EARLVILLE – On Tuesday night, the Village of Earlville passed a resolution to establish a Parks and Recreation Committee.

The committee would oversee park maintenance and improvements, recreation programming, facility management, environmental stewardship, community engagement, youth and senior services, and special projects.

Village Trustee Mark Golden explained that the committee would continue the work started by the Earlville for Earlville group, whose original purpose was to look at the needs of the community and develop a plan to meet those needs.

“We were really buoyed by the efforts of the Hamilton Partnership for Community Development,” Golden said. The groups worked together to hold regular meetings and send out surveys asking village residents what they wanted to see in the Fayette Street Park. “Everyone wanted to create a safe environment for kids and adults.”

With input from the public, Partnership for Community Development Director Joscelyn Gavett worked on creating an image for what the park should be.

“Joscelyn put together a beautiful plan for the park,” Golden said. The plan included a pavilion for small outdoor concerts, an improved playground area with opportunities for exploratory play, and a walking path. Many village residents have voiced concerns about unsupervised teens and young adults creating problems at the park, but Golden said with more people at the park, there are less issues due to lack of supervision.

Since Christopher Community Inc., a Syracuse-based senior housing development and management company, purchased the former Earlville School with a plan to create a senior housing complex, the need for the park has increased. Golden said this park could serve as a place for youth and seniors to enjoy.

The village has applied for a grant that would cover 75 percent of the funding for the project. They have a plan in place for obtaining additional funding to support the project.

The Parks and Rec committee would spearhead the Fayette Street Park project. “This committee would support the growth of the park if that funding comes to pass,” Golden said. They would also support the efforts of the current Earlville Events committee, currently comprised of just three people. “Robin Worden, Lori Crumb, and Michelle Connelly resurrected the events committee two years ago. But it’s really too difficult for just three people,” Golden said.

Golden said they would like to see a committee of at least seven people willing to give a sustained effort to the project. “We need people who are committed and responsible for this kind of effort.”