By: Hayley Crombleholme

Article Credit: 22 News

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – The Holyoke Boys and Girls Club will use community preservation funding to improve the park across the street.

The Community Preservation Act allows the city to add a surcharge to property tax bills to fund historic rehabilitation, protect open space, and recreation areas in the city.

Holyoke awarded $350,000 to the Boys and Girls Club to renovate the basketball courts and playground across the street from club headquarters.

Matthew Mainville of the Holyoke Boys and Girls Club told 22News, “This is a great opportunity that the taxpayers have provided us to do some upgrades that will benefit the community and our kids.”

“Sometimes when it gets warm out, everybody comes by. In the summer, everybody is here playing or they’re inside playing. I think if there were a new court, everybody would like it more than they already do,” said Dominick Renaldi of Holyoke.

They’ll be adding shade pavilions and a splash pad. Construction will begin sometime in the fall.