[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6591785,"mediaKeyId","3020387-516864623b2183eac9ba996fea4d1c60","parentId",3020387,"title","Hooksett committee weighs field rental fees, formal agreement with youth association to fund upkeep","audioSeconds",726,"startMs",248000,"endMs",974000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3020387-516864623b2183eac9ba996fea4d1c60&start=248&end=974","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3020387-516864623b2183eac9ba996fea4d1c60/thumbnail_248000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6591785/Hooksett/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Hooksett-committee-weighs-field-rental-fees-formal-agreement-with-youth-association-to-fund-upkeep","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6591785-0745323dd550cae9be5a57ea201a72f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1773746598&Signature=YAL5hKSrZ1gUTQ25mVjxXU0w141XZY1FEDDcjBvYEETXS9TZqdszw3ImURGglZYSv2vnAN4~AptgLLS5aI5zUmUPJMGkUCBv5196L33ogCe21Q5faxUO1dH9ovZavje73YszK89TwQIl4Bvq7AMYBEONH3uOCgoHpz4U2rOsyGqKDgS2jQgOVqzohiQmEBQ2arNczf-CasvuA41fXpU00FePKVPkfZ4uUgreF8gplYDayijmhW1o2Ig0Xcnqc3w6KFIhLyY7~rSpnwFFQZdK-K2PbF5vSocdcJpZooOW0U-oPPepjKMrtsNQz0--Js~nmi4nQUBrDrkTf~vCBpYm5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hooksett","date","2025-04-15T00:00:00Z","article","HOOKSETT — Members of the Hooksett Parks and Recreation Committee on Wednesday reviewed field-use practices and fees in nearby towns and discussed a possible pricing schedule to help pay for maintenance and capital improvements.

Committee members said the goal of a pricing schedule would be modest revenue deposited in the town’s recreation revolving fund to pay for repairs, sod replacement, dugouts, fencing and future lighting work at Petersburg fields. Members asked staff to draft a first-pass schedule for committee review and said any final proposal would go to the Town Council and include public input and meetings with the largest user, the Hooksett Youth Athletic Association (HYA).

The committee heard survey information gathered from other towns showing a wide variety of fee approaches. Reported examples included a turf-rate of $125 per hour in one town (November–April) and $90 per hour (May–October) in the same jurisdiction; a $200/hour turf rental in another community; youth-team fees ranging from about $100 to $130 per team per season in several towns; and tournament fees reported in one town as $375 per team. The committee did not verify those rates independently during the meeting; members said the figures came from calls and municipal websites the presenter contacted.

Why it matters: committee members said Hooksett’s fields are heavily used and that modest, recurring revenue could fund periodic repairs and improvements without relying solely on the operating budget. The committee repeatedly emphasized that any change would need to balance keeping youth sports affordable and covering maintenance costs.

Discussion highlights

- Relationship with HYA: Members said HYA provides volunteer labor, equipment and some materials (for example, paint and occasional reimbursements for lighting usage). Committee members noted that historically the town has allowed HYA first access to fields but that there is no formal written agreement specifying responsibilities for maintenance, scheduling priority or cost-sharing.

- Equity and affordability: Several members cautioned against passing full costs to families. One presenter estimated the true cost per child per season — accounting for uniforms, equipment and field costs — could run “roughly $480–$550 per player” in some years, and warned that raising fees could create barriers for families with multiple children. Committee members discussed scholarships and other fundraising that volunteer groups use to keep costs down.

- Field overuse and maintenance practices: Grounds staff and committee members described recurring problems with overuse — multiple sports in overlapping seasons, practices held on game-quality fields, and damage from tournaments — and said fields sometimes need rest periods to recover. Suggestions included limiting permit windows by season, banning practices on primary game fields, rotating fields where possible, and enforcing no-play rules after snow or during unsafe conditions.

