WORCESTER – Local, state and federal officials met on Wednesday afternoon to announce a $2 million project at University Park.
The City of Worcester has received $1 million in grant funding from the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund to start the improvement project.
Officials in attendance at the announcement included congressional representative Jim McGovern, State senator Harriett Chandler, State representative David LeBoeuff, Acting City Manager Eric Batista, District 4 city councilor Sarai Rivera and Assistant Parks Commissioner Rob Antonelli.
“If you grew up in the area you’d know this park is heavily used. Almost all year long, you see some kind of activity here,” Rivera said about University Park.
The grant requires matching funding for the project, which the city will contribute.
“This is a huge deal for this neighborhood. This is a huge deal for Worcester,” McGovern said.
The money will go towards the construction of a spray park with an adjacent playground, new trees and shade structures, new storage and equipment buildings and public bathrooms.
The completion of the renovations and a ribbon cutting ceremony is expected to occur in the summer of 2024.
