A University of New Hampshire graduate student presented a community capstone project to improve safety, accessibility and programming at the Donati Park running track.

Samara Dalal, a UNH Master of Science in Project Management candidate, outlined a proposal called the "Strike Together — Hooksett Track and Wellness Project." She told the council the project would install protective fencing near the railroad, construct an ADA-compliant pathway, add benches and install two outdoor pull-up stations. She provided a two-tiered cost estimate: a lower and a higher version; both included a 10% contingency. The higher estimate was roughly $57,881; the lower estimate was roughly $49,060, Dalal said.

Dalal said she had secured preliminary sponsor commitments for in-kind donations (Home Depot for supplies, Brooks Industry for gravel, and other suppliers for benches and fencing materials) and that the Hooksett Parks and Recreation Department would act as the project’s primary sponsor and town liaison.

Parks and Recreation advisory committee members heard the presentation at their meeting and voted unanimously to recommend council consideration. At the council meeting, members asked whether the presentation should be scheduled as a formal agenda item for a future meeting and whether the student could proceed with fundraising only after permits and approvals were in place. Councilors suggested placing the proposal on a future council agenda so staff can review budget implications and any engineering or permitting notes from town staff.

Councilors expressed support for the concept but asked staff to confirm whether the track property is leased or subject to state permissions and requested more detail on funding and the town’s obligations before making a formal commitment. The council agreed to schedule the project as an agenda item at a subsequent meeting for formal consideration.