SWAMPSCOTT — More community-improvement projects are in progress in the town this spring.
On Burpee Road, the town is putting in new curbs and sidewalks. The street will be paved in the beginning of the next week, said Gino Cresta, director of the Department of Public Works.
One half of the cost of the project was financed by B’nai B’rith Housing, the Boston-based nonprofit that redeveloped the former Machon Elementary School into senior housing and donated $50,000 to the town for neighborhood improvements. The town matched this donation with another $50,000.
“We had several meetings with the residents. This is what they came up with,” said Cresta about the street-improvement project.
Meanwhile, the Walker Road paving project is moving along slower than planned, Cresta said, because the same contractor is working on Burpee Road as well.
At 60 Humphrey St., the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) will be installing an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant bus stop, starting this week. This project includes creating a bump-out for the crosswalk and leveling out the difference in elevation between the sidewalks and the roadway, Cresta said.
Beach improvements are almost complete at Phillips’ Beach and Cassidy Park. At Phillips’ beach, visitors will find a new granite marker, an outdoor shower, a drinking fountain, and a bigger patio area.
New beach grass was planted at Cassidy Park as part of a resiliency project.
A new playground will soon be installed in Windsor Park on Windsor Avenue near Stuart Street. A contractor has already started preparing the site, said Marzie Galazka, director of community and economic development, and will be bringing new playground equipment for children up to 12 years old next week.
The playground will feature ADA-compliant swings and rubber surfacing.
This project was financed with grant funds from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Division of Conservation Services, Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) Program, as well as town funds allocated at the annual town meeting, Galazka said. The total cost of this first phase of the project amounted to $108,000.
The department is currently working on securing funding for the second phase of the project, which would update the existing basketball court.
“As soon as we secure the funding we will try to do the work,” Galazka said.
The town is hoping to secure some private donations as well to be able to finish improvements to the park in Phase 2.
