[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6334810,"mediaKeyId","2294139-820d230dd4ae71d095c49d71f511d1b6","parentId",2294139,"title","Park and Recreation Commission approves two special-event permits and denies a for-profit field-day request","audioSeconds",487,"startMs",3763000,"endMs",4250000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2294139-820d230dd4ae71d095c49d71f511d1b6&start=3763&end=4250","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2294139-820d230dd4ae71d095c49d71f511d1b6/thumbnail_3763000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6334810/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Park-and-Recreation-Commission-approves-two-special-event-permits-and-denies-a-for-profit-field-day-request","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334810-2e628f7b4b89fa442b4b35fe734eaab7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775426787&Signature=lJniEzIOr3DZ2QVjmQ9FsYmv2NJFAvvd66dsrMUt0mB1~eaz7NHoeD6tDBh0fYHVrFDXJp0nyUIZQ0Q-gpGLI2GtR5vJ~pwlQ1OzD9vit5tkeA1iY6rOn20Es~FvWsAK6RBKXLnhh3UQZAP2j6jnQXOCTHGfaLGDt409bQcOsaLnyJXXj~8yZ3rIOQOEGhFzQILlMNwwo85vZ6xw21EOIdJB0Cae67t8A5WddK4w6qUwaKdWyHLoq4kzIDJj7f1CYpty8t9SctFdWsbrSxj-RZ3btTxQ86uTjAb3tFyb3WspaeyxRNgFgCw99APV03or-zhPSVXkvHp6qlF2iuqmww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Needham, MA","date","2025-02-11T00:00:00Z","article","The Park and Recreation Commission took three formal actions on Feb. 10 on special-event and field-permit requests.

Votes at a glance

- Father's Day Ultimate Frisbee (Community Center of Needham): The commission approved a permit for a community Father’s Day ultimate‑frisbee event at Conroy Field and Carlson Pavilion on Sunday, June 15, 2–6 p.m. The permit includes use of picnic tables under the pavilion; staff noted the pavilion can be rented exclusively for a separate $25 pavilion fee. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- NCE drone class (New England Community Education): The commission approved a small drone‑flying class for up to 10 participants at Hillside, after staff confirmed the instructor holds an unmanned aircraft pilot license and that insurance and police notifications were reviewed. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Camp Evoda field day (for‑profit camp): The commission denied a request from a for‑profit organization to hold a field-day event on town field space. Staff and commissioners noted the department’s policy does not permit renting school or municipal fields to outside for‑profit camps, and commissioners expressed concern about opening a broader market for paid field rentals that would increase consistent field use. Outcome: denied.

The meeting record shows motions, seconds and voice votes for each item; the board recorded approval for the first two items and a denial for the third. Staff will issue permits and denial notices consistent with the commission’s actions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Needham: Park & Recreation Commission 02/10/2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its Feb. 10 session the commission approved a Father's Day ultimate‑frisbee event and a New England Community Education (NCE) drone class, and denied a request from a for‑profit camp to hold a field day on town fields.","taxTitle","Town of Needham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",54445,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6334815,"Park and Recreation readies presentations for CPC; design request for Elliott School planned",281,2697000,2978000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2294139-820d230dd4ae71d095c49d71f511d1b6&start=2697&end=2978","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2294139-820d230dd4ae71d095c49d71f511d1b6/thumbnail_2697000.jpg","/articles/6334815/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Park-and-Recreation-readies-presentations-for-CPC-design-request-for-Elliott-School-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334815-f768348672a1ee9a2b77740f7a64d632/orig.mp4?Expires=1775426787&Signature=kRuxadkPXSLiOXsy2ldsxNSfwKy4X6tPc~EguBuynotvhTBOxJnbmfxjZxLwufw8ojlUsAAfh7myulH06vDVWE2YcvPU5h5TQtSUOC8QTCTRvzGlLQTMGhpYA6I~tq61mpsPSahGiFHmrhcpuNgYSmWupYFziIxpEhKWjdQ0kQVy-a5gtrhdUmaeqeLWruUYLAYW5Rx8BL9gY5FJnlmXQakzAhWMjoKP3LeF3nxQVBJiynsGyXD73YUNqHd~XbuYkCrInzYdRj9Ol6cnzCyq7fiZQd5xmiszXoAvwp3PQuvpBBYK~v7oiXC2FJNIww7whcm47OtSsxWIoqnDyJ58mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Stacy Mulroy told commissioners that staff presented the Action Sports Park proposal and an Eliot School renovation concept to the Community Preservation Committee this month and that the CPC will hold a public hearing on March 12.

