Guam's Department of Parks and Recreation has scored a $5.62 million grant which will provide new gyms for Mangilao and Umatac as well as a baseball stadium for Talofofo and renovate other gyms and restroom facilities for island parks.
And this came at warp speed for the federal and the U.S. Interior Department, according to a news release from the office of the governor at Adelup.
DPR applied for a $5.62M DOI Capital Improvement Program grant and a week ago, Assistant Secretary of the Interior Douglas Domenech presented Governor Calvo with a letter awarding the grant.
“DPR is is tasked with the management and maintenance of Guam’s public parks, historic resources, recreation and sporting facilities for our island residents and visitors alike. The conditions on Guam present a challenge in the maintenance of facilities, which experience accelerated deterioration as a result of their general proximity to the ocean,” Director Bill Reyes said.
This project intends to provide for the preventative maintenance, repair and renovation of public recreation, sports facilities and park restrooms as well as to provide for new recreational facilities to relieve the demand placed on existing populated public venues.
“Our goal is to provide safe, clean and accessible venues for residents and visitors to participate in sports or family and friend activities,” said DPR Deputy Director John Taitano. “This is all part of this agency’s effort to promote physical activity, health, wellness and an overall improved quality of life.”
DPR has 16 public park restroom facilities, renovation, refurbishment and/or replacement of 10 public outdoor basketball court facilities, tennis court, and one sports complex; it will retrofit lighting at a couple parks, replace auto bollards at Governor Joseph Flores Beach Park (also known as Ypao Beach); design-build seven recreation facilities (restroom, baseball field, pool pump room and gymnasium); and the design build of a security CCTV system for multiple public parks.
Governor Calvo stated this investment into our sports and recreation facilities “creates an environment where our children and our athletes have a greater opportunity to engage in sports and other activities that promote healthy lifestyles and athletic skills.”