[{"_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",6228991,"mediaKeyId","3465358-cf6f1f63cf79823b23ef2951c86b21cc","parentId",3465358,"title","Needham Park and Rec delays pool opening; spring program revenue and staffing mostly on track","audioSeconds",236,"startMs",1977000,"endMs",2213000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3465358-cf6f1f63cf79823b23ef2951c86b21cc&start=1977&end=2213","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3465358-cf6f1f63cf79823b23ef2951c86b21cc/thumbnail_1977000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6228991/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Needham-Park-and-Rec-delays-pool-opening-spring-program-revenue-and-staffing-mostly-on-track","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228991-b5edcadd81be2908dcd856c0ceda0356/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213613&Signature=g40IapBCEoGS6nM0CnUo1yLLuLDjdh56Budmpctid6-dzWWAZLDSVRloPwYR88CZxo2Csx83OUv7txqb58uPXiR19CGpWNA0ZmubW~JabtKFuoaZPuVxh3jQQ8HuUhMOyPzTQ92yOsquPG8tMeV5wQY-m8gVCqhdV28CigdFr1HOCnE9Mi9el~YWGUeqnWUKez~jCsw7m7KstUjJdPvUsVVorBxe2td8NeW2myJ-p~rJoD-hpYNJ0Yg7GEJx902VROs0Ss~zk1XNz2C1hzASDSE~BOVGj268H7e9dtNHtzLjPAUhjHk5GxB0h8Iq3tc5qYJaXHRLBrgTn2YffBomRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Needham, MA","date","2025-05-23T16:29:33.2Z","article","Park and Recreation staff told commissioners May 21 that pool opening scheduled for the coming weekend would be delayed because water temperatures and staffing checks had not yet reached safe operational levels; staff said they planned to open by Monday at the latest.

Stacy reported program revenue of about $41,000 for May 1–15 (excluding passes), with seasonal pass sales running at roughly half of last year’s pace at the time of the report but expected to increase with the pool opening and nonresident membership interest. Staff said some outdoor lesson registrations and swim-team enrollments were progressing well; swim team numbers looked strong and some lessons might need caps to ensure appropriate instruction.

On staffing, the department said it was largely fully hired but saw a handful of last-minute guard cancellations and schedule changes that will require minor backfilling. Staff described this year’s lifeguard roster as their largest in recent memory, while also noting the practical challenge of covering vacations and limited availability for some hires.

Staff also reported field prep and capital repairs in progress and noted that tournaments scheduled for the weekend could be affected by weather. Several maintenance items — playground repairs, a double slide part, and other equipment orders — are in process or pending delivery.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Park and Recreation Commission 05/21/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff reported a delayed pool opening due to cold water and ongoing weather, program revenue of about $41,000 through May 15, and near-full seasonal staffing though some last-minute changes require minor backfilling.","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},6228997,"Appeal over field assignments: Needham staff urge youth league to seek swaps with adult softball; commission declines to displace adults",989,3635000,4624000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3465358-cf6f1f63cf79823b23ef2951c86b21cc&start=3635&end=4624","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3465358-cf6f1f63cf79823b23ef2951c86b21cc/thumbnail_3635000.jpg","/articles/6228997/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Appeal-over-field-assignments-Needham-staff-urge-youth-league-to-seek-swaps-with-adult-softball-commission-declines-to-displace-adults","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228997-d41725125f01d5cd028221ace7511818/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213613&Signature=SnQzyME68ulZOO5l3aYfFG0opu7plBgCYZE-heT~UQGyVbvx4Yvy16BlCdP2i6hpUx6uIgy3h6MYK7EJqNmIWq3zTYQsBftDq4h3tuFUagOjy26E8GFP7wrQfjTYQsnCqaxd0DYsRNn3QMJyN1BjC6wsULc4FGew5jMUnqjzwH~rZjoO0sPeRYe~Xj0OI7i1GOOnvKdjZ~VK1A6ZsYij-Ih5v1A-PIquvUS3EjuJr32k65WG~riCIapKntd2rLZR53brRAfRcA4KFO6kpg03M7JAZ9Zahp9OYnclnEkYVk2ZNTryNQwFSNrHQu8jVRfBKFtMLBEWBeJCuBzUN1Nv3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Needham Park and Recreation Commission discussed an appeal from a youth baseball/softball organizer May 21 who asked the commission to change field permits so youth games could be scheduled at preferred locations. Staff reviewed permit history and told commissioners that adult softball has held the same Tuesday/Wednesday evening and Sunday morning slots for several years and had timely permits this season.

Stacy (Park and Recreation director) presented a spreadsheet showing multi-year permits and said nothing in the town’s records showed a fundamental change in allocation since 2019, other than shifts in field locations because Claxton complex has been offline. Commissioners noted the pinch this year is driven by bad spring weather and the temporary unavailability of a major complex (Claxton), which has forced many user groups into makeup games and changed usual locations.

