Parks & Recreation

[From my July 30 column in the Colchester Bulletin]

With the next edition of the Town’s “Colchester Connection”, our new seasonal brochure, due out two weeks from today, I thought it would be a good idea to let the community know about various policies and procedures here at Parks & Recreation. The more people know, the better prepared they are to take advantage of all that we have to offer. This week I will explain some existing policies, as well as a new one taking effect.

This past Sunday, to the disappointment and confusion of many people, our Summer Concert on the Green was postponed until later in the summer, following the next two concerts. Though the cancellation was publicized through our web site, voicemail, mass email and even our twitter list, with the beautiful weather in town many people did not even consider that it might be cancelled and hence did not check.

As with planning any event, we need to make decisions fairly early regarding weather cancellations, in order to effectively notify the many entertainers, businesses, staff, volunteers and fans prior to committing their time and incurring costs for the event; typically for the concerts, this decision must be made before noon, long before the event start time of 5:00pm.

Sunday morning, after consulting various sources, I made the difficult decision, erring on the side of safety, to postpone the concert, based on predictions of likely thunderstorms that afternoon. While many communities throughout the state did get pounded by fierce storms, luckily Colchester was spared. As it turned out, it would have been a beautiful evening for a concert on the green. The good news is that the band is available for our rain date and will make their appearance at the end of the series on August 16.

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[From my July 23 column in the Colchester Bulletin]

On multiple occasions I’ve written in my column about the dedication and contributions of volunteers here in town. However, I am in awe at the most recent achievements of some passionate citizens. Approval of the new Colchester Dog Park at last week’s Board of Selectmen meeting was entirely due to the incredible efforts of the numerous volunteers on the committee.

Just over a year ago, approximately 30 people showed up for an initial meeting to discuss the possibility of a dog park and assess interest in town. Right from the get go, it was clear that there were many people eager to see a dog park in town and willing to commit their time, money and energy to see it happen.

Nothing could dissuade them or dampen their spirits. When they were informed that, aside from potentially providing an appropriate site and giving general guidance through town staff, the town would not be able to fund any portion of the park’s development or maintenance, the committee did not bat an eyelash. They simple took it as one of their guiding principles and developed their plans and ideas with that restriction in mind.

The committee quickly gathered themselves into a coordinated group, assigning tasks and gathering immense amounts of data on other dog parks, both local and across the country. Within months, they had a very solid idea of how they envisioned the park, with multiple phases ranging from basic necessities to future enhancements.

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[From my July 16 column in the Colchester Bulletin]

According to this year’s report from the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the obesity epidemic continues to grow in this country, with 23 states showing increased rates of obesity and no decreases seen. In addition, the percentage of obese or overweight children is at or above 30 percent in 30 states.

There is no disputing the data that shows there is a health crisis facing our country, from youth to adults to seniors. Kids spend an average of fifty percent less time outdoors than just ten years ago. Everywhere you look, the majority of people are becoming increasingly sedentary, and facing the ill effects that are associated with that, such as being overweight, diabetes, heart disease and more. Experts predict that this generation will be the first in history to have a shorter life span than their parents.

So, how can we turn this trend around? The answer is simple, though not easy: get out and get active. Since 1985, the National Recreation and Park Association has designated July as National Recreation and Parks Month. This serves as a way to spotlight the importance of leisure time as an integral part of a happy and healthy lifestyle, as well as to recognize the volunteers and staff that provide these crucial services all year long.

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[From my July 9 column in the Colchester Bulletin]

This week a new sign sprang up along Lebanon Avenue, and for many it will come as a complete shock. The sign marks the entrance to the parking area for the Colchester Spur of the Air Line Trail. This town-owned section of trail that continues north through Hebron, where it meets up with the Air Line Trail State Park, was put in a number of years ago. Yet, because it is virtually hidden from site behind existing businesses, it remains largely unknown.

However, that is about to change. Courtesy of the same grant that paid for the new section of sidewalk in front of the State Police barracks last summer, the State Department of Public Health grant is now helping us identify some of the locations to which the sidewalks can lead. The largest sign is the one now designating the Spur Trail’s existence. There will also be some smaller roadside signs in the center of town directing walkers to the trail as well as the Recplex.

The Air Line Trail was built along the rail bed of the old Air Line Railroad, which was built in the 1870s as a direct route between New York and Boston. While there was a station in Westchester, Colchester sought to have a line that would service the Hayward Rubber Company and the center of town. So, Colchester and Hebron each invested $25,000 (worth nearly $500,000 these days) to build a spur of the line that came down to Lebanon Avenue. The original depot at Lebanon Avenue is still standing, though these days it is home to an antiques store.

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[From my July 2 column in the Colchester Bulletin]

This weekend will surely be full of backyard parties, incredible fireworks displays, visits to the beach and other celebrations of our country’s independence. But one thing that you’ll want to include on your agenda among everything else is the kick-off concert to this year’s “Summer Concerts on the Town Green sponsored by Rockville Bank” this Sunday, July 5th at 5:00pm.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of attending the concerts since Parks & Recreation took them over two years ago, you’re missing out on some fantastic family entertainment. The six shows throughout July and August feature some of the most talented bands in the area, and cover a diverse range of musical tastes. What’s more, each concert is accompanied by food and ice cream concessions on site, making it easy and affordable for families to enjoy a leisurely night out.

While the bands take the stage at 5:30pm, the show is preceded by a different interactive program each week. These pre-concert activities are fun ways to involve the audience in unique events, as well as reward those who arrive early for the best seats. As we have for the past two year, with limited parking in the center of town, we encourage people to turn the concert in a healthy activity by biking or walking to the show, either from home or a closer location.

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