Mariposa County’s “field of dreams” may have a new vision for the future. It comes in the form of a grant proposal that could construct a multipurpose room/gymnasium on the Highway 49 North site.

On Tuesday, the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors directed the Parks and Recreation Division of the Public Works Department to apply for a grant under California’s Proposition 84.

Public Works Director Dana Hertfelder said the construction of a gym on the site “has the potential for competing well” in the grant process. The criteria for the grant includes serving a population below a median income of $47,000. The median income in the area surrounding the proposed site is $21,120.

Hertfelder said a multi-purpose facility is “one of the biggest needs of this county” and its construction would be in the best interest of citizens. A number of community efforts to develop a similar project have failed in recent years.

Supervisor Jim Allen agreed with Hertfelder. “It’s very much necessary,” he said. “There is absolutely no room at the high school gym. There are a lot of uses for this gym. Hopefully you can build it.”

Hertfelder said the grant application is due March 30, 2010. The county expects to hear if it is awarded the following October. The maximum amount for the award is $5 million. There is no required match from the county.

Hertfelder said the proposed gym fits with the spirit of the original plan for the land. “This is very consistent with why we purchased the property,” he said. “The overwhelming consensus is that this is our number one project.”

Supervisor Kevin Cann agreed and said this may be the beginning of something else. “We could go until 5 p.m. with people discussing the need,” he said. “Sometimes this is all it takes. We should start with small successes.”

The board directed Hertfelder to move forward in the grant process. Citizen Ruth Catalan commended the department for the plan. “Maybe our dreams will come true,” she said.

Also on the agenda was a discussion about the potential purchase of property on which to construct a fire station in the Bridgeport/Yaqui Gulch area. After considerable public input, the board voted to stop negotiations on one piece of property and investigate others further.

One man who lives next to the proposed site said he doesnt’ want the fire station built there. “I don’t want to see a metal building or hear sirens,” he told the board.

Another man said the board should expect opposition to the proposed station. “Putting something like that is not going to be conducive to being the way I want to live,” he said.

Others offered support. Ed Hart said he had conducted an informal poll of neighbors. He said 14 of them were in favor of the station, while nine were opposed.

Jim Pruitt, a retired fire captain from Los Angeles who lives in the Bridgeport area also said the station is sorely needed. “I’m in favor of the station,” he said. “We really need some type of protection out there.”

Dawn Affman was concerned about the lack of support for the station, given the fact that insurance rates and public safety are compromised without one. “If that big plume of smoke was over heads, would we be more positive about it?” she asked.

Mariposa County Fire Chief Jim Wilson said the lack of a fire station in the area could push insurance costs above the affordable level and could even threaten mortgages. He said the department really wants to locate the new station where it fronts a major road.

Supervisor Allen said he wanted to investigate the viability of a property suggested by one of the residents. “Let’s deal with it once and for all and move forward,” he said.

The County has been planning for a station in the area for years. There were several properties mentioned, including one owned by the Mariposa County Unified School District and one that belongs to the Long family.

Supervisor Janet Bibby said the residents need to be at consensus. “Everybody’s in agreement that they want a fire station,” she said. “But we don’t want to divide a community with a firehouse. It will take community support.”

The County is also considering purchasing a piece of property in the town area to expand the cemetery. Hertfelder said that the current cemetery’s “life expectancy” is only about two more years. “We’re running out of space,” he said.

The properties being considered are on the southeast end of town, near the Catholic church.