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Date: 11/9/2021
AMHERST – The Recreation Commission met on Nov. 1 and introduced their newest members on the commission while also discussing the upcoming proposals for recreation projects around the town that will be presented to the Community Preservation Act Committee (CPAC).
New Director of Recreation Rey Harp and Committee members Sanjay Arwade and Matt Cain were just appointed this year to the commission. With the new additions, there is still currently one empty seat on the commission that will be filled in the coming months. The proposals talked about at the meeting would be in effect in fiscal year 2023. The commission was focused on proposed projects that benefit the widest range of people.
Discussions opened on the proposal of construction of a new pickleball court, a game resembling tennis in which players use paddles to hit a perforated plastic ball over a net. The committee discussed its need within the community and if the tennis courts that are already built could serve as what is proposed in this project.
Players of the sport will tell you while that is possibly, this growing sport has enough interest to deserve its own court. One of the applicants defending the proposal mentioned, “If folks aren’t familiar with pickleball it’s hard to understand where all the enthusiasm comes from.”
Upon further discussion of the need for a unique pickleball court for the community and future recreational purposes for the commission, support for the project was agreed on and will be proposed to the CPAC.
The next item on the proposal’s agenda was focused on the construction of a new pavilion on the North Amherst Community Farm. In the last month, the Amherst Historical Commission approved the demolition and repurpose of an 1850 barn into a multi-use pavilion located on the farm. Bruce Coldham works on the North Amherst Community Farm and has been engaged in the process of removal and repurposing for the barn and its structure.
Coldham represented the Community Farm and spoke on the benefits of future use of the pavilion by saying the farm has a strongly declared policy of engagement with the community, and that pre-COVID-19, there would be an annual festival and that the pavilion would be a great addition for events such as that.
He also mentioned that adjacent properties to the farm have collaborated for a trail system in hopes to make this area of town increasingly available to the public. With that being said, there are still some things to work out within the mapping of said proposed trails and they are not yet public designated trails. Overall, the commission was interested in the proposal and will be following up with the applicant again before they have to present it in front of the CPAC.
Another application discussed by the Recreation Commission was the Hickory Ridge Golf Course land that is on its way to becoming town property. With a lot of big plans suggested and public engagement encouraged for how to best use this land, the application was seeking CPA funds for one mile of trail network within the property and for eight benches and four kiosks.
Commission member Sarah Marshall mentioned to her fellow members that it was common for big projects such as the Hickory Ridge one to try to get money from multiple sources. Marshall also said if for any reason the purchase would fall through that all CPA funds once authorized is accounted with the town and can be reimbursed.
The commission seemed willing to help with this project. Member Carolyn Mailler did raise a small concern that she did not see any lighting for the trails in the proposal. One goal of the trails being implemented onto the Hickory Ridge property it to connect different neighborhoods in Amherst with easy trail access to different areas in town, including trails to the Pomeroy Village Center. Mailler believed proper lighting would be very important for the purpose of letting people feel safe using the trails near and during nighttime hours.
“Crossing through trails after dark is a serious concern. It (lighting) could add a lot to the budget but needs to be considered,” Mailler said.
Cain spoke on the application for irrigation improvements at the Plum Brook playing fields. Cain said he has seen first-hand the various condition issues make the field unplayable and not safe for youth soccer and other sporting activities. Current sprinkler heads sometimes stick out of the ground due to divots caused by poor functioning of the sprinkle head.
“Basically, the sprinkler system is semi-functional. The pipes under the ground are not really functioning,” Cain said. “Sprinkler heads are supposed to be at the surface. Divots around the sprinkler heads cause them to become exposed and its not right for the field and events.”
With sprinklers there to irrigate when rain does not provide what is necessary, the concern comes with field maintenance and ultimate safety of the children using the field. Cain mentioned the use in numbers for the field, stressing that taking care of this field is vital. According to Cain, a total of 400 children in each season are using that field and more than half use it during both the week and weekend. The schools also use it three to four days a week during the summer.
Harp made the point that this project should have the support of the Recreation Commission because it is directly for recreation and is one of the proposals that would be serving a wide range of people.
Another proposal discussed was the revamping of the Amherst-Pelham Regional High School track. The track is considered to be in bad condition and has been due for some maintenance.
“The track is marginally condemnable in terms of its ability to let competitive athletes on it. The bigger issue might be it is situated in the wrong direction,” Harp said. “There are people who have argued to reorient it. That would take a lot of money and planning for it.”
Ultimately, the commission seemed set to hold off on assisting in this project for CPA funds due to the town’s Master Plan having already addressed the track and having a plan for it. With all the money required for this project, it was not worth it for the commission as they believed it would not be benefitting as many people as other projects would.
During the closing comments from the commission, the proposals they decided to have priority were the pickleball court, Hickory Ridge and the addition of lighting, irrigation for Plum Brook Field and money towards trail maintenance. These proposals will be finalized and brought to the CPA Committee next week.