- Water and irrigation: The committee discussed options to reduce water costs, including tapping river water or drilling wells at Petersburg. Staff described preliminary investigations showing well outcomes are uncertain (a well can be drilled 100 feet and yield no water), and members said any pump or river diversion would require regulatory approvals and railroad/state permissions if the intake crosses tracks or public waterways.

Next steps and direction

The committee asked staff to draft a proposed fee schedule and a written outline of roles and responsibilities for the town and HYA. That draft will be reviewed by the committee, then discussed with HYA representatives before any proposal is forwarded to the Town Council for formal consideration and public hearing. No formal vote or ordinance was adopted at the meeting.

Context

Committee members noted examples where surrounding towns charge for field use but still rely on volunteers for maintenance; they said those towns nonetheless face similar maintenance challenges. Several members reiterated the committee’s intention to preserve affordable access for Hooksett children while identifying sustainable funding for repairs and improvements.

Ending

Committee members said they will continue gathering details, meet with HYA, and return with a draft pricing schedule and a proposal describing how revenue would be placed into the town’s recreation revolving fund and used for field maintenance and capital needs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hooksett - Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee - Apr 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","HOOKSETT — Members of the Hooksett Parks and Recreation Committee on Wednesday reviewed field-use practices and fees in nearby towns and discussed a possible pricing schedule to help pay for maintenance and capital improvements.","taxTitle","Hooksett, Merrimack County , New Hampshire","taxId",68560,"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},6591778,"Hooksett Parks & Recreation reports playground, mulch and restroom work; vandalism observed at town sites",658,2404000,3062000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3020387-516864623b2183eac9ba996fea4d1c60&start=2404&end=3062","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3020387-516864623b2183eac9ba996fea4d1c60/thumbnail_2404000.jpg","/articles/6591778/Hooksett/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Hooksett-Parks-Recreation-reports-playground-mulch-and-restroom-work-vandalism-observed-at-town-sites","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6591778-48e5c0a289c8657d54ab6d02126c7b31/orig.mp4?Expires=1773746598&Signature=T~emVJaSIMjfJheF0GEpc9oLgIHn3RXAZ2mb1Kt3MMC9sfYoZwORGz09dN-gXTC34vKxwUQt97NjK7vbh7IhuVcMwI0cyKfVZyvJB3PfeI1jHZQDAplYZCirln-AZY~cj4Lwo-dkI3FlaEDSJFfeXQKad2bvHpYWmaM0bv35qK~sndcNkKlbhfqInhX-eiZJl08WE3jvm3ebHy6uWq9sTWblkH3Ci-pD~21Wh4nzQeT3Dds7-EwfEkjBl~rW50tG56qEV4mV6n4FcscV~WCoI6OEYfhJmajej9~sgITvJ8GQ-idcbz7Jv5hiCNPCdarkwaBhucFnzGQuyOXHnyV65w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","HOOKSETT — At its meeting, the Hooksett Parks and Recreation Committee reviewed ongoing maintenance and capital work across town parks, reported vandalism at town facilities and described planned restroom renovations.

Committee updates included: excavation begun for a new swing set at Lambert Park; plans to remove an old bench and a grill pit and replace the bench donated by local Boy Scouts; playground mulch work at multiple sites; starting irrigation systems and fertilization; and athletic-field striping in advance of baseball and other spring sports. Committee members said flag football was scheduled to start in a few weeks and that spring sports had begun in some cases but were paused by recent snow.

The committee reported that bathrooms at the Luke Goodwin Building were demoed and will be replaced. Parks staff said vandals had caused damage at several facilities and that video footage captured the youths involved; a parent has contacted staff about their child’s involvement and inquired how to make restitution. Members also described paint and graffiti incidents at softball facilities.

Why it matters: The committee said maintenance work and capital replacements are aimed at keeping parks usable and safe. Members said vandalism increases repair costs and staff time and that volunteers and donor groups (for example, HYA donating a scoreboard or purchasing equipment in past projects) historically help offset town expenses.

