Town, village approve intermunicipal agreement to finish Erie Park renovation after $450,000 CREST grant

The Town of Goshen board on June 12 approved an intermunicipal agreement (IMA) with the Village of Goshen to move forward with renovations at Erie Park, a project funded in large part by a $450,000 CREST grant.

Town recreation staff and village representatives described the planned improvements as two rehabilitated basketball courts, two pickleball courts, a 30-by-30 pavilion (donated), a new restroom building, renovated soccer field, replacement playground surfacing with poured-in-place rubber and new fencing. Melissa (town staff) and Molly (village representative) said the park serves both village and town residents and had been the subject of a joint grant application.

Funding and cost discussion: Town staff presented an estimated total project cost of $589,873 and said the CREST grant award was $450,000, leaving an uncovered balance. Staff presented a spreadsheet distributed to board members that shows the remaining balance and proposed that the town and village share costs in excess of the grant. Melissa told the board the town’s portion was shown on the handout as $99,000; Molly later reported late revised contractor pricing that reduced one line-item and brought down the town share somewhat (Molly said an updated quote reduced a sub-total to $93,783 split between the two municipalities).

Board members and the town attorney discussed mechanics of payment and documentation in the IMA, and staff said previously incurred village expenses were included in the project accounting. The board asked that the IMA include a not-to-exceed figure and the supporting spreadsheet so both parties and the public can see the breakout of costs; attorneys will finalize the IMA language and minor clerical corrections before signature.

The board voted to approve the IMA subject to final attorney and numeric verification and authorized the supervisor to sign. Town officials said the village’s JRC board planned to approve the playground equipment selection at its next meeting, and staff expect construction to proceed once contracts are finalized and permits issued.

What’s next: Staff will finalize the IMA language, attach the updated cost spreadsheet as an exhibit with a not-to-exceed number, and return the signed agreement after clerical and legal review. The town will pay invoices as submitted and expect reimbursement or final accounting consistent with the CREST grant terms.