Parks and Recreation 01/06/2026

(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)

Want to know what really keeps a town’s sports season running? We open the playbook on field access, safety, and budgets, then make the tough calls that let more kids play without wrecking the turf. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how shared spaces stay fair and functional when demand spikes.

We start with good news on the rental property—tenants are steady and quick fixes kept costs low—before turning to a long-awaited expansion of the Liberty daycare site. The state’s slow approval grind sits in tension with real family needs, and we walk through how those added slots could ease waitlists and help parents work. From there, the conversation zeroes in on Bettencourt Field: youth football wants limited use to protect the surface, while girls’ lacrosse asks for continued access. We take the middle path—no exclusive shutdowns—paired with clear permit conditions requiring lacrosse to repair high-wear spots like the goal mouths and midfield. We also set firm safety rules: no pop-up tents on the playing surface to prevent collisions at the sideline.

With principles set, we approve spring permits across baseball, softball, and soccer, factoring in longstanding users, early Easter events, and the Over the Hill league’s Sunday routine. We talk candidly about what wears fields down, how to prevent avoidable damage, and why accountability on repairs matters more than one-off bans. Facilities planning keeps rolling: girls’ lacrosse proposes a 12-by-9 shed, and we guide them toward Cell School for space and compliance, with proper footings to protect the grounds. Indoors, winter basketball returns at full strength and the February Vacation Club fills fast, a sign that families are eager for reliable programs.

Finally, we look ahead to capital needs. Resurfacing the tennis courts and carving out two dedicated pickleball courts alongside one tennis court could serve both communities without confusion from overlapping lines. We also keep an eye on regional lessons about pickleball noise near homes, shaping decisions on siting and hours. Along the way we navigate a broken playground slide, split costs with the schools, and prepare budget packets that match real use with smart spending.

If you care about youth sports, public spaces, and practical solutions that outlast a single season, you’ll find plenty to dig into here. Subscribe, share with a neighbor who loves the sidelines, and leave a review with your take: how should a town balance field protection with fair access for every team?

Transcript

Meeting Opens & Minutes Approved

SPEAKER_02 0:04

I'm gonna start the meeting at 5 36 p.m. Alrighty. First nominee is approval of the minutes from November 3rd in December 1st. Motion approval. I will second that motion. All in favor? I so voted. Organization representative town officials committee members. I don't see any here. Yeah. Business. It's not. Very true. It's actually more than old business rental property.

SPEAKER_03 0:34

I just want to give you a quick update. After our last meeting, the tents are great. We had a couple of minor issues pop up. One with the plumbing, and a couple of uh boards on the deck broke from just walking on it in the cold weather. So we had those replaced, fixed the plumbing issue, which was had to do with the new tub. So that plumber came in, did not charge us anything for that. But I'm sure we're gonna see as all the work we've done over the house over the past year, year and a half, other minor things are gonna pop up. So we'll deal with it as it goes on. But so far, really good with the new tenants. They are always on time with their payment, and uh, you know, really seem to enjoy living there. So awesome.

Daycare Expansion Status

SPEAKER_02 1:14

Second for old business, daycare expansion.

SPEAKER_03 1:17

Uh yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:18

I know we talked about this a few months ago.

SPEAKER_03 1:20

Yeah, it's been a very slow process for the state, and it always is. Right. Uh we're just a reminder, we're getting adding extra people at uh the Liberty site. They finally came out in early December to measure the room, do everything. And then the Tuesday before Christmas, they reached out to me for some pictures. So they wanted some secondary thing. I sent them pictures, everything with them now. I'm just waiting for them to give us the final approval so we can open that space, which is gonna give us another 20 to 25 kids that we can put in that site, which will help the town and things like that. So once I get that officially approved, Bethany has the list. We're gonna start getting some more kids in. So just a very, very slow process when we've dealt with that constantly.

Betten Court Field Use Debate

SPEAKER_02 2:05

Alrighty. New business, Beton Court Field.

SPEAKER_03 2:10

Uh the Beton Court field, football reached out to me uh last month and asked if we could kind of continue the process we did this year. We shut down the Beton Court Field for the summertime and things like that, because and just only have school and football on that field. Yeah. I wanted to bring this to you guys. I personally feel that is a town field. For us to shut it down, you know, completely in the spring, take not a little cross who's been there for several years playing just games off of it, you know, could cause problems because that other town fields we use for multiple purposes. Yeah, it's a town field.

