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Parks and Recreation seeks clearer charter language on school-run fields and access for town leagues
Summary
Parks and Recreation meeting attendees told the Charter Review Committee that parks functions are thinly described in the charter and one member suggested removing an exception that places some facilities under the school department’s jurisdiction, citing restrictions on town league access to school fields.
At the Oct. 29 Charter Review Committee meeting, committee members reported that Parks and Recreation commissioners were surprised to find limited charter language governing parks operations and that most of their concerns are code or ordinance matters. One commissioner suggested striking the phrase in Article 10, Section 2(4) that excludes properties “under the jurisdiction of the school department,” arguing that some school-owned fields are sometimes withheld from town recreational leagues.
Committee members cautioned that school department ownership complicates any change and emphasized that increased town involvement would likely require additional funding and negotiated access arrangements so both school and community athletic needs are served. The committee agreed to record the suggestion for further consideration and to follow up with the Parks & Recreation Commission at a later meeting.
The Parks & Recreation liaison also reported that the town’s relationship with its third-party operator, Wild World Sports, is due to expire in December or January and that the commission plans to issue a new RFP for operations when the contract ends.
