Over the last several months, the Hudson Park Commission – Division of Recreation has been working with Weston & Sampson to develop a Recreation Master Plan. The completed Recreation Master Plan will be posted on our website in the coming weeks and a hard copy will also be available at the Recreation Office.
PURPOSE:
-The Recreation Master Plan will serve as the mechanism to implement
improvements/redevelopment of existing facilities and the development of new
recreation facilities for the Town of Hudson.
-It will provide cost
estimates for capital improvement projects, address accessibility and safety
concerns, and overall improvements to existing facilities.
-It will provide
the Park Commission with a comprehensive roadmap for successful and attainable
short and long-term facility improvements to meet the needs of the community
(current & future).
PRIORITIES & DESIRED OUTCOMES:
-Identify ways to improve existing recreation facilities to meet current and
future community needs via unbiased assessment of existing programs and
facilities.
-Develop and recommend facility scheduling procedures and targeted field
maintenance program to improve athletic field sustainability while optimizing
playability, safety and usage (current & future)
-Identify up to three (3) viable locations for development of a Dog Park
-Identify up to three (3) viable locations for development of a central
Community Playground (non-school)
-Identify up to three (3) viable locations for development of Outdoor
Basketball Courts
-Explore and identify ideal locations for a Community Recreation Center/Field
House based on currently available parcels
-Create Concept Plans (min. 2) for an undeveloped parcel (commonly referred to
as Albertini or Meers Property, Wilkins
Street containing 16.52 acres), highlighting the advantages/disadvantages of
each and how they relate to the overall Recreation Master Plan
-Demonstrate how improvements to some parcels may increase connectivity between
Passive Parks, the Assabet River, and existing Open Space (Conservation
Land/Trails)
-Determine full cost estimates for any proposed facility improvements and
identify potential funding strategies
CONCLUSION:
At the Park Commission meeting held on February 12, 2020 the Park Commission in
conjunction with the Recreation Department staff outlined short, mid and
long-term implementation approaches associated with this project that will be
integrated into our annual budgeting process and used to support future capital
improvements. These decisions
were guided by the direct input received via the master planning process, as
well as the input gathered as part of the Community Survey and Visioning
Session held in 2018. The Park Commission believes the
implementation approach outlined below will provide the most impactful and
meaningful facility improvements throughout our community.
Below is the preferred Recreation Master Plan implementation approach:
Short-term: Improve overall facility maintenance with emphasis
on athletic playing fields, move forward in design and site development of
Moulton Field and a Dog Park located at Sauta Fields
Mid-Term: Move forward in design and site development of Wood & Apsley
Park, Albertini Property and Cherry Street
Long-Term: Move forward in design and site development of a Lower Sauta Fields
and Riverside Park (inclusive of parking lot, tennis courts, playground, Rimkus
Clubhouse, baseball field, Morgan Bowl fields and nature trail)
The Park Commission also noted:
- While most of the projects listed above carry high
implementation costs, it is important that smaller items are not overlooked
especially those that pose potential safety concerns.
-That collaboration between key community stakeholders and
existing facility user groups is beneficial and may serve as a means to fund
certain project components.
- That the concepts developed and included in Recreation Master
Plan are subject to change via the final design process that will need to be undertaken
in order to further refine and develop the necessary documents to construct the
shown improvements and/or changes at each of the facilities.
Additionally…The 2018 Community Survey and Visioning Session
identified various facility specific improvements/additions such as Dog Park,
Community/Central Playground, Recreation Center, Outdoor Basketball Courts,
More Walking/Hiking Trails, Turf Field and Pool. As part of our short-term implementation
approach, we hope to incorporate the following items into our plans:
-Dog Park (Sauta Fields, Main Street)
-Community Playground/Central Playground (Moulton Field,
Marion Street)
-Outdoor Basketball Courts (Sauta Fields, Main Street and/or
Moulton Field, Marion Street)
In order to move these initial projects forward the next
steps are as follows:
1. Secure funding to develop site specific plans and
construction documents
2. Execute site design development process
3. Secure funding for construction
4. Execute construction phase
In closing it is important to note that the implementation approach identified above is subject to change based on available funding and/or as additional opportunities to advance recreation services for the residents of Hudson become available. If residents are interested in learning more about the Recreation Master Plan or want to get involved in future projects, please contact Hudson Recreation directly.
