Manchester
Parks & Recreation
Summer/Fall 2023
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2023 saw long-planned projects come to fruition, volunteer enthusiasm explode, recreational program offerings grow, and generous benefactors donating to support parks and recreation.
This issue highlights major activities taking place throughout the summer and fall. As always, we are grateful to the many partners -- private organizations, sister City departments, and philanthropists -- who made this a special time for so many.
Cold weather brings to an end many recreational activities but affords the opportunity to explore new ones. McIntyre Ski Area opened for the season on December 9. Ice skating and hockey are available at the JFK Coliseum and West Side Arena through March. And did you know play continues throughout the winter at The Hollows disc golf courses?
If you prefer a warmer spot, join us for Saturday basketball at Beech Street School or Indoor Pickleball at Hallsville Gym. And check out Mike Ryan's Indoor Golf simulator and the Derryfield Restaurant at Derryfield Country Club.
Wishing everyone a merry Christmas, joyous holidays, and a happy new year,
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Mark Gomez
Chief of Parks, Recreation & Cemetery
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Fun in the Sun (and some rain)
Campers and counselors made the most of a wet summer during the 53rd Fun in the Sun youth camp. Participants enjoyed arts and crafts, playground games, swim lessons, and free swim -- to name just a few activities.
Campers also went on field trips to Mt. Sunapee State Park, Crystal Lake Park, Yankee Lanes, and a NH Fisher Cats Game.
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Indoor Pickleball
Join Parks & Rec at Hallsville Gym for pickleball madness.
- Mondays & Wednesdays 9 AM to 11 AM
- Wednesdays 4 PM to 6 PM
- Fridays 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
- Saturdays 9 AM to 12 PM
Adults only. Open to players of all abilities. Maximum of 12 participants per session. $5 per person.
Beginning in January, we will also be offering beginner and intermediate classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays!
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More Program & Event News
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A Different Kind of Traffic Jam
Adult and junior roller derby enjoyed their summer of bouts at the JFK Coliseum.
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Shuffling Along at Hallsville Gym
Shuffleboard competitors filled Hallsville Gym on July 27th as part of the NH Senior Games.
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Mustering up Courage and Teamwork
The Junior Fire Muster, in which Manchester Fire Department personnel coach local middle schoolers about firefighting and teamwork, returned to JFK Coliseum this June. (They may have done too good a job: the kids won this event against their coaches!)
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Do You Wanna Rock?
The next great musical duo is seen here in action during Kevin Horan's Rock Band Camp, offered through Parks & Rec.
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Oh, Those Summer Nights
Veterans Park in downtown Manchester once again played host to the summer concert series and summer movie series.
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A Spooktacular Time Downtown
Stanton Plaza was full of decorations, games, food vendors, music, and costumed revelers during the second annual Downtown Spooktacular, produced by Parks & Rec and Economic Development. The Mayor's Office and businesses up and down Elm Street set out decorations and provided candy to trick-or-treaters.
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Hoopin' it Up
Join Parks & Rec at Beech St School every Saturday through March 7th for drop-in basketball. Work on skills or play pickup games!
- 9 AM to 10:30 AM 6 - 8 year olds
- 10:30 AM to 12 PM 9 & 10 year olds
- 1 PM to 2:30 PM 11 & 12 year olds
- 2:30 PM to 4 PM 13 - 17 year olds
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Keeping Them Entertained
In coordination with Minds in Motion, Parks & Rec is offering two camps during winter vacation break: Cybercrawler Robot and CSI. The programs are for kids, ages 7 to 11. Sign up for one or both!
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New Courts at Wolfe Park
The aging basketball courts at Wolfe Park were completely rebuilt this past summer, thanks to contributions from the LIDS Foundation and from professional basketball trainer and Manchester native Chris Brickley.
The ribbon-cutting included a free skills clinic for local youth and give-aways from Southern New Hampshire University, Bose, Puma, LIDS, and Body Armor. The new courts are painted with vibrant colors and words of encouragement. They have become a hub for ballers of all ages.
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West Side Arena Upgrade
The West Side Ice Arena's ice-making system was replaced this year with a new modular system that allows Parks & Rec to adjust ice conditions remotely based on facility activity.
A new snow melt pit for ice shavings was also installed. Personnel are able to melt snow and preheat the arena's hot water simultaneously, producing savings on both natural gas and electricity.
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Pooling our Resources
This past summer, the DPW Facilities Division completed renovations of the pool houses at Livingston and Raco-Theodore parks. Improvements included renovated lifeguard rooms and a fresh coat of paint on the exterior of each building.
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Weston Playground
Parks & Rec oversaw the installation this summer of a new playground at Weston Elementary School. It is the most inclusive design in Manchester, with wheelchair accessibility, sensory play equipment, and quiet spaces. Traditional slides and climbing elements are also plentiful.
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Heading Down the Right Path
At left: For his Eagle Scout Project, Connor Bishop built a new kiosk showing the extensive trail system at Piscataquog River Park.
