GREENWOOD TWP- The Greenwood Community Recreation Board is close to meeting their goal of raising the approximately $65,000 needed to build a new pavilion on town hall grounds. The pavilion will mostly be built with volunteer labor.

At Tuesday’s town board meeting, Dean Panian updated the board on the fundraising progress and construction plans, and sought approval for the purchase of materials to begin construction.

After some lengthy discussion that involved advice from the new township attorney Mike Couri (see related story inside), the project will be conducted under the umbrella of the township, which will approve purchasing and any contracts required. The township will purchase the needed construction insurance, though this cost will also be paid for by the privately-raised funds.

The committee presented a $15,000 check for the first set of donations to the township. The rest of the pledged donations will be presented once they are received.

The township has previously committed $10,000 to the project. The group has raised a little over $31,000 so far, plus received a grant for almost $10,000 from the IRRRB, to cover the costs for electrical and landscaping work. Four fundraisers are also planned, which hope to bring in an additional $10,500.

Panian stressed that additional donations are still needed, and urged those who haven’t yet contributed to lend their support. He estimated that if the four fundraisers go as planned, they still need to raise an additional $3,000 to complete the project.

The committee sent out 1,700 letters to Greenwood property owners asking for financial support and comments on the project. About 250 replied with financial support; 50 negative comments were also received by those who did not support the project. But the committee noted that was still over 83 percent in favor, of those who responded.

Panian said that all those who have contributed and businesses who volunteer will be recognized on a bronze plaque that will be installed inside the structure.

“Donations have ranged from $10 to $2,000,” he said.

Committee member Jarri Ankrum said those who did not support the project had several reasons, including those who felt the pavilion was not needed, some who felt the comprehensive plan survey results said residents did not want more development at the town hall, and others who opposed spending taxpayer money on the project.

“For every $100,000 in property value,” Ankrum said, “this project will cost you one dollar. It’s an average of $5.69 per township property owner.”

She added that for a building that will be valued at $150,000, that is a “pretty good deal.”

A few questions were raised at the meeting. Resident Jeff Maus, noting he did support the project, wondered why a specific question on the pavilion was not included in the township survey. The question in the survey was vague and many have noted that people interpreted it in different ways. Maus also asked why board members had discussed increasing the township contribution to the project, without discussing the issue at a board meeting.

Panian responded that Supervisor Gene Baland had approached him, saying he would be willing to ask the board to consider upping the donation to $25,000, instead of having the committee incur the costs of printing and mailing out the donation letter, which cost several thousand dollars.

“We didn’t want to build the pavilion without the support of the people,” Panian said. “And where we are at now proves that. I am happy and would like to thank all who contributed, along with the taxpayers for the $10,000.”

The pavilion will be handicap-accessible, and connected to the town hall parking area via a new sidewalk. Panian said they are looking into options for installing a handicap-accessible satellite toilet adjacent to the pavilion, which will be located near the four new bocce ball courts.

Two bocce ball leagues, a women’s and men’s mixed, will start up in June. Committee members said they have already fielded many calls from residents hoping to use the pavilion this summer.

Construction will begin soon and, weather-permitting, be done in June.