DEXTER – Dexter was one of four communities awarded a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant from the National Park Service for public recreational facilities.

Dexter received $4,800, which will be matched through the municipal budget for the realignment of the No. 4 hole at the Dexter Municipal Golf Course.

“Public parks and playgrounds encourage people of all ages to get outside and enjoy the beautiful Maine outdoors, especially in the summer months,” Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins said in a press release this week. “We are pleased that the National Park Service supports these vital community projects that promote safe and fun outdoor recreation.”

In addition to Dexter, Kingfield was awarded $25,000 to help replace aging playground equipment; Monmouth received $23,395 to plan and construct a playground; and Pittsfield was awarded $25,000 to renovate an existing pool and make other poolside improvements. All of the projects require a local match.

Dexter Town Manager Judy Doore said Dexter’s local match of $4,800 was included in the budget for 2007-2008 and is available for the $9,500 project.

“We’re just very pleased. It’s going to give us an opportunity to do some much-needed groundwork at the course that we haven’t been able to do for a number of years,” Doore said Wednesday.

Doore said the funds also will be used to correct drainage problems, reconstruct the cart paths and install irrigation. She said there are some wet areas that will be addressed with the funds.

James Costedio, who is in the second year of a five-year contract with the town to manage and operate the golf course, has been working very hard to maintain the existing grounds, Doore said.

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