At the October 28 meeting, the Bedford Rotary Foundation presented a $10,000 grant to the Friends of Depot Park to support the ongoing Depot Park renovation project. Foundation Chair Al Roscoe and Rotarian Diane Cadogan Hughes, who championed the grant request, presented the check to Joe Piantedosi and Bill Dean, president of the Friends of Depot Park.
Piantedosi reported that the project is progressing well, with a local contractor awarded the bid for $27,000, coming in under budget. The team is waiting for gas work to be completed, with building demolition expected within two to three weeks. A civil engineer has been hired to oversee the project.
The grant will help move forward the redevelopment of the former VFW lot at 76 Loomis Street, which will be incorporated into Depot Park. Plans include preserving the parking area, adding landscaping and interpretive displays, and creating a welcoming connection to the Minuteman Bike Path.
The partnership between the Bedford Rotary Foundation, the Friends of Depot Park, and the town highlights Bedford’s community spirit and shared commitment to preserving its historic spaces for future generations.