SPEAKER_01 2:52

So yeah.

SPEAKER_03 2:53

I don't know how you feel, Cross.

SPEAKER_01 2:56

Um, does it just girls that cross, right?

SPEAKER_03 3:00

It's just all they do is like four or five games together.

SPEAKER_01 3:03

Did do they uh provide any financial? They pay a fee for use to feel. Yeah, so I mean, the only and I I probably understand why football's upset because the gold mouse and the 50-yard line tend to get a lot of extra use, especially with lacrosse. And years ago when we first were scheduling lacrosse there, I don't know if you remember this, but we told them that they're responsible for replacing the sod for the gold mouse in the middle of the field. Have they done that? I don't know. So if that's what the Giants football is concerned about, we just need to make sure moving forward that you know, first of all, I don't agree that we not allow other people to use it, um, but especially uh a program that doesn't rarely damage the area with the exception of those three specific areas. Yeah. Um we just have to stay on top of them, remind them when they pull the permit that they're responsible for the repairs afterwards. I mean, they might feel that because they're paying in a fee to use the facility that they're off the hook, but I think we need to make it clear that next year that we put on their permit, the need to repair damaged areas.

SPEAKER_04 4:38

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 4:40

Sideline too. I mean, that sideline looked great after they repaired it this year.

SPEAKER_03 4:44

And then but the Giants just from their normal thing. Yeah, it's gone again. It's gone again.

SPEAKER_01 4:49

Really?

SPEAKER_03 4:50

Yeah. East. I mean, uh I mean nothing the Giants did, just the games.

SPEAKER_01 4:54

No, you don't 50 kids three times on a Saturday and a Sunday, just walking up with cleats up and down the side.

SPEAKER_03 5:04

I mean, just and the other thing that I've asked, because I've got a couple reports toward the end of the year with girls look across when they do, is they put in pop-up tents on the fields. I've already reached out to them and said next year I do not want to hear or see any pop-up tents all that. Just for the girls to sit under while they're on a bench? Yeah. So I've asked them more to make sure they'll stay off the fields. You know, if they want to have the kids sit on the other side of the fence during it, that's fine, but bringing them on the fields will stop that. Yeah, it's a safety issue. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:32

So we don't want a kid running off the sidelines into uh something that doesn't move. Yeah. Right?

SPEAKER_03 5:39

So that was that.

SPEAKER_01 5:41

I just want to bring that to your attention. Was that their concern?

SPEAKER_03 5:46

That's one of their concerns, yes. Did they have others or that was just that and just tearing up the fields, but I don't see that really tearing the fields any different, you know, to let it rest.

Repairs, Tents, And Safety Rules

SPEAKER_01 5:54

Who else uses it at that point? No, just the schools and pictures warming up? Yeah. Right? Yeah, and over the summer, who uses it? Pictures.

SPEAKER_03 6:02

Pictures, and uh if we go on it for uh summer camp. Yeah, that's it, that's nothing major. Yeah. Yeah, so I don't know what's up.

SPEAKER_01 6:15

I'm gonna see them, I'm gonna see in Thursday night. Who's the president? Yeah, I'm gonna see him Thursday night. Getting together with a group of cool giants administrators to put something together, but so I'll see them uh I'll see him Thursday night when we talk to them.

SPEAKER_03 6:34

Yeah, he really reached out to me and I just want to hold off talking until we uh got a chance to talk to you. So alrighty. 2026 annual report. Uh, it's that time again. Yeah. And uh Sammy for the past five years has done a wonderful job, as always. And I would definitely recommend we have uh Sammy do that annual report again for us to get to uh Marshall and the clerk's office. I have no problem with that. Oh Sammy, you got a little pressure.

SPEAKER_01 7:15

Of course. Springfield Sammy.

SPEAKER_04 7:22

Is that a motion?

SPEAKER_03 7:24

I won't do a motion.

SPEAKER_01 7:26

I'll make a motion that Sammy does the yearly report, whatever you call it. I will second that motion. Annual report, 2027.

unknown 7:38

All right.

SPEAKER_02 7:39

Uh Springfield permit. We got a few something on top of that.

