The Community Preservation Committee at its meeting Thursday night voted unanimously to extend the completion deadline dates for outstanding projects after receiving quarterly project updates from representatives.

The Parks & Recreation Department previously received CPC funding for seven projects. Director Jon Lewitus told the committee in his quarterly update that several projects were in motion or nearing completion.

“We’ve had meetings and discussions about prioritizing the outstanding CPC projects,” he explained.

One project — the skate park at EMC Park — has been open since Jan. 1, he reminded committee members. Related poles and netting were installed on May 14, which Lewitus said will allow the CPC to close it out. The CPC voted unanimously to do so near the end of the meeting, as well as to close out the unrelated Jenner property purchase request, which occurred earlier this year.

Lewitus added that the Sandy Beach boat dock was installed on June 9. Modifications will be needed, so that request will need to remain open. Improved access to the boat ramp is needed, he said.

Several remaining projects are in various stages of work, Lewitus explained. He requested on behalf of the department and the Parks & Recreation Commission that the deadline for the bathroom reconstruction project at EMC Park be extended. He noted that it was a “lower-priority project” compared to others in the works.

He added that he has scheduled a meeting with Dave Daltorio, the town engineer/facilities director, on June 23 to discuss this project.

Lewitus noted that security cameras were installed at the Sandy Beach amenities building before his tenure began as department director, as well as at the Fruit Street fields amenities building. In a separate funding allocation, security cameras for the Sandy Beach parking lot were installed on May 7 at a cost of $6,928.

Lewitus would like to use the remaining balance of about $18,000 for security cameras for the Fruit Street parking lot and a dumpster to curb illegal dumping there. He noted that there has been vandalism to the soccer nets, and the current cameras do not address “blind spots.”

Security camera installation at EMC Park was delayed by the installation of the skate park and also because of needed upgrades to the baseball fields. Lewitus said he would like to use the outstanding $12,000 balance for those security cameras. He will collaborate with the town’s Information Technology Department on the Fruit Street and EMC Park security cameras, as he did previously with the Sandy Beach security cameras.

CPC chair Ken Weismantel suggested that it might be prudent to prioritize the security cameras at EMC Park to “protect our assets.”

He also mentioned that the town has three security cameras on Main Street that possibly could be used. Because the Main Street Corridor Project was funded by the state, it is unclear if that would be a viable option.

Two closely linked major projects related to the redesign of Pyne Field include an irrigation project and the cricket pitch and ball field construction. Lewitus noted that the irrigation request came in during 2019, before the new cricket pitch and ball field were requested in 2023. Irrigation, for which $25,000 had been appropriated, will be necessary, he said, as it is a grass field.

Lewitus said he met with a representative from consultant Gale Associates regarding a milestone schedule for the renovation work, including the cricket pitch and ball field. He noted that should the project be “north of $1 million,” the department will have to make an additional CPC funding request. He hoped to put the $25,000 toward the project.

Lewitus said the 50% design development submission is due on July 10, at which time the “most specific dollar amount” for the project will be known.

The shade structure at the dog park was completed on April 4, he added. But the request needs to remain open to pay for benches that were requested. They should be installed within the next two months.

Remaining projects continued

The committee voted unanimously to continue the other projects discussed, keeping those funding requests open for another fiscal year. They include outdoor improvements for the Housing Authority, two separate headstone restoration projects from the Cemetery Commission, and the historical preservation and restoration of 168 Hayden Rowe Street, the home of the Hopkinton Historical Society.

Also extended was funding for nine property boundary marking requests from the Open Space Preservation Commission and four conservation restriction requests by the Hopkinton Area Land Trust (HALT).

To prevent projects from lingering, Weismantel suggested adding schedule details and milestone benchmarks to the application process for FY 27 applications. Applications will be due by Oct. 9.

Misc.: Whalen to be recognized

The committee voted unanimously to recognize Mike Whalen for his volunteer efforts to repair Stone Bridge free of charge, as well as the creation of a couple of benches there. A letter will be drafted that will go to the Select Board to ask for its acknowledgement of Whalen’s work. …

The committee unanimously voted to elect Weismantel as the committee liaison to the new Center School restoration subcommittee under the Permanent Building Committee.

Weismantel championed the redevelopment of the Center School as a public/private partnership between the town and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts, culminating with Town Meeting’s project approval in May.

Said Weismantel: “It’s a project that’s near and dear to my heart.”