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Recreation has shown tremendous growth this year in programming and enrollment. We have increased programming to include something for everyone from the toddlers to the senior citizens. We are committed to building on our successes of 2007.
Recreations largest accomplishment in 2007 was the progress made on the new recreation fields on Old County Road. The fields are all installed including irrigation; the road into the park along with the driveway and parking areas are all paved; the concession, maintenance, storage building is 98% complete; and plans are under way for the final work on the base paths and the playscape. We will be using the fields in the Spring of 2008. Thank you Plaistow! for your support of this project and your understanding of field availability in 2007 season.
Senior programming has evolved to include health and welfare activities aimed at improving the quality of life for our Plaistow Seniors. Medical, nutrition, arts & crafts and entertainment programs; along with monthly socials and trips are available for our senior community. Many seniors took advantage of a three day overnight visit to the Beacon Resort. Other senior trips to Lake Sunapee, Lighthouse Tour, the theatre and Fosters Clambake were all great successes. This year we were able to make Christmas a little more special for over 50 seniors with our senior support program from the community. We are very proud of this program. Plaistow sponsors the arts and crafts, knitting, special lectures, monthly teas and socials, monthly luncheons and trips at the Vic Geary Senior Center.
Baseball and Softball enrollment has increased in all divisions. Softball had a very exciting season playing in the Babe Ruth Division. We had our growing pains as this was a brand new league for Plaistow and all the other towns we usually play with. It proved to be a good experience for the girls to excel in skills and experience in playing softball on many different venues. Baseball added an additional Major League team. Parents and coaches worked together with us so we could accommodate 13 additional boys that would not have had a place to play. We used a lot of creativity with the use of the middle school fields to make this happen. Both baseball and softball added a new pony division for our 6 and 7 years olds. Seven pony teams along with two scatter-t ball teams were added making a total number of 31 teams for the 2007 season.
Community events were a huge success. These included the East Egg Hunt for both toddlers and community, with a visit from the Easter Bunny on both days. Over 500 children participated in the egg hunts. Toddler Trick or Treat is a wonderful event that involves community businesses around the Town Hall that allow the children to go trick or treating. All children wear costumes and walk with their parents around the center of Plaistow for treats. Over 85 children participated in this event. The pancake breakfast for all baseball/softball players and their families serves over 225 people. This is a great spirit building event where families can meet other families in town and players eat and talk with other players. Recreation took three trips in to see the World Series Champions Boston Red Sox, along with other trips in to see “Wicked”, “Respect”, Yankee Candle and Disney on Ice.
The largest Plaistow Recreation activity is the summer recreation program. This program is one I am extremely proud of. The staff works very hard to give the children a day jam-packed with activities, sports and events. Children spend the day playing with old friends or they make new friends to experience a fun filled day. Activities consist of sports, arts & crafts, games, drama, play ground and much more. Field trips to Cedardale Outing Center, Canobie Lake Park, Wallis Sands State Beach, Movies, Bowling and Miniature Golf give the children a chance to experience a field trip with their group. To round off the summer recreation experience we have theme weeks and special days during the six week program. Some of these are - frog day, under the sea week, red/white/blue week, carnival week, hat day and color day. The children did a food
drive for the food pantry, a penny drive for the Lions Club less fortunate and cards were made for the Plaistow Seniors who can not get out.
In closing I would like to thank all the volunteers who coached, team parented and assisted our children during our baseball and softball seasons. Thank you to all the businesses and Town Departments who take part in Toddler Trick or Treat; thank you to all the parents who support the summer program whether chaperoning or collecting supplies for us; thank you to the Plaistow Lions who support recreation programming for children less fortunate; thank you to Wal Mart and Home Depot for your continuous support. Thank you to the town employees. Since Recreation is a department of one, I would not be able to accomplish all the events that Recreation offers without their support. Special thanks to the Plaistow Highway Department for their endless support and caring about our programs. In closing the Recreation Department and Commission would like
to thank the residents of Plaistow for their support of the Recreation warrant article to finish the new fields on Old County Road. We look forward to the opening of the fields in spring of 2008. Thank you Plaistow, we can’t wait for our toddlers, children, adults and seniors to use these new fields.
Respectfully submitted,
Carli Malette
Recreation Director
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