Both Gardiner Supervisor Marybeth Majestic and Town of Shawangunk Supervisor John Valk agree their respective towns will make good use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from Ulster County for work on parks and recreation projects.

Gardiner and Shawangunk were among the 16 municipalities in Ulster County to receive the funding through the county’s Municipal Parks and Recreation Grant (MPRG) program to support the development, improvements and renovations of various parks and recreation areas in the county.

Gardiner will receive $96,615 for Majestic Park Pump Track and American Disability Act (ADA) accessibility improvements. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $200,000, with the remainder of the funding coming from the town.

The Town of Shawangunk received a $100,000 grant for additional playground equipment and improvements in four or possibly five town parks. The town will provide the rest of the funding for the project, which is estimated to have a total cost of $250,000, according to Valk.

The MPRG is intended to enhance public spaces, building on lessons learned during the pandemic about the importance of having accessible, safe and healthy outdoor opportunities for residents across Ulster County.

Eligible projects included such enhancements as ADA amenity upgrades, sensory/inclusivity equipment, surfacing upgrades, green spaces, park maintenance and upkeep, neighborhood cleanup, pedestrian features, recreational facilities, streetlights and other improvements that revitalize or expand public spaces.

The Ulster County Legislature approved $2 million in ARPA funding to go to municipalities to fund park and recreation projects.

In announcing the grants for Ulster County municipalities, Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger said parks and outdoor spaces proved to be among the county’s most valuable assets during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We saw clearly during that difficult time how important it is that we preserve and enhance these community spaces for our collective well-being, as well as ensure that they are accessible to people of all abilities in our communities,” Metzger said. “This investment of ARPA funds will pay dividends in public benefits for many years to come.”

“I am thrilled we received this grant from Ulster County,” Majestic said. “Using their ARPA funds, we can expand our recreational facilities complete with ADA access.”

The Majestic Park Pump Track will be a circuit of rollers, banked turns and features designed to be ridden completely by riders pumping – generating momentum by up and down body movements instead of pedaling or pushing.

There is currently a skateboard park at Majestic Park on Murphy Lane.

“My explanation (of a pump track) is that it is like a swimming pool for folks with wheels,” Majestic said. “It can be bikes, skateboards, wheelchairs, etc.”

Majestic said the town will also replace the fencing around the pump track and skateboard park and replace the existing paths in the park with ADA accessible trails.

Majestic thanked the volunteers that helped put the grant application together in a timely manner.

“Special thanks to Ilka Casey and Toni Benevento of our Parks & Recreation Committee and Michael Benevento of Hudson Valley Trailworks,” Majestic said.

Valk said the Town of Shawangunk will use the county grant along with town funds to upgrade existing playground equipment in the town parks and add playground equipment in parks that currently don’t have any.

“Playground equipment isn’t cheap,” Valk said. “Some of our playground equipment is old and needs to be upgraded. The newer equipment is safer, too.”

The town’s parks that will get playground improvements will be Popp Memorial Park, Garrison Park, Verkeerder Kill Park and Galeville Park, Valk said. He added that the Greg and Dot Greer Memorial Park behind the Walker Valley Schoolhouse could also get some equipment.

“The only parks that currently have playground equipment now are Verkeerder Kill and Garrison,” Valk said. “We’re also considering a pickleball court because that is becoming very, very popular.”