Bourne Town Administrator Says Buzzards Bay Park to be Completed on Budget

BOURNE – the town administrator in Bourne is assuring residents that the Buzzards Bay Park project will come in on budget.

At a recent Selectmen’s meeting, Thomas Guerino told the board that the park will be completed using the amount of funds authorized at town meeting.

“We will come in at the amount of money that had been authorized at Town Meeting,” he said. “We will not come back to Town Meeting again.”

In May, voters approved $300,000 more to complete the first phase of the park which includes the installation of irrigation, an electrical upgrade and a replacement of the current walkway.

The $300,000 was to cover hydro-seeding, pedestrian walkways, a performance pavilion and other plantings.

Voters also approved $1 million in Community Preservation funds for the second phase which would include additional landscaping, a childrens’ play area with a splash pad, a pavilion and a Memorial Grove.

“What was shown at Town Meeting was a schematic rendering of what the park may look like at the end. It may look a lot like that with a playground, a splash pad, the walk-arounds and a pavilion,” Guerino said.

Selectman Michael Blanton expressed concerns over the possibility that some amenities could be cut to finish the project on budget.

Guerino said all the elements will be included but some could be slightly scaled down. As an example, Guerino said that instead of 13 pieces of children’s play equipment only 9 could be included.

“The park will come in on budget. It will be a very lovely addition to downtown and to the whole town,” Guerino said.