Next steps: Committee members will continue planned projects, coordinate replacement of restroom facilities, schedule site visits to discuss sign placement and horseshoe-pit relocation at Lambert Park, and coordinate with police or families on vandalism follow-up as appropriate. No new funding was approved at the meeting.

Ending

The committee plans to reconvene after staff brings project schedules and cost estimates and to invite relevant Council members or contractors for site tours when needed.","Committee members reported progress on swing-set excavation at Lambert Park, demo of bathrooms at the Luke Goodwin Building for replacement, playground mulch and field striping, and discussed recent vandalism captured on video; a parent has contacted staff seeking next steps.",{"_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},6591781,"Hooksett committee discusses Lambert Park signs, resident seeks original name on park sign",178,2690000,2868000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3020387-516864623b2183eac9ba996fea4d1c60&start=2690&end=2868","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3020387-516864623b2183eac9ba996fea4d1c60/thumbnail_2690000.jpg","/articles/6591781/Hooksett/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Hooksett-committee-discusses-Lambert-Park-signs-resident-seeks-original-name-on-park-sign","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6591781-90ab3bd1908cbb4f7ba2a4818b0f7aed/orig.mp4?Expires=1773746598&Signature=N4-U6VJaSgG5qw~ocKt-v2eRW5KBIGDvrwOClnz~E7HzHRQx7vnhsAGEMVaxyuCpw2fLReCtPlcL-8kw2TSr-wgoFYeQzNAw1pZx1W2-lw5MvAHmD7Ydh3XNGXqIb39YCx1npoLdYZ4rdJfIpB3UeDBnQJHMRAiKtWKEU6bMuZae6vretf-8Ykp1BuDkJxSl3k7vE-W7ydLVXwjajRZo~u26g9-2VmLc2p0cYl5BvOfFW1u581bpFQGNtRDSA1zXkdBnstFCjEwIZQol5aGxGshfu~FG9xyij5yrmvDGa~sOEfXwPEeY-AUwKRoYQsYdcbtqZ3AyiHiifZHLyjX9yA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","HOOKSETT — The Parks and Recreation Committee discussed the placement and wording of several new signs planned for Lambert Park, and residents asked the committee to restore the park’s historic name on its primary sign.

A resident who helped research park history, identified in the meeting as Janette, told the committee she does not want information about Hannahoke Falls added to the main park sign. Janette said she prefers returning the primary sign to the original wording \"A.J. Lambert's Riverside Park\" and suggested any information about the falls or the Dundee Mills be presented on separate panels placed nearer the river.

Committee members described planned interpretive panels covering the falls, Dunnings/Dundee (transcript: \"Dunny\") Mills and Alfred Lambert. The signs will include a QR code linking to more detailed content. The committee discussed practical constraints: signs placed closer than 50 feet to the water may trigger permitting requirements; locating panels near the river may require state or railroad approvals. Members agreed to make a site visit together to choose final placements and to consult with the state about the existing state historical sign if the committee wants to move it.

Why it matters: The choice of wording and placement determines how the town presents local history to visitors and who must be consulted for permitting and maintenance. The committee said spreading multiple smaller signs across the park — rather than clustering all information near the flagpole — may encourage visitors to walk the park and reduce crowding around a single monument.

Next steps: Committee members plan to inspect Lambert Park as a group, consult with Janette and other residents, check the state sign’s status with state officials, and return with a proposed placement and final text for the new signs. No binding action was taken at the meeting.

Ending

The committee said it will continue the design process, solicit input from Janette and other residents, and present a placement plan at a future meeting.","Parks committee members discussed placement and contents of new interpretive signs at Lambert Park, state-owned sign preferences, and resident Janette’s request to restore the park’s original name on the main sign rather than add falls information to it.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Hooksett committee weighs field rental fees, formal agreement with youth association to fund upkeep

Hooksett Parks & Recreation reports playground, mulch and restroom work; vandalism observed at town sites

Hooksett committee discusses Lambert Park signs, resident seeks original name on park sign