Spring Field Permits Reviewed

SPEAKER_03 7:44

Yeah, no, the leads are already jumped on to make sure we're getting available. Uh the first one is for RYBSA, uh, asking for their annual springslash summer permit, which don't this does not include tournaments. Uh they actually kind of expanded because their softball league has really expanded quite a bit over the past couple years. Yeah. So we're looking for the usual fields one through seven in Burkett Middle. Uh Reed Softball Field on Saturdays from two to dark and Sundays all day because Saturday mornings we normally have a group that's been using it for years. Uh Christina Barati, one of the journal uh mass drifters. Use that on Saturday mornings and during the week. Uh Boyd Colony Softball Field on the weekends, and also three nights at the RMS softball field from 5:30 to dark. Uh we have no conflicts. Uh and they're looking to start on the 29th. Normally don't start till the first. The 29th is I don't have an issue with that as long as the fields are drying hot. What's that?

SPEAKER_01 8:48

The Saturday before? The Sunday before.

SPEAKER_03 8:50

The Sunday before? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:52

How are we going to put the 20th? What's that, the 28th?

SPEAKER_03 8:56

The 28th, I think that's going to be the day we're having our uh our Easter egg hunt. Oh. Oh, it's going to be that time again before you know. We're already looking ahead, so that's about the day because East is early this year. So to conflict with Easter egg hunt and baseball, it's a little crazy.

SPEAKER_01 9:11

Yeah. I'll make a motion to approve our VSA's permit.

SPEAKER_02 9:14

I will take that motion. All in favor? Aye. I still would.

SPEAKER_00 9:29

You okay, sir? Yeah, I've been able to avoid this cold that's coming around, but I think I'm standing catching.

SPEAKER_03 9:36

Kids and Stafford. Apologies. Kids and Stafford dropping like flies right now.

SPEAKER_01 9:41

Yeah, yeah. I've been able, everybody around me is happy.

SPEAKER_03 9:48

Next one we have is for brand new new soccer. They're looking for their annual spring permit uh starting April 1st through June 30th. Uh the fields that we're gonna open up for soccer this year are the Burke, uh the Griffiths and Multipurpose. They're looking for Monday through Friday, uh, 10 to 8.30 and Saturdays and Sundays, 7 to 8. Uh there's only one conflict we have it every year, but it's not really a conflict when the men over the hill soccer league have their games on Sunday mornings. They normally don't have spring games on the 11 to the 11 fields on Sunday mornings, so it's not really a conflict. So no problems on our end and town broken, we have a charge.

SPEAKER_01 10:29

Um to make a motion to approve that written.

SPEAKER_02 10:33

I will second that motion. Rafael? Uh aye, so voted.

SPEAKER_03 10:45

And the last one we have, speaking of the Oberhill Soccer League, uh, they're looking to start air spring season on uh April 4th through June 21st. Looking for Sunday mornings uh from 9 to 12. And that's a schedule we'll work out together with me and soccer. Uh and we charged them last year$600 for the spring.

SPEAKER_02 11:09

Motion to approve over the hill?$600. And we're second half.

SPEAKER_03 11:18

And that is it for farmers. Usually February and March where I'm gonna do that.

SPEAKER_02 11:33

Uh oh, that's the ball.

SPEAKER_04 11:52

No, I don't know.

Health, Holidays, And Scheduling

SPEAKER_02 11:54

Um I do not have anything. I just want to wish everyone a happy new year. Looking forward to great year aheadful, you know, fix that so that's part of that.

unknown 12:15

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 12:19

Um just a couple minor things on my end. Uh Girls Lacrosse, they haven't brought in their permit yet, but they're asking about putting up a shed that's about 12 by 9. Uh they're asking one, do we have the commission, and two, where we can put it. Uh I asked about the flooring, they've got to put it on top of cinder box if they if it is approved. I really don't think there's a ton of space down in Merrill right now with everything we have there, but they also practice at Mill Street. And last year we had them practicing at Cell School. Yeah. My recommendation is if you guys do allow them to put up a shed, Cell School would be the place to put it. Because they do practice there and they can store all the stuff there, unless you want them down in Merrill.