Mulroy said the department is seeking design funding for the Elliott School project; she said the design request is about $65,000 and described the $65,000 figure as the design-phase ask rather than a final construction budget. The department gave an early, informal estimate that a complete renovation — playground, turf fields and courts — could approach roughly $3 million, but Mulroy and staff stressed that figure was an initial order-of-magnitude estimate, not a final bid.

Mulroy said staff will notify abutters for Elliott School and Claxton ahead of the March 12 CPC public hearing and will update the commission with any substantive feedback from CHA (consultant) and the skate-park designers before the hearing. Commissioners asked staff to be prepared to field public questions at the hearing and confirmed they would seek public attendance and comment during the March 12 CPC session.

No CPC decision was recorded at the Feb. 10 Park and Recreation meeting; staff described these items as pending CPC review and public hearing preparation.","Staff told the commission they presented Action Sports Park and Elliott School renovation plans to the Community Preservation Committee and that a public hearing is set for March 12; staff said the Elliott School design request is for roughly $65,000 and the full project cost is an early estimate of about $3 million.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6334820,"Park and Recreation director reports rising registrations and flags lifeguard staffing shortage",1451,1928000,3379000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2294139-820d230dd4ae71d095c49d71f511d1b6&start=1928&end=3379","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2294139-820d230dd4ae71d095c49d71f511d1b6/thumbnail_1928000.jpg","/articles/6334820/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Park-and-Recreation-director-reports-rising-registrations-and-flags-lifeguard-staffing-shortage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334820-77f3e320ca66e6fb1ac79ab0676f951f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775426787&Signature=Zm3l~gNB9r5GQF8uxy9QRn-prxjU4TCK6vsm5xWRLCAcYhO69YpySoLtcx1Y-xy6mCIpEgxhh1nmPGAlbLFb9woY5neJWw56GlZIbustH1cwU~i1P3TaV23E9UcN8QNFmVEQKx0YyG2UwogwWLV8sJxWFV3DmM~mryHM5y~WXvWyy1MPuGQNI~SxJfTWE6mS-hUmbjNU3TpZfrmgt9q8eMptxmtfO~2eAc1UL4rJJahBEX-7qbv2b0cmvvgLTrWwOVcSWQTpPyNwRUejRin0xNqr95oIkVPU806iLzmgRyaBv0RWDbnZOmZHzX3R9ucytmBLVEvOOlQKy8I2yN0waw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Stacy Mulroy, director of the Town of Needham Park and Recreation Department, told commissioners on Feb. 10 that winter–spring program registrations and revenue are up since registration opened in December and that staff are working to package clearer annual revenue reports for town finance committees.

Mulroy said the department’s registration system shows about 988 registrations and roughly $118,000 in gross program revenue since Dec. 4 (figures drawn from the department’s registration software), and she told commissioners staff can produce consistent season-by-season profit-and-loss summaries for finance committees and town management. ‘‘From December 4 is when we started registration for programming. We have 988 individual registrations… for a total of a hundred and $18,000 in revenue,’’ Mulroy said.

Staff warned, however, of a staffing gap at the town pool. Hannah (staff member) said about 20 lifeguards have committed to return so far and that the department would ideally have many more: ‘‘The number that you see isn't people. It's more positions… Most of them wanna work 20 or less [hours], so typically, we need 2 staff to fill 1 spot,’’ she said. Commissioners and staff discussed boosting outreach — high-school hiring events, postings to the Massachusetts Recreation and Park Association job board and an offer to reimburse lifeguard and water-safety-instructor certifications — and asked human resources to review the town’s pay scale for seasonal aquatic staff.

Mulroy also reported that the department is refining how it will present pool revenue, payroll and operating costs to the finance committee so those figures are comparable year to year. She said payroll and registration revenue are relatively straightforward to pull from municipal systems but that invoices for chemicals and replacement parts are dispersed across multiple line items and require manual consolidation. The department is coordinating with finance staff to present clearer reports ahead of the town budget cycle.

