Meredith Parks & Rec plans to expand senior programming

MEREDITH — While the massive Prescott Park project is on the forefront of most residents' minds when it comes to parks and recreation, there are other proposals before the selectboard.

Krystal Alpers, director of parks and recreation, met with the board Sept. 28, to discuss the next steps for Prescott Park, as well as circle back about a disc golf course proposal. She also talked about the potential for senior programming, and a new fitness station.

Prescott Park

Proposed Prescott Park improvements have an estimated price tag of $18.5 million, in a multi-phased project, and Alpers wanted to gauge the board’s thoughts. In the same meeting, the selectboard discussed capital improvement project priorities, and referred to Prescott Park as a big-ticket item.

The project was unveiled at the Aug. 24 selectboard meeting, but has been discussed for decades. The Prescott Park Renovation Committee has worked with Ironwood Design Group, Gale Associates and SMP Architecture. While the cost is high, the committee has received solid feedback from the public and town leaders.

Committee Chair Dan Curnyn, baseball coach at Inter-Lakes High School, has been leading the charge. The initial push was by now-retired Parks & Rec Director Vint Choiniere. Curnyn said, at the August meeting, once the park is completed, it will offer recreational opportunities for residents of all ages. 

At the August meeting, Ironwood Design Group’s architect Jeff Hyland gave a presentation on costs and phasing options. A community survey gathered hundreds of responses, with the vast majority from year-round residents, who said car parking and circulation were among top concerns.

Among proposed improvements are renovations to buildings, upgrades to the baseball and soccer fields, creating a fenced-in dog park, building an array of new pickleball courts, and constructing a covered pavilion for concessions and ice-skating in the winter.

The playground portion is already done, and has already received rave reviews.

Alpers said as the committee continues, they would like to have an open discussion on the next steps.

“Were you satisfied with the proposal, the potential Master Plan that we’ve presented, and then what’s funding looked like?” Alpers asked. “I know it is included in CIP, so I’m grateful that’s part of that conversation. But honestly, we’re just looking to open up the conversation, and find out what you envision our next steps to be.”

Chair Steve Aiken and board member Lynn Leighton served on the committee the last two years. Aiken said they completed 95% of what they asked, and he requested the board's input about the remainder.

Selectboard member Mike Pelczar asked about grants, as that goes into their decision on how far out the project goes. Alpers knows she can’t raise $18.5 million, but there are likely grants available.

Pelczar asked what she thought could come in from grants “if the stars aligned.”

“I feel confident with a couple million, if successful,” Alpers said.

Overall infrastructure, such as parking and building rehabilitation, will likely be the town's responsiblity.

Aiken suggested bringing in funds through adopting trees to be planted, and Alpers said this would be much like what was done with the building of the community center, when rooms were adopted.

“People could adopt a bench; they could adopt the pickle courts,” she said.

Board member Jeanie Forrester asked for the projected annual maintenance cost, and Alpers said this would be in the next phase, as Gale Associates would take over for the site survey and cost projections.

Aiken asked about the next phase of costs. Alpers said $141,000 out of $149,000 authorized has been spent. The site survey will likely eclipse the $8,000 remaining, and she plans to find out what the next phase would look like.

Alpers asked the selectboard if there was anything they didn’t want included. Aiken said they could use grass instead of turf, for example, but otherwise, nothing jumped out.

“I thought the committee did a great job,” Pelczar said. “I like the plan, and I trust our two selectboard members, and you Krystal, and the committee you set up. Just a matter of how we keep going forward."

Senior programming

Alpers was hired in March, and said during her interview process, the board showed interest in expanding and strengthening existing offerings. She met with the former senior center director, put together a survey, and segmented anyone registered for a program who was 50 and over. There were 115 responses, all positive, about wanting more programs.

Takeaways were to expand programming, and improve marketing and communication.

“I was very surprised to see how many folks responded in the survey that had no idea of the existing programming,” she said. “We have the strength and balance class, we have senior yoga, we have sassy step, a couple of those.”

Currently, programs take place at Meredith Community Center.

Alpers started revamping the website, and has been using Facebook more. She also met Belknap Community Action Program representatives about senior meals, and is hoping to use the kitchen for pre-packaged meals. This will likely start as a couple days a week, to capitalize on programming already put in place.

Some programs weren’t known to the survey respondents, but others stood out.

“Our strength and balance class has, I think, 65 folks signed up, which is unbelievable,” she said. “It’s a fantastic class. So, offering a senior meal after that kind of concludes, in hopes to pull some of those folks in.”

She also said there are coffee talks and educational sessions planned, and added programming includes tai chi, mahjong, board games, and card games.

Fitness stations

Resident Eric Wilson owns a fitness and remote coaching company, and Alpers told the board he offered free clinics to talk about calisthenics and fitness programs, at a station proposed near the basketball court in Prescott Park.

“The stations would provide outdoor fitness resources for individuals of varying fitness levels,” she said. “Pushups, pullups, dips, all the good things. They’re very easy to install and dismantle.”

Wilson offered to purchase and install these at no cost to the town, and requested a sign be included with instructions on use, indicating it was donated by his business.

Pelczar said the town may not allow that, as it is viewed as a commercial advertisement, but there might be a way around it as a donation. Alpers believes Wilson would still be on board, regardless.

Disc golf

Alpers and Cody Burns, a local resident and disc golf player, first spoke with the selectboard on July 28, to propose a disc golf course at Waukewan Highlands Community Park. Since then, Alpers put out a survey to the public, which received 405 responses.

Of the respondents, 90% were experienced players or interested in learning, and 70% were non-residents. The survey showed 84% would likely or very likely use the course. Alpers said the interest was strong among disc golf users and visitors, and mixed from year-round residents.

“A lot of it came down to the cost to the taxpayers, that they didn’t want to fund it, essentially,” Alpers said. “We are looking to raise the funds to install it and further maintain it. I want to just make sure that’s clear.”

Two locations were included in the survey: Waukewan Highlands and Meredith Community Forest, which were separated by only one vote. She thinks either location would work, and they will look into the layout.

Alpers plans to return to a later selectboard meeting to discuss next steps, including looking at site, layout, cost, and potential funding.