KINGSTON — When he was a young boy growing up in Kingston, Bob Smiley spent hours with the pastor of the Kingston Christian Church learning to play chess, something he has valued during his life. The experience turned into a lifelong love of the “Game of Kings.”

In an effort to increase relationships between younger and older generations in the North End, Smiley made an unexpected move during Wednesday night’s discussion of the Village Green plans when he proposed a giant chessboard be built in conjuction with the project.

The 20 people who attended the meeting to approve the final park drawing, allowing the master planning process to begin in earnest, agreed with the concept.

“I had an experience in Europe, in Frankfurt, Germany,” Smiley said, speaking of his time in the Armed Forces. “I’ve been reading in the paper about the interaction between adult seniors and youth.”

He described the chessboard he has observed while at a park in Germany, with three-foot squares and pawns, kings, queens, bishops, knights and rooks weighing about 12 pounds each. Opponents would play five games in 30 minutes, exercising their brains and bodies during the matches.

The proposal was well received by the attendees, even more so when Smiley announced the Smiley charitable donation foundation, created in December 2006, would donate funding for the board and pieces.

“My wife and I have been very fortunate in our career,” he said. “Acting as president, we are willing to make arrangements to earmark $15,000 for this concept and pieces if, I should say, when it’s developed.”

This announcement was met with applause, and the idea was discussed in terms of connecting the new Kingston Community Center to the senior housing. Kingston resident Dan Price suggested when the board, which would be made out of concrete, was not being used for chess, it could double as a picnic area.

“Do you know of any place like this facility we can go and observe?” asked Kingston resident Walt Elliott, who was curious to see a similar chessboard and how it enhanced the open space.

“I’ve never seen it any other place,” Smiley said. Several other residents mentioned there was a similar board at a park in Seattle.

The meeting progressed forward, and Miles Yanick, of the Bainbridge-based Miles Yanick Company, reviewed the elements of the plan for the community to approve. The plan now includes the community center, housing, a children’s play area, tennis courts, an area for a potential amphitheater, picnic tables, trails, additional parking along California Street and a connection to Kola Kole Park via Oregon Avenue.

“One thing about the trails, are you going to create a perimeter trail around the entire park for people to do laps?” Elliott asked. “People like to jog around those.”

Yanick said there would be a trail encompassing the park and connecting to other trails bisecting the open space.

Kingston Historical Society President Bill Reynolds raised concerns the underground parking would draw vandals and suggested the area under the senior housing be turned into a day basement.

“There will be another process to build the building,” Elliott said. He and Yanick noted the Wednesday meeting was just to approve the Village Green draft plans. The residents were more than happy to do so, and Yanick said he would continue work on the Master Plan.