SPEAKER_01 13:04

Why would they want to, but why would they want a shed at one place and not the other two places they're utilizing? You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_03 13:10

Uh just probably their goals for the season, you know, putting them throughout the year and things like that. Because their goals would stay on the fields during the off-season, just a place to put their stuff.

SPEAKER_01 13:19

Oh, oh, okay. I mean, if that's the purpose, then yeah, that would definitely be the place to do it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 13:25

Now would they have to still have permit and fall through all the buildings for the shed out?

Winter Programs And Playground Repairs

SPEAKER_03 13:30

I would have them talk to the building park, but a lot of times when the shed is that size, they really want to go through the process of that, especially on town park. Okay. Alright, the next thing, uh basketball starts a Saturday. We have games all day long at both sites. We are nobody's gonna pick back up until I see every year we've gotten more since COVID hit us, so it's great to see that. Uh new winner programs came out today with more to follow. Uh parents are already calling about February Vacation. Uh we have a vacation club. We get that information out at the end of January because the first come first served basis because we can only hold about 60 to 65 in that program. Um unfortunately, another slide of the Merrill playground broke. Seriously. Yeah, they're all just aged out.

SPEAKER_02 14:25

They gotta be 20 years old at least. Because I remember when they built that playground. I remember the weather playground then they. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:32

So we uh so I did speak to the school. That definitely less than 20 years. Yeah, definitely less. I'm trying to think that. We did it when you were here. No. No, no, those were probably the latest.

Budget Season And Court Renovations

SPEAKER_03 14:44

I think Meryl went up first, and then the Liberty came after that. Because I know there are reports that we have in the Wells, do some day in plan out, yeah. But I know we have like reports from uh we got Audit to check on those go back to 2013. So, but uh the big green slide, the tube slide broke. I did speak to the schools, we're gonna split the cost because. That was gonna be my question. Yeah. And then you have to take care. Yeah, because unfortunately, these playgrounds are so expensive. It's it's amazing what they cost right now to put up big time. Oh, it's crazy. And uh just want to let you know by the end of the month, early next month, is when the budget sheets come out. Once I have those completed, I'll give you guys a copy and uh go from there because we are entering budget season. All that fun stuff. And you know, so is there any projects you want to work on? I'm looking at, you know, maybe starting to get some bids on, redoing the tennis court out here now. Yeah. You know, going from there and uh enter them in the pickleball? The way I'm thinking, and you know, stopping with what you guys think is doing one tennis court on one side and then the other side have two small pickleball courts. I would I would think that'd be a good idea. Because you can do the lines in between, but I don't know how to do it. Pickleball is quite popular now, too.

SPEAKER_04 16:10

Oh, it's huge.

SPEAKER_03 16:11

Yeah. But I don't know what the distinction is right now, but if you're a tennis player, you hate pickleball. If you're a pickleball player, you hate tennis. It's some type of weird thing that goes on, they just battle each other. Put the lines all together, it just causes all this pickleball time.

SPEAKER_01 16:27

I I know that uh Edgewood's got a program. Yes, they do. How many pickleball courts do they have over there?

unknown 16:35

Where's that? Edgewood? They have uh there's two. I think they have they have two per court, so I think they have eight to ten. Pickleball?

SPEAKER_03 16:44

Yeah, it's packed. We go swimming there on Wednesdays, they have a bunch of people there just went that every court on both sides and the tennis net are completely filled.

Pickleball Popularity And Noise Concerns

SPEAKER_01 16:54

Really? Yeah. And that's midday. That's yep. But summertime. Yes. So it's crazy. Van Anwin? Van Anwin, yes, sir. I know, I mean, Bridgewater has a beautiful new pickleball facility next to the Assignia Center. It's probably maybe about a year old, I don't know. I think they have like six courts. And it's a nice, nice little setup the way you got it.

SPEAKER_03 17:17

It's interesting though, is uh a lot of like certain talents that put pickleball courts in neighborhoods that have led to the lawsuits that are out there have just been incredible. So I'm kind of surprised then. Yeah. I wonder if they've got a problem. I haven't heard anything, but then all the complaints would go to them since they're still they're private, you know.

SPEAKER_01 17:38

Yeah, no, but if I lived in the neighborhood and it bothered me, I'd be on the phone in the town. Oh yeah. So I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 17:47

But uh that is it for me. Uh I can take one.