EVANS CITY — It was standing-room only at the Evans City Park Authority meeting Monday, where the park board announced the acquisition of funds required to match grants needed to begin the first phase of the swimming pool restorations.

Many in attendance were there to show support for EDCO Park and to share concerns about alleged hostility toward the park from the borough council.

The board needed to reach a goal of $80,000 to unlock $300,000 in state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant funding. Board members said they expect to begin the first phase of the project in September. Some board members hope to have it complete by fall of next year.

“What we’ve done is a celebration today,” said John Rogers, park board president. “It’s not about where we’re at, it’s where we’re going.”

The park’s account balance is now at $82,114, up from around $7,600 two years ago.

“The community has showed its financial support in various ways,” said Ashlee Zinkhann, park board treasurer. “Examples include an 8-year-old boy donating his money in lieu of birthday presents.”

She also thanked the many businesses and individuals who donated time and money to the park.

Park manager Cindy Caldwell then spoke about the board’s plans moving forward.

“We want it sustainable and we want the futures to sustain it,” she said.

And while the board and those in the audience celebrated the start to a new chapter for EDCO park and pool, many also raised concerns about alleged council actions and intentions.

Sue Ellen Pollock raised allegations on social media, accusing borough Councilman John McKinney of saying that council would move to dismiss Caldwell and “fill the pool in with dirt.”

“I was appalled and quite shook by what I overheard,” she said.

McKinney denies ever saying this.

“Nobody said that,” he said in an interview days before the meeting.

Still, many in attendance Monday believed the accusations and shared concerns that many members of council were hostile to the park.

“To hear that the council member, even though I’m thinking they didn’t really mean it, but just to hear them say it … what a shame” said Renee Cypher, borough resident. “I don’t know why council fights us tooth and nail.”

She also accused council of obstructing the park board and stymying the efforts of volunteers and board members.

“Where are our liaisons from council?” she asked. “I just want one answer: why don’t you want the pool and the park?”

McKinney and council member Kim Armstrong, liaisons from council to the park board, informed the board they would not attend Monday’s meeting at the advice of the solicitor, Caldwell said.

Other members spoke, emphasizing their support for the park and the benefit it brings to the community.

Rogers emphasized that the authority has the sole right to hire and fire its staff.

He also encouraged anyone who would like to continue to pursue this issue and speak with council about their concerns to attend the council meeting on May 7, as well as future board and council meetings.

Council President Lee Dyer denied that the council was in any way hostile to the park and commended the authority’s hard work raising money and maintaining the park.

“They deserve a gold star,” he said.