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October 23, 2006                                                                                Dan Cahill
                                                                                                            617-722-2240

Worcester Receives $500K Grant for Ball Property Project

Worcester, MA – The City of Worcester was awarded a Self-Help Grant in the amount of $500,000 from the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs’ Division of Conservation Services to acquire 15.1 acres of land to complete the Ball Property project. 

The Ball Property is an essential parcel of land that will be added to the Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, which in conjunction with the Blackstone River Bikeway, will create a series of walkways and bikeways that a number of citizens from Worcester and its surrounding communities will enjoy.  Also, this newly protected area will create a substantial sanctuary for numerous species of wildlife and natural resources contained within its wooded parcels.

Representative John P. Fresolo, whose district the Ball Property is located in, commented that the Self-Help Grant was obtained through the hard work of governmental, non-profit, and community organizations.  “I am very proud to have helped secure the $500,000 in funding necessary to protect this vital piece of land that will provide a safe natural habitat for wildlife and a wonderful recreational area for the residents of Worcester,” said Rep. Fresolo.

The Self-Help program, established in 1961, financially assists municipal conservation commissions in acquiring land for natural resource and preservation purposes.  Outdoor recreational uses, such as hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, and bird observation are encouraged and access by the general public is a requirement.