2026-09-24 - Parks & Recreation Commission

00:11Call to order this Parks Commission

00:13meeting of September 24th, 2026. Millie,

00:17uh roll call, please.

00:19>> Commissioner Cechneroni

00:21>> Here.

00:22>> Commissioner Doughty

00:24>> Here.

00:25>> Commissioner Serrato

00:28>> Here.

00:29>> Commissioner Stratton

00:32>> Here.

00:33>> Commissioner Turner

00:35>> Here.

00:38>> Moving on, has everybody had a chance to

00:40look at the minutes from June 30th? Any

00:43comments, questions, or motions?

00:47>> I'll make a motion to approve.

00:48>> Who was that?

00:49>> I haven't seen them.

00:52>> They were attached.

00:55>> Yeah, Natalie probably didn't get it cuz

00:57I thought she was done, so she probably

01:00has not received those.

01:02>> Okay.

01:02>> They are online on the agenda online.

01:07>> I only saw just the agenda. Um that's

01:09fine. I can look at them later, but I'll

01:11abstain from um

01:12>> Yeah, aside from Natalie, we still have

01:14four people that can vote on this if we

01:15have to. So,

01:17so if if we have a Do we have a motion

01:19to

01:20a second?

01:22>> Second.

01:23>> To approve, okay.

01:24>> Seconded.

01:25>> Was that Andy?

01:27>> No, Eric.

01:27>> I made the motion.

01:29>> Andy made the motion, Eric made the

01:30second.

01:31>> Okay.

01:32>> Uh no, Brian Brian made the second.

01:34>> Brian.

01:35>> [laughter]

01:36>> We need little hands on those screens,

01:37okay.

01:41Millie?

01:42>> Oh, Commissioner Cechneroni

01:44>> Yes.

01:44>> Commissioner Doughty

01:47>> Yes.

01:47>> Commissioner Serrato

01:49>> Yes.

01:50>> Commissioner Stratton

01:53>> Yes.

01:53>> And Commissioner Turner, you abstain.

01:56>> Abstain, thank you.

01:58>> Okay.

01:59Moving forward to the public

02:00participation portion of this meeting,

02:02there will be a 2-hour time limit for

02:04the meeting unless a majority of the

02:05commission members present vote to

02:06extend the allotted time. I don't think

02:09we'll hit that today.

02:10Um any person may speak for no more than

02:123 minutes in total on any item appearing

02:15on the agenda.

02:17So, at this point I'll open the floor if

02:18anybody would like to speak on any item

02:20on the agenda.

02:26Anyone online?

02:27>> Nope.

02:28>> Nope.

02:29Uh Rob, we'll go to the commissioner's

02:30report.

02:34>> Uh thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

02:36Uh so, a couple of quick things. There's

02:37no documents on these yet, but they will

02:39be coming as we move forward in the next

02:42coming months. Uh so, Newton Hill at Elm

02:45Park master plan update.

02:48Uh so, if you remember back in two uh

02:51May and June, uh we had some initial

02:54designs that came forward. Uh we have

02:57now taken those designs and uh put those

03:02into one single design. So, we had eight

03:04designs from the students at UMass

03:08Amherst. We've taken those and put those

03:10into one main design for

03:14uh for review. Uh that will be coming to

03:16the commission at our next meeting in

03:18October.

03:19Uh and

03:22that particular design tries to

03:24encompass

03:26bits and pieces of what the students did

03:29as well as what we heard at the meetings

03:32um as well as what's currently on site.

03:35So, we've done some legwork on that and

03:38we'll be bringing that forward for the

03:39next meeting.

03:41So, Mr. Chairman, I would recommend just

03:43filing this item since we'll be bringing

03:45it back with a uh co- color rendering of

03:49of what the the proposal is.

03:53>> I'll a motion to file.

03:56>> Second.

04:01>> Commissioner Tatchioni?

04:02>> Yes.

