Old Orchard Beach receives $100,000 for Atlantic Avenue park

OLD ORCHARD BEACH – The town has received a $100,000 grant to revitalize the Atlantic Avenue baseball court and create more of a broad-based park.

The Atlantic Avenue basketball court is a town property at 88 Atlantic Ave., that according to town records, is about over one third of an acre. The small park has a paved basketball court boarded on either side by a flat, grassy area.

OOB Community Friendly Connection, a group that strives to make Old Orchard Beach a better place to live and work, in 2018 spearheaded an effort to revitalize the Atlantic Avenue basketball court and the surrounding Washington Square neighborhood. The idea to move forward with a campaign to refurbish the Atlantic Avenue basketball court was sparked by local resident Donny Hill, who had fond memories of playing on the court as a child, said Pat Brown, facilitator of the OOB Community Friendly Connection, at Tuesday night’s Town Council.

OOB Community Friendly Connection met several times with neighbors to get input for the initiative, said Brown.

“They said they wanted they really wanted it to be a park that would be a place that would be good for people of all ages, (and) not just basketball,” she said. Brown presented a vision board compiled from ideas by Washington Square residents that included picnic tables, an exercise station circuit, benches and bicycle racks.

OOB Community Friendly Connection was recently awarded $100,000 of federal Community Development Block Grant funds to refurbish the park, thanks to a grant application by OOB Community Friendly Connection member Holly Korda.

“We are committed to having this park done right, with quality work and quality products so that it’s good today and it’s good for years to come,” said Brown. She said she envisions a park with equipment that is visually appealing and low maintenance and is used by many people.

The Town Council voted Tuesday night to accept the funds.

“On behalf of the Council, I can’t thank you folks enough,” said Town Council Chairman Shawn O’Neil. He said this effort was “a shining example” of how a small group of people can work together for the betterment of the community. He said it showed the people really care about their town and as a result will have something that will be enjoyed for generations to come.

“It’s beyond heartwarming,” said O’Neil.

Work on the project has to be completed by November. Those who wish to volunteer can email cfc-atlanticcourts@usa.net.

For more information on the project, go to www.oobmaine.com/oob-community-friendly-connection-oobcfc , and click on the “Washington Square Area News” tab.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.