Town Board approves purchase of new playground equipment

AMENIA — Following months of planning, the Town Board voted at their regular meeting on Thursday, April 3, to approve the purchase and installation of a new unit of playground equipment at Beekman Park, replacing an out-of-service unit.

Providing the equipment will be Great Lakes Recreation at a cost of $131,020, through the town’s membership in a Minnesota-based purchasing cooperative, Sourcewell.

In other action, the board agreed unanimously to proceed with redesign and replacement of audio-visual equipment in the Town Hall first floor meeting room.

The contract was awarded to Tamboia Media at a cost not to exceed $21,807.50.

Discussion continued on the issue of parking in the town’s commercial center. Possibilities include converting the basketball court along Route 343 to parking. The basketball court could be relocated.

“This is something we should circle back on in cooperation with the Recreation Commission,” Town Supervisor Leo Blackman said.
Councilmember Rosanna Hamm agreed that there is a need for additional parking but added that a parking lot would require curb cuts to create entrances, reducing street parking by a number of spaces. Hamm suggested an evaluation to determine the net number of spaces that would be added by a parking lot on the basketball court site.

Continuing discussion, councilmember Brad Rebillard emphasized the importance of promoting walkability throughout the town center.

The next meeting of the Town Board will be held on Wednesday, April 16, at 7 p.m., a change from its usual Thursday meeting date. A quorum would not have been able to attend on that Thursday, necessitating the change.