LYNN — The city of Lynn has been awarded a $400,000 state grant to make some much-needed improvements to Barry Park.
“It’s a good thing,” said Ward 7 Councilor Jay Walsh. “The park needs a lot more than $400,000, but it’s a good start. My hope would be to see them turn Barry into a multi-use field facility, but I think we’re a long ways from that in terms of funding.”
Awarded through the state’s Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) grant program, the funds will be used for Phase 1 of the Barry Park rehabilitation project, which includes the installation of a splash pad, plantings, creation of an enclosed soccer and volleyball/pickleball court, and an expanded parking lot, according to the Baker-Polito administration.
To supplement the work, city officials have authorized the spending of $180,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds.
Walsh said the funding will enable the city to install a splash pad at Barry Park, a feature that has been popular with children at other parks throughout the city, such as Flax Pond and Kiley Park Playground. Once installed, the splash pad would be the first one in West Lynn, he said.
“I’ve been trying to advocate for some funding for a splash pad,” said Walsh. “I just see the kids in the neighborhoods, by (Lynn) Tech, Flax Pond — people really need that relief and these are good places to bring their kids and I think it helps.”
Walsh said he plans to advocate for additional funding to pay for the next phase of the project, but estimates that revamping the entire field at the Boston Street park would cost “millions” of dollars. The cost to tear down the bleachers alone is expected to be upwards of $400,000, funding that state Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) has applied for, he said.
In addition, plans to work with KABOOM!, a national nonprofit that works with communities to build kid-designed play spaces, to replace much of the park’s deteriorating playground equipment have been placed on hold due to the coronavirus, Walsh said.
Walsh said he hopes the city will choose to restart that work with the nonprofit, which can help crowdsource the funds needed for the playground equipment.
“I’m going to keep pushing for it,” said Walsh. “I have a 10-year-old daughter, (Jayla, who) asked me why the park we’re responsible for is so bad. As a parent and the guy that’s in charge of that area, it’s really hard and it hurts when your kid says that to you. It’s a tough spot down there and a lot of people aren’t bringing their kids down here because it’s in rough shape.”
In addition, Walsh said it makes sense from a municipal planning perspective to continue funding sources for Barry Park, which is located along the city’s portion of the Northern Strand Community Trail, a bike and pedestrian path which is expected to officially open to the public next month.
“There’s opportunities when it’s connected to a rail trail system to try to get funding for those parks connected,” said Walsh, explaining that the state may look at the park improvements as a continuation of the regional rail-trail construction, which could make it easier to secure future grants.
“The park is just at the point where it needs a redo in its entirety,” he said. “The city has it in its sights as the next park that needs that love.”