04:03>> Commissioner Addonizio?

04:05>> Yes.

04:06>> Commissioner Saraiello?

04:08>> Yes.

04:08>> Commissioner Stratton?

04:11>> Yes.

04:12>> Commissioner Turner?

04:14>> Yes.

04:20>> Uh the next item is the Worcester Common

04:22Master Plan.

04:23Uh so, as you remember, we've had a

04:26couple of meetings taking input from

04:28the community on

04:30uh changes on the Worcester Common.

04:33We've also met separately with the DCU

04:37Center staff that run the ice rink uh as

04:40well as uh the cultural office in

04:43regards to um areas of that would be

04:47beneficial to both events on the common

04:50as well as uh if we were to keep the ice

04:53rink

04:54the ice rink as well.

04:56And so, those items have been

04:57implemented. Again, we'll be looking to

04:59bring that to the commission at the next

05:02meeting with a more uh detailed design

05:05and a presentation a little bit more of

05:08a presentation on that than the Newton

05:09Hill

05:10piece just because there's a lot more

05:12detail

05:14and some changes in there that we want

05:15to be able to present

05:18um to get uh a final input on that

05:21design.

05:22Uh there will be multiple steps after

05:24that uh particularly um

05:27that will need to go through, but for

05:29now, that will be our next step. So, the

05:31October meeting we're planning to have

05:34uh the

05:35uh the master plan for the Worcester

05:37Common

05:38uh for the

05:39final conceptual design.

05:43Mr. Chairman, I would recommend just

05:45filing this item since we'll be coming

05:47back with it.

05:50>> I'll make a motion to file.

05:54>> Second.

05:56>> Natalie.

05:57>> Commissioner Chuchro and I

05:59>> Yes.

06:00>> Commissioner Doherty

06:03>> Yes.

06:03>> Commissioner Serrato

06:05>> Yes.

06:06>> Commissioner Stratton

06:09>> Yes.

06:10>> Commissioner Turner

06:13>> Yes.

06:16>> Mr. Chairman, the uh next item is the

06:18South Wester playground construction

06:20update. Uh just as a quick update, we've

06:24uh already started construction down

06:26there. This includes the handball court

06:28and basketball court. Uh additionally,

06:32uh as of today, we just finished the

06:34safety surfacing on the playground.

06:37Uh so, that was more of a

06:39I guess I would call a renov- like a

06:42soft renovation, cuz all we were doing

06:44was the

06:45the

06:46the surfacing there. We didn't take any

06:48any of the equipment out or anything

06:49along those lines or make major changes

06:52to it. Whereas with

06:55the basketball court and the wall, we're

06:58going to be making

06:59uh major changes to that. So, uh in any

07:02case,

07:03uh it's up if that's that If anybody

07:05wants to take a look at it, it's the

07:07corner of Camping Cambridge. And uh that

07:10is under construction right now. We

07:11anticipate that completion of that uh in

07:14June of 2027.

07:17Mr. Chairman, I would uh recommend

07:19filing this item, and as we begin to

07:21move forward with more construction, we

07:23can bring updates at that time.

07:26>> Anything from the rest of the

07:27commission?

07:30>> No. I'm Simply just excited to hear

07:32about the handball court.

07:37>> Likewise.

07:39I'll make a motion to file.

07:40>> Brian.

07:41>> Second.

07:42>> Second.

07:42>> Andy.

07:45>> Commissioner Chatcheroni?

07:46>> Yes.

07:48>> Commissioner Doughty?

07:50>> Yes.

07:51>> Commissioner Serrato?

07:53>> Yes.

07:54>> Commissioner Stratton?

07:57>> Yes.

07:58>> Commissioner Turner?

08:00>> Yes.

08:05>> Mr. Chairman, our next item is the

08:06Lakeview Park construction project. Uh

08:09again, that project has been under

08:11construction since July.

