expect more use of the park for family reunions/gatherings, and to be a starting point for families that want to walk, bike or relax in Delton.
In other business Tuesday, the commission approved:
*a Microsoft replacement server for the Register of Deeds Office for $7,630.26with funds from the Automaton Fund.
*renewal of liability, vehicle damage and property and crime insurance coverage from MMRMA for one year for $395,227.
*an amendment to the Swift and Sure Sanctions probation program between the 5th Circuit Court and the Michigan State Supreme Court.
*form L4029 to allow Barry County to collect summer taxes.