Commissioners asked staff to continue aggressive outreach for lifeguard and swim-instructor applicants, to provide a clearer revenue/expense report for pools and camps, and to return with updates on recruitment progress. There were no formal votes tied to the director’s report during the Feb. 10 meeting.","Director Stacy Mulroy reported registration revenue and program sign-ups are up; staff presented detailed registration figures and said the department is seeing a decline in lifeguard applicants and is preparing recruitment and pay-review actions.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6334824,"Needham Soccer proposes stepped increase to tournament support as costs rise",1791,81000,1872000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2294139-820d230dd4ae71d095c49d71f511d1b6&start=81&end=1872","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2294139-820d230dd4ae71d095c49d71f511d1b6/thumbnail_81000.jpg","/articles/6334824/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Needham-Soccer-proposes-stepped-increase-to-tournament-support-as-costs-rise","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334824-e28347a52e6b5623eb612d8da9194512/orig.mp4?Expires=1775426787&Signature=dqaVPEpVWcwyW0p2-i~ceWD9R8KQNO6W9nR43qcX7vb2Tfb9-IXcIVNr1E~WSmu1AraZzHBCU7T3gC6hdDmqJvbtiPJG7vKmoG~4hkvPNenmwo7C8xzLXDXb8R2MflDj7qOfna0U8lic3uJd3aTcLkSMXOWmgMNM4j8xk-Q-cRbh416-kEj38RR57vqJf9~1KCQBmaw47U6R1jt1wpcbUmZnK5rTlN19l~HgBTZ7JMMDC0w~Wxz10M4LIxKAAu6EQstIA3aBQLmva-60yGEjrDGNi48TvDVN8ubGOCv-Jz9CmGrc3ooHHoHoA4ZyYEWDdMYpZB0fEKcBNeB8pBrVHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Needham Soccer representative Mark Miskin said the club has donated $15,000 a year to the Town of Needham for the last 10 years and asked the Park and Recreation Commission on Feb. 10 to consider a phased increase to that contribution to help cover rising field-maintenance costs tied to the club's long-running Memorial Day tournament.

The request matters because the Memorial Day tournament draws teams regionally, concentrates field use over a single weekend and pumps revenue back into town programs, the club said. ‘‘For the last 10 years, it's been $15,000 per year,’’ Miskin said, adding that he would like to discuss options to raise that donation over a multiyear plan.

Miskin described the tournament as a long-standing community event — he said it will enter its 48th year — and said the club uses tournament proceeds to buy goals, support high-school scholarships and give occasional help for field repairs or town projects. He told commissioners the club also noticed operating cost increases across field maintenance and supplies and therefore supports revisiting its contribution and the town's user-fee schedule.

Commission staff ran a series of scenario calculations showing how different fee structures would affect revenue if the tournament were reclassified under differing user-fee categories. Director Stacy Mulroy and commissioners agreed a phased approach would be appropriate, not an immediate jump to the highest-fee options. Cindy (Commissioner) said an incremental, multi-year schedule would make sense; another commissioner said the town typically cuts the club's annual check in March.

Commissioners and staff emphasized they were not proposing an immediate mandatory hike to existing donations or fees at the Feb. 10 meeting. Instead, they asked staff and the club to continue the dialogue and to return with a written proposal that would outline options and a timeline for any change. ‘‘It's time,’’ Miskin said of revisiting the contribution, but he also said the club was open to a multi-year plan rather than a single large increase.

The commission did not take a formal vote on changing the donation amount or on a new fee schedule at the meeting; members agreed only to continue discussions and to consider written proposals for a phased increase.","Needham Soccer told the Park and Recreation Commission the Memorial Day tournament has funded $15,000 in annual donations to the town for the last decade and asked the commission to discuss a phased increase to cover rising field maintenance costs and event wear-and-tear.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Park and Recreation Commission approves two special-event permits and denies a for-profit field-day request

Park and Recreation readies presentations for CPC; design request for Elliott School planned

Park and Recreation director reports rising registrations and flags lifeguard staffing shortage

Needham Soccer proposes stepped increase to tournament support as costs rise