Requesting the appropriation of $250,000 from the Community Preservation Act Fund to the Mystic River Watershed Association to design a shared use community path at Blessing of the Bay Park.

To the Honorable City Council: The Mayor respectfully requests that this Council appropriate $250,000 from the Community Preservation Act Fund, including $80,000 from the Open Space Reserve and $170,000 from the Budgeted Reserve to the Mystic River Watershed Association to design a shared use path to Blessing of the Bay Park. Improvement of the path will entail expansion of the park by 0.61 acres. The appropriation will be allocated to the Open Space and Recreational Land CPA category (Fund # 3251). The following funding conditions have been placed on the project: 1) the CPA-funded portion of the project must be initiated within three years unless an extension is granted by the CPC; 2) CPA funds will be used only for CPA-eligible expenses; permanent dedication of the area to be converted from roadway to expand the area of the park shall be pursued; the CPA grant will be acknowledged in signage and public outreach for the design process. Details of this request are available in the attached funding recommendation from the Community Preservation Committee. Appropriate staff will be available to address any questions you may have. Thank you for your consideration of this item. Respectfully Submitted, Katjana Ballantyne, Mayor