The Chestertown Town Council passed a motion Monday to apply for a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to plan and design of a “playscape” at Wilmer Park. The motion passed in a 4-1 vote.
The playscape would be marketed to attract more traffic to the town’s arts district–as well as premier nonprofit attractions like the Sultana and Prince Theatre.
“We met with a committee of local artisans and artisan groups who gave us an inventory of all the artists and art businesses that are within a two-block area of the [playscape] site, which would be the focal point of several activities,” said Chestertown Town Manager Bill Ingersoll in his recommendation to apply for the grant. “It isn’t just about playscapes, it’s more about the art community and blending them in and making this an art destination.”
The grant is for $25,000 and requires the town to find a match of the same amount, which invoked wrangling among council members on whether to use funds from Washington College’s $200,000 donation for the Sgt. John H. Newnam Armory, or from some other source.
WC’s donation was agreed to in late 2011–in exchange for the town’s option to buy the armory from the Department of General Services.
Ingersoll told the Spy on Wednesday that the $200,000 donation will be in the general fund by the end of February after the settlement on the Armory.
Councilman Marty Stetson raised objections to using funds from the WC donation, which was suggested by WC Vice President Joe Holt when the grant was first proposed at the Dec. 17 council meeting.
Stetson said Monday that he didn’t want any part of the $200,000 donation going to match the NEA grant. He said the money should go to the Rail Trails project, which has been ongoing for several years, Stetson said.
“I just don’t like seeing anything taken away from [the donation] “ Stetson said. “I’ve been on this council for five years now. Since I’ve been here, we’ve been working on the Rails to Trails and we’re still not there.”
Ingersoll said the donation was not solely designated for Rails Trails and that funds could be used for waterfront planning and recreation. Holt was in the audience and agreed with Ingersoll’s interpretation.
Stetson also voiced concerns that using part of the donation could put the $200,000 at risk for further skimming.
In a move that turned out to be entirely semantic, Councilman Jim Gatto’s motion required that the $25,000 match come from a general fund allocation of $30,000 that was never used for planning at Stepne Manor. The motion passed 4-1.
Gatto’s motion also stipulated that planning for the “playscape” be made a part of the overall comprehensive plan for Chestertown’s waterfront that includes Stepne Manor, Chestertown Marina, and Washington College’s plans for armory.
The grant application is due by January 14.
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