OXFORD – Most grants come with strings attached.

But voters at Saturday’s town meeting decided the condition attached to a $25,000 conservation grant – that the property around the old fire station be forever preserved for recreation – was one they could live with.

They agreed to apply for the grant by a vote of 46 to 33.

The debate began when Budget Committee Chairman Tom Cushman urged residents not to take $50,000 from surplus and apply for a federal grant that would reimburse half that amount to the town.

The grant terms stipulate that the land be used for recreation, he said, which means that the town could never develop it for other uses.

“That piece of property is a valuable piece of property, and to tie this land up forever for a measly $25,000 is a grave mistake,” Cushman said. He also questioned whether the tennis courts, horseshoe ring and skating rink that are planned for the site would see much use.

But Recreation Committee Chairwoman Sharon Jackson pointed out that voters had agreed to let the Recreation Committee take over the property at the March town meeting. The old fire station building has already seen major improvements since then, with the installation of new siding, windows, doors and interior plumbing and bathroom.

“We never thought that we would be this far ahead” on the project, which is transforming the old fire station into the Stationhouse Community Center Complex.

The second phase includes plans to renovate the interior for use by community organizations and to hold public suppers.

“We’re trying to preserve the village back to the way it was,” Jackson said. She pointed out that voters were told the Recreation Committee would be seeking grants to make the project happen.

Lois Pike, another Recreation Committee member, said she didn’t see the drawback of stipulations that prevent development of a parcel that is valued by the town. The town-owned Pismo Beach on Thompson Lake would have been developed long ago if stipulations had not been placed on the property, she said.

Selectman Michael Thompson said that if the town ever felt strongly enough that the property was needed for another purpose, it could be released from the stipulation by repaying the grant funds.

Selectman David Ivey told voters that they agreed to this course of action in March. “You guys voted to do it; let’s do it.”