0:00Representatives from the Titans, a growing sports organization with 17 teams, sought access to the 6090 field, the 5070 field, and the softball field from Monday through Thursday. This request emphasized their need to accommodate their expanding teams, with a particular focus on securing practice space. The discussion revealed the commission’s concerns about the impact of this extensive request on field availability for other organizations. The Titans’ representatives acknowledged the importance of a fair first-come, first-served policy and expressed their intention to finalize their schedule and needs as soon as possible.

To address safety and operational issues, the Titans proposed installing poles with netting on the softball field to catch home runs, a solution aimed at preventing balls from being hit over the fence and reducing tensions among teams. The commission considered this suggestion, recognizing the potential benefits and costs involved.

15:32Field usage and maintenance were recurring themes throughout the meeting. A member of the commission raised the idea of installing toppers on dugouts to mitigate rain impact during games. Past conflicts over field scheduling were recounted, with a proposal to formalize practice schedules through printed documentation to clarify field availability and reduce misunderstandings.

The meeting also addressed the demands of maintaining the park, particularly the workload involved in mowing twice a week, with discussions about potentially reducing this frequency to cut labor costs. Additionally, the operational state of the spray park was a topic of concern, as previous attempts to get it running had been unsuccessful due to personnel changes.

The commission also discussed the pickleball courts project, which faced bureaucratic hurdles due to a lack of necessary approvals from the select board. There was a clear sense of urgency to resolve this issue to avoid delays that could extend the project timeline, with members committed to following up on approvals swiftly.

31:25Attention turned to Wally Park’s field fees, set at $50 per field for practices and games. Some confusion arose about whether this fee would be revisited, with a suggestion to research fees in surrounding towns. Maintenance needs, such as restriping lines and addressing traffic flow in the parking lot, were highlighted, with plans to obtain quotes for the necessary work.

The meeting also touched on larger maintenance concerns, including the condition of fencing at Wally Park and the rail trail. Damaged fencing due to fallen trees prompted a debate about ownership and responsibility for repairs, with varying opinions on whether the commission should allocate resources to this issue.

In budget-related discussions, the commission reviewed the fiscal year 2026 budget, considering the aging status of equipment like mowers. The potential cost of new equipment and financing options were discussed as the group prepared for future needs.