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Rolesville gets $250,000 grant for new park
by Kristina Leighton, Wake Weekly Staff Writer
Rolesville residents have to wait no more.
They could have a safe place to take a leisurely stroll, let their children play on the playground and go for an evening jog as early as the end of this year. Construction on the long-anticipated Rolesville Main Street Park is expected to begin in the next few months, following an announcement that the town was approved for a $250,000 park grant earlier this week. The town has been almost at a standstill with the project for several months as they waited to hear about the grant, town manager Matt Livingston said. "Whatever work we did on the park before we found out about the grant wouldn't be eligible for funding," Livingston said. "We wanted to wait and see if we received the grant so we would know how big the scope of the park could be." The park was not one of the projects selected to receive a Parks and Recreations Trust Fund grant during the first round of awards in May. The town staff submitted more petitions and more letters to the trust fund, and received word over the weekend that the park would receive the matching grant funds. "It's like a shot in the arm," Commissioner Frank Eagles said. "It's what we needed to get things rolling." The town will now solicit bids for the projects associated with the park, which include a walking trail, a playground, an educational arboretum and a 42-space parking lot. The town previously received more than $462,000 from a PARTF grant to purchase 35-plus acres for the park and a $15,000 matching grant to develop the arboretum. The town would also like to put in a second gazebo at the park, surrounded by a grassy area where residents could gather to listen to live music, Livingston said. Some light work, such as clearing, may begin as early as this month, he said. The other projects will likely begin in two to three months. Livingston said he'd like to have the majority of the construction done by this fall. Phase two of the park will include several ball fields and a community center. The community center is expected to cost more than $1 million. In applying for the grant, the town had to submit an extensive application showing how staffers enlisted community support and planning in designing the park. "It's a big deal for us -- we're excited," Livingston said. Eagles said he thinks everyone in the town is ready to see something happen with the land designated for the park. "There are people in Rolesville who need this park," he said. "I think its really going to be a great thing for the town and the community. Livingston said the town is still accepting donations of quality fill dirt for use in the park. The board is expected to discuss plans for the park at the next commissioners' meeting Aug. 17 in the town meeting hall.
Last Updated On: July 29, 2004
Copyright 2004 The Wake Weekly