Marblehead gets $40G grant for park upgrade

MARBLEHEAD – The Recreation and Parks Commission has received a $40,000 grant from the Shattuck Fund for the first phase of the commission?s Memorial Park upgrade.Chairman Chip Osborne told the commission Tuesday night that the application he and Recreation and Parks Superintendent Brendan Egan filed was successful – and Shattuck Fund directors told him the commission may reapply for more funds next year.?We were invited to come back next year,” he said.The park contains the monuments to the town?s war dead. In addition to the foundation money the commission will seek private donations.The $40,000 will cover the cost of a wrought iron fence between the new National Grand Bank parking lot and the park, a substantial amount of tree and shrubbery plantings and lighting.The work has been designed and is expected to begin next spring. The commission hopes to have the bulk of the work done by Memorial Day.Egan recommended the installation of an Arlington style wrought iron fence, which he called “classic.” Eventually the fence will surround the entire park.Commissioners also had their first meeting with Marblehead architect Walter Jacob, who has volunteered to design the renovation of a single family house at Stramski Beach into a town sailing center, with lockers and restrooms in the basement, a store and food-service area on the first floor and two function rooms on the second floor.Commissioners would like to see the basement operating in time for next year?s boating season, to coincide with the new Stramski Pier.Jacob said he would forward the commission?s list of floor uses to the commission, then study the building and create a master plan for the structure and a set of preliminary drawings.