LAWRENCE — The city has received nearly $1 million in grants to develop community gardens and upgrade Howard Playstead, according to the mayor's office.
The city will use $424,920 for the Neighborhood Community Garden Initiative, in which undeveloped, city-owned lots become gardens in their respective neighborhoods.
Another $480,465 will go toward upgrades at Howard Playstead, a popular ball field in the Arlington district that needs renovation, said Community Development Director Tom Schiavone.
"Over the last eight years under Mayor Michael Sullivan the city has gone through nearly every park and done some renovations," Schiavone said. "But the Howard hasn't had much improvement done in a while."
The money will go toward installation of high-efficiency lights and the construction of a concession stand and services building, including bathrooms and storage areas.
Schiavone said the idea behind the concession stand is to make the park self-sufficient.
"The money raised from the sale of food and beverages will be put back into the leagues that use the fields," he said.
Further, the installation of lights will double the amount of time the fields can be used.
Sy Uliano Jr., the president of the Central Little League, which plays at the Howard fields, is thrilled.
"The field is named after my later father, who for over 40 years served as the coordinator of the baseball program at this playground," Uliano said.
Installing lights, he said, "will permit us to add another 45 to 60 kids and at least four more teams to our program."
The community gardens grant will enable the city to work with local private and nonprofit groups to identify areas that could be converted to gardens, but which may need to be cleaned up due to contamination.
"Community gardens have been widely recognized as contributing to the health, well-being and stability of neighborhoods," said Mayor Michael Sullivan. "They also provide significant opportunity for neighbors to come together and engage in healthy and productive outdoor activities."
The total $905,385 grant came from the Parkland Acquisition and Renovations for Communities program, administered by the executive office of energy and environmental affairs for the state.
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