Friends of Recreation seek more volunteers

Date: 10/26/2009

By Kaitlyn Schroyer

Staff Intern



EAST LONGMEADOW -- Many of the recreational facilities in East Longmeadow need improving and upgrading. The Friends of Recreation have been founded to do just that.

Previously the Friends of Heritage Park, the Friends of Recreation is a non-profit organization whose goal is to improve the town's many recreational facilities. The Friends of Recreation will also work closely with the East Longmeadow Recreation Association (ELRA).

"The Friends of Recreation will be oriented towards all recreation facilities to improve sites and resources such as scoreboards, bleachers and new facilities," Carolyn Porter, Recreation Director, said.

In years past, the Friends of Heritage Park worked to build the current playground in the park. They raised funds for its building and have set aside money to keep up its maintenance.

"They had focused only on Heritage Park," Porter explained. "They realized that there was the broader community that needed capital improvements."

Currently, the town of East Longmeadow is working to purchase land known as the Cook/Brown property. Off of Hampden Road and Somers Road, the land is 80 acres and mostly open space and also has an old horse stable on it that hasn't been in operation for some time. It abuts other conservation land and is potentially recreational land. Once the purchase is made, the Friends of Recreation can officially begin planning for the land.

Voters approved the purchase of the property at the Annual Town Meeting this spring.

"We want to have a team of people in place who can do a few different things including the making of a community survey," Christina Cooper, a volunteer and member of the Friends of Recreation, commented. "We need to find out what people want to do with that space."

Ideas for the land include sports fields, especially for football, lacrosse and soccer, and possibly walking trails, skiing trails and more.

Friends of Recreation need volunteers to help with many different tasks, some big and some small. Tasks include helping with fundraising, writing grants, organizing the community survey and more. Also in the works is a type of Web site that will inform residents about the current happenings with the organization.

"We want more [people to] get involved in the town so they feel like they get more of a say," Cooper said. "Even if you cannot make it to the meeting, you can e-mail and find out more."

In addition to the planning of this space, Friends of Recreation will be involved in other projects around the town such as putting in bleachers and fences.

"There are not many bleachers other than the high school and fencing needs repairing. Friends of Recreation will also be raising money for future hopes," Porter explained. "The details are to be determined. We want to inform groups of interested residents during the meeting."

Friends of Recreation will be meeting on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Recreation Department on 382 North Main St. Those who cannot attend are encouraged to e-mail Cooper at christinacooper007@yahoo.com.