By CRAIG FREILICH

CANTON – A call is going out to community members to pitch in for $225,000 in repairs to the fountain in the downtown park.

What is called and considered to be the village park or the village green is actually owned by the First Presbyterian Church on the south side of the green, and the pastor, Rev. Mike Catanzaro, has told the Town Council that he is concerned about the disrepair of the fountain and the walkways to it.

The estimate to effect the repairs is $225,000.

“Neither the church not the town alone can solve this problem of repair,” said Town Supervisor David Button, “so we’re reaching out to other sources. Mike has asked the town council members to participate in mobilizing the community.”

Button says the solution is the time-tested method of getting community support for a project so tax money doesn’t have to be used.

“It might be owned by the Presbyterian Church, but it’s a community asset,” Button said.

He said he believed “the community will respond.”

The park is used for innumerable community functions, including the twice-weekly farmers’ market during the growing season and for community entertainment events, in addition to the everyday attraction to its character as a peaceful, shady spot to walk through, to sit and read or talk, or to be alone.

Button recalled the last time the community was called on to help with a project, when money was raised for the new firehouse on Riverside Drive in 2001-02. There was a $1.2 million goal in fundraising, “and they got it,” Button said, “so $225,000 is probably not too onerous for the community.”

Information on how to contribute to the fountain fund will be available soon.