Hooksett groups plan placement, mockups for Lambert Park storyboards; town IT holding up QR links

Members of the Hooksett Heritage Commission and the town—s Parks & Recreation advisory group debated where to place three planned historical storyboards at Lambert Park and whether to combine them into a single, larger panel.

The discussion focused on visitor sightlines, safety and maintenance. Rob, Parks and Recreation staff, said the storyboards have been designed by a contractor (Fossil) and the commission is waiting for QR codes and town authorization to link them to the town website before finalizing proofs and ordering the panels. "We're just waiting on the QR codes for the final design," Rob said. "I don't know if there's going to be extra incurred cost because there was, you know, time spent on [design]."

The commission weighed two main approaches: three separate information panels spaced through the park, or a single larger sign with three distinct QR codes linking to separate pages. Andy (Heritage Commission member) said a single combined sign might reduce clutter: "So we're not crowding the park so much," he said. Tony (Heritage Commission member) preferred placing panels along the river where walkers naturally pass; others argued entrance placement would attract more readers. "When you come to a park and you read a sign, you're not reading that sign at the end of the park," said a resident, John Pinnell. "You are reading it at the entrance."

Practical details were discussed: staff reported the proposed panels would match the Riverwalk Trail signs in size (described in the meeting as 30 by 40 inches) and that Fossil designed three separate layouts already. Commissioners noted a horizontal, low-profile orientation makes the panels readable while preserving sightlines to the river and pavilion; some cautioned a very large vertical panel could block views. Concerns about vandalism and snowplow damage led members to propose mounting mockups on 5-gallon buckets with a 2x4 base or installing the panels slightly in from the granite curbing so plows stop short of the signs.

Because the town's administration and IT team must confirm whether the QR codes can link to town web pages, staff warned delivery could take weeks to months. Rob estimated ordering and shipping could push installation into late summer: "It could be August before we get these signs." Until then, volunteers will produce cardboard mockups and test placements in the park. Commissioners agreed to build two cardboard mockups mounted to buckets and to meet at the park to visualize placements; participants offered to mark tentative spots with white paint so final locations can be verified before the vendor starts production.

The group discussed several candidate locations: near the parking/entrance granite curve (to catch arriving visitors), behind the swing set toward the riverbank (to serve trail users), and by a bench near the dam (to offer a seated reading spot). Members also suggested small protective measures (flower boxes or low fencing) if a panel were placed near play areas to prevent accidental collisions. No formal final decision on permanent placement or an order was recorded; the group set a near-term plan to create mockups, test multiple sites and reconvene with both the Heritage Commission and Parks & Recreation representatives for a joint placement decision.

The meeting also recorded practical installation notes: panels will be mounted in cemented footings in a way that allows later relocation; volunteers will use cardboard cutouts and buckets to test locations; the contractor—s existing proofs reflect three separate panels but staff will ask the vendor whether reworking the layouts into a single panel creates additional design or production costs.

Planning next steps, the commission scheduled an on-site mockup-and-visualization session for committee members and volunteers, and committed to follow up with town administration on the QR-code/link approval before finalizing proofs with the vendor.