Commissioners emphasized the department’s usual policy that youth athletics generally receive scheduling priority, but they also said the policy allows staff judgment and that a single change that displaces a regularly permitted adult group is not the preferred step. Commissioner Chris pointed out a practical constraint: Upper Broadmeadow is the only field in town configured for the 50/70 (youth baseball) dimension, and certain age groups must play on that size field. That created a specific scheduling pressure for the coming midweek games.

The commission did not order staff to revoke adult softball permits. Instead staff were asked to contact the youth organizer and encourage direct negotiation with adult softball and other user groups for short-term swaps for the specific dates in question. The commission’s stated preference was to preserve existing permits where groups applied and received allocations on time, while asking groups to work cooperatively to address weather-related makeups and the temporary loss of Claxton.

Staff noted other constraints affecting schedule flexibility: a townwide dark-sky policy generally prohibits field lighting past 9 p.m. without a special variance, limiting the ability to push games later in the evening. Commissioners and staff suggested short-term solutions such as asking other permitted groups whether they can trade slots or use alternate fields (for example, Pollard or Mitchell) for makeup games. The department will follow up with the youth organizer and report back if mediation is unsuccessful.

","A youth baseball/softball group appealed field assignments; commissioners encouraged the youth group to negotiate with adult softball for temporary swaps rather than ask the town to displace permitted adult users.",{"_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},6229002,"Needham staff warn tight timeline for Elliott School and Action Sports Park designs; recommend phased approach",828,2522000,3350000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3465358-cf6f1f63cf79823b23ef2951c86b21cc&start=2522&end=3350","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3465358-cf6f1f63cf79823b23ef2951c86b21cc/thumbnail_2522000.jpg","/articles/6229002/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Needham-staff-warn-tight-timeline-for-Elliott-School-and-Action-Sports-Park-designs-recommend-phased-approach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229002-b1026db75a1c1743c2330f3a1b1c6ec9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213613&Signature=Q7aqqWk5dBBfK2~GGpqB18M-BoeifHcaA6IRZ-NuPH4tEr0xC3lXdfOM1wprtVGXX6JNvI8~~PBSLHdTvEaLS8xynmq~HKMLa7oIQRbpB9YpQC8Ioc-GIhNrIWMMWfptldVwRSwh8RGIi0zDWaR~WHt7wyCbNxGreQcf1oxLzEhUMM-vxYNEOJq7LDsrFh~xiuwJ6LTKCuzxtrpCd~RFqXbLu16SRiBvgLcq7dihXaS9CCV8if-uPdzKIhy39uxMv76Hr9IGXnxRp8HlCiZ0i8sNcKuQ97H3vBPfDCQ3xlZNrRFt6WBqfOiiVoUF6FeRPFQUKrqX6wIKXABwW4A2Rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town staff told the Needham Park and Recreation Commission May 21 that several capital projects scheduled to enter design this summer will compete for limited engineering and procurement capacity, and recommended prioritizing the Elliott School repairs while staging the larger Action Sports Park work.

Stacy (Park and Recreation director) said design money for both the Action Sports Park and Elliott School becomes available July 1. She told the commission that Elliott must be constructed during a school summer break to address sinkholes, flooding and safety issues; the department’s plan is to complete design this summer, request construction funds in the October capital budget, and, if approved, build in summer 2026.

By contrast, the Action Sports Park — a multi-component project that includes a skate park, pump track and pickleball courts — involves multiple user groups and specialty consultants. Commissioners and staff discussed splitting the Action Sports Park work into design phases and seeking construction funds for discrete components in separate years rather than trying to complete all design and construction readiness in a single, compressed summer window.

Staff said the town’s capital budget calendar requires departments to submit construction cost numbers in October to be considered for the next spring town meeting’s votes. That schedule means a project must reach a fairly mature design in July–October if the department seeks construction funding for the following spring. Engineering staff and procurement capacity were repeatedly cited as the principal bottlenecks: even with on‑call consultants, the department faces limits in project management capacity and in finding firms with specialized skate-park and pump-track experience.

Commissioners urged a realistic schedule that protects program delivery and avoids overloading staff. Commissioner Chris said Elliott’s schedule is constrained by school operations and should be prioritized; other commissioners suggested designing the Action Sports Park components in sequence (for example, pickleball design first, skate/pump design next) and pursuing construction funding for one element at a time.

Staff also noted practical procurement risks: design solicitations cannot be posted until funds are available (July 1 for these projects), specialized firms may not respond to an unfamiliar bid, and construction bids for the unique skate-park elements may be limited. The department said it will prepare a recommended phasing and a clearer resource estimate for the commission, and asked the commission to review the five-year capital plan and prioritize projects at an upcoming meeting.

