Requesting the appropriation of $426,925 from the Community Preservation Act (CPA) Fund to the Mystic River Watershed Association for improvements to the Blessing of the Bay Linear Park.

To the Honorable City Council: The Mayor respectfully requests that this Council appropriate $426,925 from the Community Preservation Act Fund, including $239,103 from the Open Space Reserve and $187,822 from the Budgeted Reserve to the Mystic River Watershed Association to construct a shared use path at 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 extension is granted by the CPC. 2. CPA funds will be used only for CPA eligible expenses. 3. The Mystic River Watershed Association will install a permanent sign noting CPA funding at the completion of the project and a temporary sign during construction. 4. Unspent funds will be returned to the CPA fund. 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