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Avon reviews Recreation & Parks master plan update; outreach survey open through Feb. 29
Summary
At a Feb. 5 special meeting, Avon town officials and consultants from Weston & Sampson presented an update to the Recreation & Parks Master Plan, outlined a timeline that includes two more public meetings, listed a 19-site facilities inventory and opened an online survey running Feb. 1–29.
Avon Town Council convened a special meeting on Feb. 5 to hear an update on the town’s Recreation & Parks Master Plan and to begin a public outreach exercise. Consultants from Weston & Sampson, identified as Ryan Chmielewski and Emily Weckman, led the presentation and asset-mapping prompts for residents and stakeholders.
The presentation outlined four primary goals: update an inventory and analysis of athletic fields, courts and indoor recreational facilities; complete a public outreach and needs assessment; develop strategic recommendations to improve or add facilities with attention to safety, accessibility and equity; and propose funding and phasing strategies. Consultants presented a project schedule that places public outreach in Jan–Mar 2024, a needs assessment through April, a findings meeting in May, strategic planning May–July and plan adoption in Aug–Sep 2024.
Consultants said the inventory includes 19 town and park sites (examples listed in the presentation include Alsop Meadows, Buckingham Road Recreation Area, Fisher Farm, the Town Green and the Senior Center) and a set of education facilities that include Avon High School and Avon Middle School. Presentation slides and staff notes also documented program counts: 62 active programs and 21 passive programs (excluding school use), plus 16 outside community organizations and events that compete for space.
The team emphasized public participation as a central part of the process. The consultants announced an online survey open Feb. 1–29 and scheduled Public Meeting #2 for May 1 to present findings. The presentation included three engagement prompts for attendees to consider: the town’s greatest recreation assets, what strengthens those assets, and barriers that limit participation or access.
The meeting record lists Town Manager Brandon Robertson and Recreation and Parks Department staff among those present, and it names Weston & Sampson’s Ryan Chmielewski and Emily Weckman as the presenting consultants. The presentation materials stated, “The Avon Recreation and Parks Department is committed to providing opportunities to participate in recreational programs and have access to parks so that people of all ages and abilities can stay active and enjoy the benefits of a healthier life.” The special meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
Next steps announced at the meeting include completion of the needs assessment and data analysis through April and a second public meeting in May to review findings and draft recommendations.
