Weymouth Town Council Approves $3.4 Million for Beals Park Restoration

WEYMOUTH -- March 20, 2023, Weymouth Town Council unanimously approved $3.4 million for Beals Park restoration after construction bids exceeded the original $2.6 million estimate. The 10-0 vote on Measure 23-008 draws entirely from Community Preservation Act accounts, $219,640 from the CPA unreserved fund balance, $125,400 from the FY23 open space and recreation fund, and $454,960 from the FY23 CPA unreserved fund balance, after the Community Preservation Committee approved the additional $800,000 on March 13. Parks and Recreation Director Steve Riley said the lowest of four bids came in at just over $3.2 million against a high bid topping $6.8 million, and said he expects to sign the contract and mobilize the selected contractor within days, with a late fall 2023 completion target. The council also voted 10-0 to refer concerns about the February 16 Clean Harbors toxic waste fire in East Braintree to the Public Safety Committee, following public comment from FRAX representative Alice Arena, who said North Weymouth and Idlewell residents breathed hazardous compounds including benzene and toluene without any reverse-911 alert from their communities.