LEWISTON — Councilors cleared the way Tuesday for parents and neighbors of the former Pettingill Elementary School to raise money to convert the property into a neighborhood park.
Councilors voted in November to give neighbors until July to come up with a plan for the fate of the former school and its popular playground.
Bill Maroldo of 405 College St. said a new group called Friends of Pettingill School hopes to offset at least part of the costs of the park. Maroldo is a member of the group’s steering committee.
“We hope to cover some of the costs,” he said. “I don’t suppose we would be able to cover all of the costs. Would that be $120,000 to demolish the building? Would it be care-taking for the park into perpetuity? What we are actually trying to do is fund-raise to offset part of the costs.”
Lewiston officially closed Pettingill Elementary School in 2008, moving the students to the newer Geiger Elementary. The School Committee recommended tearing down the building and creating a neighborhood park on the 2.11-acre lot.
Neighbors have been using the former school’s playground as a community park since the school closed.
Developing the lot as a city park could be expensive, according to city estimates — $120,000 for the demolition and $75,000 for fencing, landscaping and site work.
Maroldo said the group plans to raise money through the city, rather than creating a separate nonprofit entity. Donations would be made to the city and kept in a distinct account.
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