Hooksett Parks & Recreation keeps revolving secretary, elects officers and outlines park projects, garden fee proposal

The Hooksett Parks & Recreation Committee on an unspecified date completed officer elections, confirmed a plan to keep a revolving secretary and reviewed several near-term maintenance and capital items for town parks, including a new sign and knotweed treatment at Lambeth Park, plumbing and fire-suppression work at the Goodwin concession stand, and study of sites for pickleball or volleyball courts.

The committee voted to keep the revolving secretary arrangement used last year; a motion to continue a rotating secretary role passed on a voice vote. Committee members also nominated Andy to serve as chair and Judy to serve as vice chair; both nominations were seconded and approved by voice vote. Members later moved to adjourn with a customary voice vote.

Why it matters: the committee’s staffing decisions set who will carry meeting duties for the coming year, while the maintenance and capital items discussed affect field availability, public events such as Old Home Day and costs the town may seek from grants or the council.

Committee business and maintenance updates

Committee members reviewed a quote for a new Lambeth Park sign (quoted at about $2,995) and reported that Jeanette selected a design. Members said the sign would be matched to the style used at other parks and that staff will check with Ben Moore about funding because the town is operating under a default budget. A committee member said a $1,000 donor pledge is available and that the group would seek necessary council approval for any donation funding.

Rob (parks staff) said he has been staging materials for the knotweed-removal pilot at Lambeth Park and that the plan — described to the committee as a fall project — will use plastic and wood chips on a test area following guidance the group received. Rob also reported progress on routine maintenance: replacement roofs on two softball dugouts, repaired playground pieces with parts on order, painted backboards at Frasier Park and graffiti removal on a bridge by Veterans Park.

Concession stand renovation

Staff described a new 450-foot water service loop and plumbing work at the Goodwin concession building. The conversation noted five sinks now installed in the concession area and that the water tie-in was moved to the main before the backflow device to bring the building “up to code.” Committee members said the space has a fire-suppression hood rated for a 40-inch grill and that state rules limit the size/type of cooking equipment the hood can cover; adding a fryer would require a larger hood and a different suppression system.

Events and fields

Home Day preparations were described: tents will replace a traditional raised stage and fireworks will not be part of the event. Staff reported marking fields for fall sports and repairing irrigation controls after a lightning-related outage. Members discussed field layouts and irrigation upgrades for Miner’s and other fields so youth leagues can rotate play and protect turf. Flag football and youth baseball field configurations were raised as low-cost ways to get more usable practice space.

Recreation projects, grants and site study

Committee members discussed possible volleyball courts at Frasier Park and a separate West-side site, Hackett Hill, identified as a candidate for pickleball courts. Members said volleyball generally generates fewer noise complaints than pickleball and suggested surveying nearby neighbors before site work. One member said a state official indicated grants are available and that the state might cover a substantial share of a larger project; committee members emphasized they would pursue grant information before requesting council funding. The committee also noted that the town no longer has the prior town planner (Nicholas) who had written grants, and a member said a New Hampshire state program can assist municipalities with grant-writing if the town lacks a grant writer.

Community garden fee proposal

A committee member raised recurring “abuse” of the community garden water supply and proposed charging a seasonal fee per garden plot (examples mentioned: $15 per plot, or comparison rates of $40 in nearby Pembroke and Concord). Members asked staff to check with Ben Moore and bring information on reasonable fees and enforcement options to a future meeting.

River access and swimming

Members discussed river swimming access near Lambeth Park and earlier historic town sand placement at a favored beach area; they noted possible state ownership or right-of-way issues, parking limitations, and safety concerns related to boat traffic and visible debris (rebar and rocks) in some riverbank sites. Committee members suggested the Army Corps of Engineers would be a likely partner for any cleanup or change in river access but said no formal proposal was pending.

What's next

Committee members said they will seek grant information and pricing for volleyball posts/nets and polling neighbors about noise, finalize the Lambeth Park sign if funding is available, proceed with the knotweed pilot in fall, and report back on the community-garden fee options at the next meeting. Several items — including larger-scale West-side pickleball courts — were described as likely to require council funding or grants.

Ending

The meeting ended after routine motions to adjourn, with the committee planning follow-ups on grants, sign funding and the community-garden fee.