Foxboro Awarded Grant to Improve Payson Road Recreation Area

Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan announced Monday more than $1.3 million in investments for parks, open space and recreation in six southeast region communities. Secretary Sullivan made the announcements in Foxboro where a Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) grant will fund road, parking and field improvements to Payson Road Recreation Area.

“The Patrick Administration is committed to improving our parks and open spaces across the Commonwealth,” said Secretary Sullivan in a press release. “In addition to preserving open space, improving recreational opportunities and protecting the Commonwealth’s natural resources, these investments will create economic growth across the region.”

Foxboro will receive $232,000 to pave access roads and handicapped parking spaces in two parking lots, build handicapped accessible paths to the recreation area, and grade, clear, and add loam and seeding to two areas for undirected recreation. 

The planning board applied for the grant over the summer to help pay for the costs of the upgrades. In November, town meeting authorized the selectmen to accept the grant on behalf of the town.

$168,000 of the expected $400,000 cost of the project will come from contributions made by developers from the Chestnut Green project who gave the money for recreational improvements in lieu of mitigation work. The town will not need to contribute any funds for the upgrades.