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Plaistow recreation staff reports nearly full summer program; park closed during camp hours
Summary
Plaistow recreation staff told the Board of Selectmen that summer recreation enrollment is nearly full, staffing is sufficient and organizers reminded residents that the park will be closed during summer-camp hours. Director-level staff reviewed ongoing programs, facility rentals and outreach channels.
Plaistow recreation staff said Monday that summer recreation is nearly full and that the department expects to open a few additional slots once remaining employees complete paperwork and background checks.
The update came at the Plaistow Board of Selectmen meeting on June 2, where recreation staff described program enrollments, staffing levels, planned summer concerts and the department’s outreach and facility-rental rules.
The recreation presenter said the program currently has about 90 campers per week, with a target capacity of 105 once staffing paperwork is finalized. She reported a staff of 18 and said the standard counselor-to-camper ratio is 1-to-8, excluding directors, who are present for safety.
The department is scheduling summer concerts on the Town Green beginning “the 20 fifth” (as described in the meeting) on Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and said summer-concert organizers are working with outside volunteers and local partners. The presenter reminded residents that the pavilion and the large room in the North Main (formerly courthouse) building are available for rental; the rental rate cited was $25 per hour with a $250 deposit.
Staff also listed ongoing classes and groups: a Thursday “Strength in Motion” fitness class, a Thursday walking club at 10 a.m., a weekly new-parents group led by a certified doula, a homeschool explorers club for ages about 5–10 that meets outdoors, seniors’ bingo (second Wednesday) and a monthly craft class (fourth Wednesday). The recreation presenter said attendance at regular events is typically a dozen or so people and that some programs meet during daytime hours to serve seniors and others.
Camp and park logistics were described in practical terms: the department told the board that while summer camp runs, the park is closed to the public during camp hours (stated as 7 a.m. to 4/4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday) for the duration of the seven weeks of camp. Staff asked residents to keep dogs off athletic fields during the season.
The recreation presenter noted a temporary website navigation issue: visitors to the town recreation page must click through an extra link to reach the program’s registration software. She listed online and local outreach channels used to publicize programs, including the town website, bulletin boards, the local newspaper’s regional section and social media.
Board members asked routine operational questions about enrollment, staffing and program offerings; no formal action was taken on recreation items during the meeting.
The meeting record included a request that trails remain accessible from dawn to dusk but noted that some trails are only accessible through the park and thus are subject to the camp closure window.
