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Parks and Rec hears capital projects update: fields, playgrounds, Tom Nevers beach debris permit work moving slowly
Summary
Parks and Rec received a broad operations and capital update from staff covering field replacements, a proposed expansion of Winter Park playground, Tom Nevers playground completion, new benches and hoops, and slow progress on a large Tom Nevers beach debris removal project pending federal permits.
Charlie, representing parks operations, briefed the commission on multiple capital and maintenance projects and on permitting for a large beach‑debris removal effort at Tom Nevers.
Charlie said multiple athletic fields (referred to in the discussion as Delta fields) need substantial repair or full replacement including fencing, backstops, scoreboards, batting cages and bleachers. He told commissioners that backstop replacement alone was “about 60,000” for the Little League area and that fencing costs are significant. He said he plans to package field work and Little League items for the town’s capital process and, if necessary, the Community Preservation Committee in the fall.
On Winter Park, Charlie said the existing playground — about 6,000 square feet — is showing structural issues after roughly 23 years and that the department is considering a full replacement and possibly doubling the footprint to roughly 12,000 square feet, increasing parking and exploring adding a basketball court. Charlie told the commission he would reach out to a nearby homeowners association for input and said the proposal would likely not include night lighting: “Probably not,” he said in response to a question about lighting.
Charlie reported the Tom Nevers playground project is complete and open after final sand redistribution, and he said the DPW will publicize the opening. He also noted installation of a new basketball hoop at Noviti Farm and two solar‑charging benches with USB and MagSafe ports at another site.
On the Tom Nevers beach debris project, Charlie described a multistep effort constrained by federal permitting and procurement timelines. Staff had considered an emergency permit but found the emergency window too short for full procurement; Charlie said the goal is to begin removals in November and described the work as likely a multi‑year project with an initial beach‑cleanup phase and a second phase to remove buried material. He estimated procurement posting and review would take about six to eight weeks once permitting is resolved.
Commissioners praised recent work at Tom Nevers and asked staff to continue outreach and to bring capital proposals through the town’s administrative review and CPC processes. Charlie said he will submit capital requests in mid‑July as the capital submission deadline approaches.
