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Director report: pools, swim lessons and Claxton project show mixed demand; porta‑potty vandalism prompts structural review
Summary
Needham’s Park and Recreation Department reported about 90 pool passes sold in May and $30,000 in pool revenue, said the department has received roughly 150 summer financial‑aid requests, and announced Claxton Field is on track to open the week of July 7.
The Needham Park and Recreation Department provided a wide-ranging director’s report Monday covering pool sales, swim lessons, capital projects and staffing.
"For the month of May, we did sell about 90 pool passes and taken about $30,000 for pools," Director Stacy told the commission, noting pools were operating on limited schedules and swim-lesson registration had been slow. Stacy said the department has received roughly "150" summer financial-aid requests so far and that swim-team and summer-camp registrations were beginning to climb as the season progressed.
Capital projects are advancing: Claxton Field sod is down, the parking lot was paved, fencing and guardrails were scheduled, and staff said the facility team hopes to open Claxton the week of July 7. "Ed and I think we should be able to open the week of July 7," Stacy said. The department plans a modest opening/ceremony once finishing touches are complete.
Staff reported ongoing maintenance work across town parks and a funded maintenance package for Little League diamonds: an allocated $60,000 originally earmarked to rebuild six infields came in under bid and staff said the winning bids will allow work on eight diamonds instead of six.
The department also recapped an ongoing problem with vandalism at plumbed restroom buildings. The director said the town closed some public restrooms three years ago after repeated vandalism and that Building Maintenance and DPW will conduct a structural engineering study to determine if existing restroom buildings should be refurbished or replaced; the school-project schedule may delay any permanent capital decision because the restroom building is part of a larger school layout.
On staffing, Stacy said the department narrowed an administrative‑assistant applicant pool from 77 applicants to a short list of two finalists; in‑person interviews were under way and a hire was expected in the coming weeks.
Commissioners asked staff to return with budget details on pool revenue, a projected schedule for Claxton opening events, and more data on swim‑lesson outreach and financial-aid distribution.
Notes: Revenue, registration and request counts quoted in the meeting were provided by the director and recorded here as reported; the minutes do not record invoice or payroll detail.