","Park and Recreation staff told commissioners that Elliott School repairs and a planned action sports park/pickleball project will strain design capacity and that one project may need priority; design funds arrive July 1 and construction funding will require an October budget request.",{"_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},6229007,"Needham Park and Rec Commission approves $166,000 estimate to replace McLeod Field bleachers",1780,128000,1908000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3465358-cf6f1f63cf79823b23ef2951c86b21cc&start=128&end=1908","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3465358-cf6f1f63cf79823b23ef2951c86b21cc/thumbnail_128000.jpg","/articles/6229007/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Needham-Park-and-Rec-Commission-approves-166000-estimate-to-replace-McLeod-Field-bleachers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229007-78ce76df7c0d5d7f705e0503737846c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213613&Signature=f~EAVEZb~KpyHNHgtzT6sTDmIJjeZgMfeidHjC5F8TOs-8jbD6hYs8hFFpFIlvEJkmAui-1gVLup3l0liv7PIXydV4h3WG-UL5Cy~6iyFmx25WqdaLfjXtcRTx1rjXuqpf9AluD-qZ4qaRPe283tc7earzV8W70VnLFlIVvX~T3NvcF1y2TEb67CzfQBR~z5nsBkOXIdAd-Ja90W6QpFBAFU1KipBV-JGQN3oeZFTNxyX~r2VgSrx1fFT15NZ2zbsHkzNBhTmMWrFeUu24ohLTfx3TVHXLiW35mfEuuP7I47S9RafkoJ88Q57TfebuAeJBeNBktXBd8SHSoHygorwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Needham Park and Recreation commissioners voted unanimously May 21 to proceed with a plan to replace and elevate both sets of bleachers at McLeod Field, approving an order-of-magnitude cost estimate of about $166,000 and directing staff to encumber funds so work can move forward.

The commission’s action followed a presentation by staff that laid out two broad approaches to address spectator visibility and accessible seating: lowering the concrete ADA pads that sit between the playing surface and the existing bleachers (estimated at roughly $27,000–$32,000 for the different pad options), or installing new elevated bleachers positioned closer to the backstop (estimates ranged from about $90,000 for a single elevated unit to about $166,000 to replace and elevate both stands). The commission chose the full bleacher replacement and elevation option, referred to at the meeting as “Option 2c.”

The project team said the bleacher option would place new, elevated seating closer to the backstop so wheelchair users on an accessible route would be at sightlines above the existing pads. Justin Simoniano, assistant town engineer, presented visuals and noted the existing steel supports and netting system would remain in place and that some detailing — for example, rail caps or netting to protect exposed steel — would be required. Katie King, deputy town manager, explained procurement and funding implications and said ordering metal bleachers currently carries a lead time of about 14–16 weeks.

Commissioners and staff discussed constructability and safety tradeoffs. Lowering the pads (the pad options presented as 1a and 1b) would have improved sightlines at lower cost, but would have left steel framing and required additional infill (chain-link or netting) and protective caps, and staff said the padding currently around some elements would be reduced. The elevated-bleacher approach (2c) would require procuring new bleachers, additional site work to enlarge concrete pads and walkways, and new ramps and landing pads to meet accessibility standards.

King outlined two possible funding sources: a remaining balance in a May 2024 town meeting appropriation for a fencing project (the Dafazio fencing warrant article) and the Park and Recreation Revolving Fund. Staff said the revolving fund currently contains an atypically large balance — described at the meeting as on the order of $305,000 — but that those funds must be encumbered by June 30 or will roll back to the general fund (with limited carryover rules). The commission directed staff to encumber funds before June 30 so procurement can proceed.

Commissioner Cindy Chaston moved to proceed with Option 2c at the ballpark figure presented (~$166,000); the motion was seconded and passed by roll call, 3–0. Commissioners who cast recorded votes were identified in the meeting as Chris (aye), Jim (aye) and Cindy Chaston (aye). Staff said a formal procurement for bleachers and site work would follow and that permitting with the Conservation Commission is expected to be administrative or minor.

Staff cautioned the commission that the price estimates presented were initial order-of-magnitude figures and that metal prices and installation costs can change. They recommended doing the site concrete work now in a way that anticipates possible future additions (to avoid remobilizing later). The planned schedule depended on when the town issues the order: earlier ordering improves the chance of having the work completed before the next spring season, but a firm delivery window depends on the vendor lead time and procurement schedule.

The commission’s approval establishes the direction for the McLeod Field work and instructs staff to move to procurement and encumber funds. Further design details, final contract awards, and specific construction timing will be set in subsequent administrative steps and public notices.

","The commission voted unanimously May 21 to proceed with a plan to replace and elevate both sets of bleachers at McLeod Field to improve sightlines and accessible seating, using available town funds.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Needham Park and Rec delays pool opening; spring program revenue and staffing mostly on track

Appeal over field assignments: Needham staff urge youth league to seek swaps with adult softball; commission declines to displace adults

Needham staff warn tight timeline for Elliott School and Action Sports Park designs; recommend phased approach

Needham Park and Rec Commission approves $166,000 estimate to replace McLeod Field bleachers