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Peterborough recreation presents skate park, pool changes and staffing, warns of temporary revenue dip during center renovations
Summary
The Recreation Department told the Budget Committee about a new donor-funded beginner-friendly skate park, pool conversion to liquid chlorine, staffing and programming SWOTs, proposed nonresident fee increases, and a projected drop in revolving-fund revenue during community center renovations.
Craig Fraley, newly appointed recreation director, presented the department's FY26 priorities and budget to the Select Board and Budget Committee on Jan. 28, describing recent capital work, programming analyses and changes to the revolving fund.
Fraley said the recently opened skate park was designed to be more beginner friendly and was funded largely through donations; the gazebo/pavilion at Adams was renovated. He said the town pool has been converted to liquid chlorine so the water department can assist with oversight and to operate more efficiently.
Fraley walked the committee through three SWOT analyses—facilities, programming and staffing—identifying strengths such as variety of facilities and use of MyRec registration software, alongside weaknesses including aging infrastructure, limited field lighting, constrained youth labor/lifeguard training venues and fewer volunteers. He said the FY26 CIP includes funds to bring in professionals to evaluate field lighting.
On fees and the revolving fund, Fraley explained that revolving-fund revenue (100% user-fee supported) now offsets some general-fund requests. He said proposed changes include modest increases to nonresident Cunningham Pond day passes and kayak rental fees; rental kayaks typically last 4–6 years and cost about $1,000 to replace. Fraley said the department currently sells 100 nonresident pond passes (a cap set by the Select Board) and that about 1,700 resident pond stickers are issued annually. He also confirmed the department offers scholarships for residents who need financial assistance.
Fraley said planned community center renovations will require a temporary closure that is expected to reduce revolving-fund revenue; he said the food pantry may remain open while the farmers market will need relocation. He also urged higher wages for program staff to stay competitive with other towns and noted some MyRec costs were moved from the general fund to the revolving fund, lowering the general-fund computer service line.
Committee members asked about donations toward Phase 2 of the skate park (Fraley said a $40,000 fundraising goal), the cap on nonresident passes, kayak replacement costs and staffing challenges. The committee did not take final votes on recreational appropriations during the session; staff will have the requests considered as the budget process continues.
