OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen From left are town of Hanover Supervisor Lou Pelletter and Town Board members Bernie Feldmann, James Feldmann, Ed Schintzius, and Aimee Rogers are seen on the playground at Bicentennial Park, installed last summer.

HANOVER — A little over a year ago, the Town Board held a meeting at Bicentennial Park to unveil its renovations to the pavilion. At the time, the Town Board still had plenty more plans lined up for the park.

In the year since, one of those major plans came to fruition as a new playground was installed. The new playground was proudly displayed for those in attendance at the latest meeting as the Town Board eyes future renovations to continue to improve the park.

Now with the pavilion and indoor facilities, including electricity, a refrigerator, running water and bathroom, in addition to the playground, town residents have been accessing the park frequently. The facilities were reserved nearly every weekend this past spring and summer to date. The town charges only a small fee and a refundable security deposit to encourage use of the facilities.

“I think it’s wonderful. We got a lot of compliments,” Town Supervisor Lou Pelletter said. “It works really nice. I’m very happy with it.”

The town is eyeing an expansion of its pavilion, including a canopy and an increased seating area. The ceiling of the pavilion would also be closed and concrete would be added for an access road up to the playground. The playground area would also be expanded to include a swing set.

Aug. 18 is the deadline for bids to be received for renovations to Bicentennial Park. Bid specifications are available at the Town Clerk’s Office.

Down the line, the town could also designate a use for the open field area at the park, with the potential for a ball field or volleyball court in the future.

A combination of grant funding and town funds kept aside for improvements have led to the upgrades in the past, as well as the upcoming improvements. The land the park is built on – 611 King Road in Forestville — was donated by Henry Van Curen in 1975. Van Curen was on hand a year ago when the pavilion was unveiled.

In terms of other renovations in the town of Hanover, New York Medical Center was recently issued a permit from the building inspector to move forward with its residential mental health and rehabilitation facility at the former Lakeshore Hospital site on Routes 5 and 20. The building could be occupied by the end of this year. The potential for an emergency room and/or emergency department is still on the table down the line.

Town Board members Bernie Feldmann and Ed Schintzius recently met with a developer eyeing a hotel along Routes 5 and 20, along with a grant writer, a contractor, and the town’s Accountant, Elmar Kiefer. A contract has been drawn up with a property owner along Routes 5 and 20.

“It’s not a finalized deal yet, but it looks to be going in the right direction for them,” Feldmann said. “Hopefully it will for us.”

More discussion was held during executive session following the regular meeting regarding a contract with a grant writer pertaining to the property on Routes 5 and 20 eyed for development of a hotel.

The town is also awaiting resolution with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and its union before proceeding with discussions on a contract extension for enhanced police protection in the town and in the village of Silver Creek. The current contract expires at the end of 2025.

The Bay Creek Fire District is in the process of finalizing its policies and procedures for the newly formed joint district. Formation of the taxing district is nearly complete. The district has not yet determined who its Fire Chief will be.

The next meeting of the Hanover Town Board is Monday, Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Hanover Town Hall.