WELLSVILLE — Beaver Creek Area Association of REALTORS® (BCAAR) has helped the Village of Wellsville enhance its downtown area with the creation of Jim Kenney Park.

With the use of a $7,500 Placemaking Grant from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), volunteers from BCAAR, village elected officials, and residents have transformed unused space on Main Street into a vibrant, public destination for community use and enjoyment. NAR designed these types of grants to allow local REALTOR® associations to make positive impacts in the communities in which they live and work.

The small park area in downtown Wellsville is named after James M. Kenney Jr., a Wellsville patrolman who, in 1926, gave his life in the line of duty, protecting the citizens of Wellsville. To this day, he is remembered as a local hero and deserving of lasting recognition.

The space consists of a landscaped patio-like area with picnic tables, a waste, container, and a large welcoming sign recognizing Patrolman Kenney and those who have contributed to the park’s creation. The sign also lists significant historical facts about the village. In addition to volunteer workers from BCAAR and the village, contractors D. W. Dickey and M & A Concrete were key contributors to the project.

“REALTORS® volunteer in their communities and take pride in our in our work to make our area’s neighborhoods better places to live, work, and raise a family” said BCAAR President James Clark. “This grant gives us a tangible, immediate opportunity to identify and address an area in Wellsville that could help foster a healthier, more social and economically viable community, and creates a place where people feel a strong stake in making things better.”

The National Association of REALTORS® is America’s largest trade association, representing more than1.4 million members. To find out more about the Placemaking Program, visit https://realtorparty.realtor/community-outreach/placemaking. For information on the Beaver Creek Area Association of REALTORS®, visit realestatebcaar.com.