08:13Uh we are moving along. Uh we were held

08:16up a little bit regarding some

08:18soil-related items that

08:20um have been addressed at this point. Uh

08:23and work will continue. Uh this site we

08:26anticipate that again we'll open it up

08:28in the spring, late spring probably

08:32uh May-June of 2027.

08:35Uh and it includes a new basketball

08:38court, a full-size basketball court with

08:40lights, playground,

08:42uh shelter, grass area,

08:46um some additional

08:48uh native plants that we're looking to

08:50work with the native plant initiative on

08:52planting,

08:53uh and that kind of stuff. So, again, I

08:55would recommend filing that item.

08:58And if you need if you'd like to go

09:00there, it's adjacent to the Lakeview

09:02um elementary school,

09:05uh which is on Colburn Ave. In Lakeview,

09:07it's a corner of Colburn and Lakeview.

09:09So, uh

09:10if there's any questions, happy to take

09:11it, but I would recommend filing that

09:13item as well.

09:16>> I'll make a motion to file.

09:20>> Second.

09:24>> Commissioner Chatcheroni?

09:25>> Yes.

09:26>> Commissioner Doughty?

09:28>> Yes.

09:29>> Commissioner Serrato?

09:31>> Yes.

09:31>> Commissioner Stratton?

09:36>> Yes.

09:36>> Commissioner Turner?

09:38>> Yes.

09:42>> Mr. Chairman, the last item on my agenda

09:44is the aquatics update. So, we have

09:49on our end

09:51completed the third year

09:54of our aquatic contract with the YMCA.

09:58We will be looking to go back out to RFP

10:03for those services. The the process and

10:07the ability of retaining

10:10as well as training lifeguards was

10:13greatly simplified by using the Y that

10:16has the resources.

10:18And I mean when I mean resources, pools,

10:21trainers, availability of staff to be

10:24able to

10:25staff our facility. So, we're going to

10:27be going back out for that for that RFP

10:32in Novemberish

10:34and and hopefully have it all lined up

10:36for December of this year. So, other

10:39than that, everything was good. We did

10:40have some closures unfortunately due to

10:44water

10:46quality

10:47items particularly at Coes and at Indian

10:50Lake.

10:51But, other than that, the structure of

10:54the

10:55lifeguarding piece was

10:57phenomenal and it worked out really

10:58well.

11:01I would recommend filing this item as

11:03well.

11:05>> Any questions?

11:06>> to file.

11:08>> Second.

11:11>> Commissioner Tataranni?

11:12>> Yes.

11:13>> Commissioner Doherty?

11:15>> Yes.

11:16>> Commissioner Serrano?

11:18>> Yes.

11:19>> Commissioner Stratton?

11:23>> Yes.

11:23>> Commissioner Turner?

11:26>> Yes.

11:29>> Moving on to old business. The

11:31individual organization or group who has

11:33placed an item on the agenda may speak

11:35for no more than 5 minutes in total on

11:37the time they have submitted on the item

11:39they have submitted. Um item A, the

11:41request from Park Spirit of Worcester to

11:43discuss additional questions based on

11:45the attached documents

11:47from October the October 16th meeting

11:49of 2025 and the city of Worcester

11:52responses that pertains to park land use

11:54for non-park purposes.

11:57Um Correcting the

11:58>> Mr. Chairman, uh So,

12:01we do not have a final draft from the

12:03law department regarding that particular

12:05item. I anticipate we'll have that for

12:07the next meeting. Um but at this time I

12:10um as you can see in the document, I

12:12don't have anything else to share on

12:14that particular item.

12:17My recommendation would be is to keep it

12:19in old business for the October meeting.

12:25>> Anyone

12:25>> And uh just because I'm not there,

12:28is there anyone from Park Spirit who is

12:30there?

