Woolwich selectmen hope for grant monies to help fund Americans with Disabilities Act improvements at Nequasset Park. The park includes a swimming area, picnic grounds and boat launch and is located behind the municipal building. It borders Nequasset Brook.

On Feb. 22, selectmen authorized Joan Jordan and Sue Ellen Whittaker of the Nequasset Park Improvement Committee to seek a matching grant of up to $15,000.

The grant, administered through the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Bureau of Parks and Lands, requires a 25 percent match from the town.

Selectmen’s Chairman David King said the town’s share would come from the town’s undesignated fund balance. Voters approved $20,000 for this account last year; using it wouldn’t impact property taxes, added King.

Town Administrator Lynette Eastman said the deadline to apply for the grant is April 14. The state will announce the award recipients in May.

Reached for comment Wednesday, Whittaker, vice chairman of the park improvement committee, said the money will address some of the park’s ADA needs.

The entrance to the swimming area is eroding and the handicapped-accessible parking needs to be moved, she said. Both improvements could be made under the town’s current DEP permit.

Whittaker said other improvements are recommended for improving ADA access to the picnic grounds and swimming area. “If we’re awarded the grant this will at least get us started. We’ll do what we can to make the park ADA-compliant and safe for everybody to use.”

Whittaker said a preliminary engineering plan recommended up to $30,000 in improvements. She said the committee plans to pursue other grants to help pay for the additional work.

Solar project nixed

Selectmen decided not to install solar panels on the Nequasset Meetinghouse. According to King, the committee overseeing the building had concerns about the plan that involved constructing a solar array on the eastern half of the historic building’s roof. The other select board members had concerns of their own including financing.

King said he hasn’t given up on a project. “ReVision Energy, the company we’ve been talking to, has offered to take another look at whether the municipal building roof or surrounding property might be a suitable location to place solar panels.”

Still to be determined is whether a proposal can be agreed on in time for the annual town meeting.

Selectmen are finishing up work on the 2017-18 Town Budget. Town meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m., Saturday, April 29, at Woolwich Central School.