At right: Supported with funds from the Mayor's Office, Tim Huffman created a map of the trail system at Derryfield Park, which Parks & Rec personnel installed.
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Cullerot Park Access: North, by Northwest
DPW Highway Division and Parks & Rec crews are building a new pathway from Northwest Elementary School to Cullerot Park, providing students with direct access to green space.
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Game, Set, Match!
Parks & Rec oversaw the rebuilding of the six tennis courts at Manchester West High School this past summer. The project also included improvements to fencing and nearby walkways.
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Happy Trails
Tremendous progress has been made on the extension of the South Manchester Rail Trail from Gold Street to Perimeter Road. Construction is being managed by the DPW Highway Division and is expected to be completed in spring of 2024.
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Safari Youth Club Shines
This past summer Safari Youth Club spent countless hours cleaning and beautifying public spaces. Their main focus was cleaning the perimeter of Valley Cemetery, where their work made an amazing difference.
The Safari Youth Club supports immigrant youth and their families through academic support, sports, and the arts. In a collaboration with Parks & Rec, the club operates an after-school program at Hallsville Gym.
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General Vercauteren Way
Earlier this year, the entrance to Prout Park was named after Manchester native Brigadier General Richard Vercauteren, an extremely accomplished individual who spent many days in his youth at Prout and other Manchester parks.
An official dedication ceremony was held in July. Recently, his widow Gail Vercauteren surprised Parks & Rec with a $10,000 donation to support our mission. We are grateful for the legacy she and her late husband are leaving.
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Fields of Green for North Soccer
In a 50/50 collaboration between the Manchester North Soccer League and Parks & Rec, two soccer fields at Livingston Park were completely renovated and will be ready for use in the fall of 2024.
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Good Things Come in Trees
Parks & Rec has been awarded a $2.3 million grant from the US Forest Service to plant 500 trees over the next five years in Manchester's urban core. Funds will also cover research to determine areas most in need, the removal of invasive species, and job skills training.
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A Little Help from our Friends
City Year, NH and the Friends of Piscataquog River Park coordinated efforts to cut back Oriental Bittersweet. Substantial improvements to Piscataquog River Park, driven by volunteers, have taken place throughout 2023.
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Greening Your Street
The Green Streets Tree Canopy Program offsets up to 50% of the cost of eligible residential street tree plantings. The spring 2024 planting schedule is full, but Parks & Rec is now accepting applications for the fall 2024 planting season.
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All for the Little Ones
Toys for Tots donation boxes have been set out at the JFK Coliseum and West Side Arena. Through a collaboration with Parks & Rec, Toys for Tots is also running local distribution operations out of the old Hallsville School. Last year, the Southern NH operation gave away more than 100,000 toys to over 50,000 kids!
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Operations & Maintenance | |
Safe Streets
The Parks & Rec Urban Forestry Unit ensures that street trees posing imminent hazards or impeding traffic are strategically limbed or removed.
Manchester has approximately 50,000 trees in and adjacent to the right-of-way. Major work was performed this year along Mammoth Road (pictured above).
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A Picnic in the Park
DPW Facilities Division and Parks & Rec personnel collaborated to install two new picnic tables adjacent to the Sheehan-Basquil Park Splash Pad and playground area. One of the tables is designed to be wheelchair-accessible.
Both tables were donated by Hoyle Tanner, Associates.
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More Operations & Maintenance News | |
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And Miles to Go before I Sleep
A Parks & Rec Vegetation Specialist uses a new aerator and over-seeding attachment to get Highland Goffe's Falls football field ready for the South Sabers' fall season.
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A Nice Set of Pipes
With 52 park and school irrigation systems, constant vigilance is needed to keep landscaped areas in good condition. In addition to starting up systems in spring and shutting them down in fall, Parks & Rec personnel test backflow devices and make regular repairs.
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Taking a Clean Swing
Some ropes, a garbage can, a ladder, and more than a dash of ingenuity -- Parks & Rec crews had to take an unusual approach to cleaning trash off a small island on the back side of the Derryfield golf course. Mission accomplished!
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Our Brother Darryl
A new addition to the Parks & Rec complement this year is a robotic pool vacuum that helps with the laborious but critical task of cleaning swimming pool walls and floors. Dubbed Darryl by his grateful coworkers, he has improved the efficiency of pool operations.
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Rain, Rain Go Away
During the summer's many rain storms, Parks & Rec crews worked around the clock clearing debris and repairing washouts at over 20 locations. Sewer and Storm Drain personnel from the DPW Highway and Environmental Protection divisions provided tremendous support with multiple park and trail issues.
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1 on the sides, 2 on top
Parks & Rec crews were busy this year at Prout Park, where they installed new netting along the baseball field third base line, removed vegetation overgrowth, and took down an old fence.
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Summer Staff
We would like to recognize the hard work of our summer seasonal staff, from camp counselors to lifeguards and everyone in between. Without them, we would not be able to offer our programs or open our aquatics facilities. Their enthusiasm, dedication (and occasional dose of silliness) is appreciated.
Hiring for summer 2024 begins in March. Join the fun!
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