Milford lands more than $1.3M in grant money. How they plan to spend it

Tom Benoit, The Milford Daily News
·3 min read

MILFORD — Milford Town Park is getting a face-lift, thanks in large part to a federal grant worth more than $1.3 million.

Town Administrator Richard Villani recently announced that funding from the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program will be used to construct new walkways, fencing, lighting, basketball courts, ADA-compliant pathways, parking and a new outdoor fitness activity center at the park, which sits along Congress Street.

The CDBG grant is valued at $1,324,037 million. It was written by resident Mitch Ruscitti, who started in July as Hopedale's town administrator.

"I grew up in Milford, and my grandfather owned a house on Congress Street," Ruscitti told the Daily News. "I spent a ton of time at the park. My oldest just turned 4, and I hope she gets to enjoy the park the same way I did and to have all new equipment."

This concrete chess board is at the Milford Town Park. The town recently landed a $1.3 million federal grant that will be spent on Town Park improvements, including new walkways, fencing, lighting, basketball courts, ADA-compliant pathways, parking and a new outdoor fitness activity center.
This concrete chess board is at the Milford Town Park. The town recently landed a $1.3 million federal grant that will be spent on Town Park improvements, including new walkways, fencing, lighting, basketball courts, ADA-compliant pathways, parking and a new outdoor fitness activity center.

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Select Board Chair Paul Mazzuchelli, a lifelong town resident, agreed.

“To me, it’s a very important part of the community," he said of the park. "It’ll be a benefit to younger residents and also helps older residents. We’re happy to get the grant — it’s a win-win for everyone."

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Ruscitti said the park is near one of Milford's more densely populated neighborhoods due to zoning. He said many residents don't have access to recreation opportunities.

"(Now) They'll have access to a state-of-the-art facility," he said. "They'll have the finest access to recreation."

He also pointed to the park's proximity to Fino Field, which will soon get a new $4 million public pool, replacing one that has been closed for three years.

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In writing the grant, Ruscitti collaborated with Villani and Milford Parks Director Jim Asam, who said the Parks Commission was looking at this project for the past few years, aligning with the park’s five-year plan.

“The entire park is outdated,” Asam told the Daily News. “There was some lighting upgrades but these were just Band-Aids.”

With the upgrades, the basketball courts will be usable until the park’s 9:30 p.m. curfew and will benefit the schools, Asam said, as they use park space for gym classes.

“It’ll be something nice to have in that area,” he said.

Milford's CBDG grant was part of $65 million in grants given last month to 72 communities throughout the state.

Asam said the work schedule depends on the process. He is waiting on the final release of funding, which he expects to come in early October.

“Things will move quickly when it starts,” Asam said. "I hope it gets done for next spring or summer.”

The Parks Department plans to put a warrant on the Oct. 30 Special Town Meeting to allocate funding for the Town Park project.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Milford lands federal grant worth more than $1M for park improvements