SALEM–The parks commission discussed several donations and grants that the department received in its meeting Wednesday.

Parks Director Kelli Pastore announced that the department had been awarded a Martin Luther King Junior Day of Service grant, which she said would help to pay for the construction of a new fence at the Waterworth Memorial Park Nature Trail. She said that the approximately 72-foot fence would help improve the safety of the trail, and that after the grant the department’s total cost for the project would be $49. She also said that she had attended a meeting in Medina regarding potential grant funding for new playground equipment. However, Pastore said that grant has a requirement for matching funds and that she was reviewing possible sources for external funding to use as matching funds.

Pastore also announced that the department would be receiving a donation of 25 batting helmets for its softball teams from Rollins Sports in February. She said that each helmet has a value of approximately $300 for a total value of approximately $7,500. She also said that a donor, who had requested to remain anonymous, had purchased metal for the department to install a handrail and kickplate on the bridge near restrooms at Memorial Park. Both Pastore and the commissioners thanked the donors for their support.

Pastore and the commissioners also thanked the city council for agreeing to purchase two new Ferris mowers for the department at a cost of approximately $35,500 in its Dec. 2 meeting.

“The city coming through for [the department] with those mowers is really big for us,” said Commission President John Panezott.

Pastore said that the order for the mowers had been placed, and that they were expected to arrive in February.

The parks department will close at noon on Christmas Eve and will be closed all day for Christmas and on Dec. 26.

The parks commission will meet next at 5 p.m. on Jan. 28.