The Bethel Recreation Committee discussed launching a fundraising campaign to renovate the Bethel Recreation Center, with a focus on leveraging the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). A guest, Greg Hughes, outlined that LWCF funding is available for 2026, with applications due in the fall, and suggested Bethel could seek up to 2 million dollars for recreation renovations on a 50/50 match basis. The plan includes combining the grant with donations from smaller donors, regional banks, corporate giving programs, and civic groups, and the Select Board wants to gauge taxpayer support. This creates a pre-RFP window where the town will need help defining renovation scope, cost estimates, concept designs, grant application support, and a donor campaign strategy. Vendors in parks/recreation design, construction, grant consulting, and fundraising strategy can position themselves now while the project is being shaped and before formal procurement paths are set.

Bethel has successfully received LWCF funding previously for the town skateboard park, indicating fa...