12:30>> They are. Did Do you want to

12:34It's technically your item, so you can

12:35if you have the if you have

12:42>> I'm Lee Miller from um

12:44treasurer of Park Spirit. Um just was

12:47speaking on this, it'll be good to

12:48definitely get some answers on that

12:50since it's been well, if it goes to

12:52October, 1 full year since those were

12:53submitted in there.

12:55So, we do want to figure out um

12:58where the legal department stands on

13:00those things as well as what we can do

13:01to get addressed some of these documents

13:03that uh

13:05yeah, just need to be addressed to make

13:06sure they're valid and uh

13:08current out there.

13:10So, that's that's all I have.

13:18>> Anyone from the commission?

13:24>> I'm I'm to make a motion to keep this in

13:26old business.

13:27>> Okay.

13:28Is that Eric?

13:29>> I'll second it.

13:32>> Commissioner Chacharone.

13:33>> Yes.

13:34>> Commissioner Doherty.

13:38>> Yes.

13:38>> Commissioner Serrano.

13:41>> Yes.

13:42>> Commissioner Stratton.

13:45>> Yes.

13:46>> Commissioner Turner.

13:48>> Yes.

13:51>> Item B, the request of

13:52District 1 City Councillor on the re

13:54renaming of the Great Brook Valley

13:56Playground in honor of Roberto Clemente

13:58with a final vote set for June 11th.

14:01Um I don't think we have any updated

14:03information on this.

14:04>> So, Mr. Chairman, um

14:06we do not uh there has not been a final

14:08resolution to this. So, my

14:10recommendation at this point is to

14:13um

14:14take it off the table, just file it for

14:16now, and when

14:18something comes forward, it'll be just

14:21part of new business at that point. Um

14:23depending on what the naming is, who the

14:25naming's for. I think it'll just be

14:27cleaner to be able to do it that way uh

14:30than to

14:33than to keep it on old business at this

14:34point in time. And and it will it will

14:36automatically

14:38go

14:39in new business as an item on that

14:41month. So, it doesn't It's not like it's

14:42going to be tabled and we got to take it

14:44off the table. I would just file it and

14:46then whatever happens happens.

14:48>> I have no issue with Anyone else have an

14:49issue with that?

14:51>> I'll make a motion to file.

14:56>> Do I have a second? Okay.

14:58>> I'll second it.

14:59>> Eric.

15:02>> Commissioner Chacharone.

15:03>> Yes.

15:04>> Commissioner Doherty.

15:06>> Yes.

15:07>> Commissioner Serrano.

15:10>> Yes.

15:11>> Commissioner Turner.

15:17>> Yes.

15:20>> Moving forward, there is no new business

15:22on the agenda.

15:24Um we have no tabled business on the

15:26agenda.

15:28Does any commissioner have anything else

15:29they want to bring up before before we

15:31make a motion?

15:33>> Make a motion to adjourn.

15:37>> Second.

15:37>> [laughter]

15:39>> Milly?

15:39>> Hi.

15:40>> Commissioner

15:40>> I have a

15:41question.

15:43Are Are we set up as a board of having a

15:46a proper chairman at this point?

15:48>> So, through the chair

15:50>> Right.

15:50>> So, through the chair, no. Um we will

15:53add that to the agenda for the next

15:54meeting uh for the appointment and

15:57approval of the next chairman

15:59chairperson, excuse me.

16:02>> All right, thank you. I was ready to

16:03make a motion. But

16:05>> Yeah, but Nick put it

16:06>> I thought about it after I'd already

16:08processed the

16:09um the agenda and it's not on the

16:11agenda, so we really can't do that. So,

16:13I've already made a note that I'll put

16:15that on for the next agenda.

16:17>> So, I won't mention the fact that I was

16:19in favor of

16:20>> Nick, sorry about that. All right.

16:21>> Who second the agenda?

16:23>> Eric.

16:25>> I second I second that.

16:28>> [laughter]

16:30>> Um Commissioner Chatto

16:32>> Andy and I are on the same board.

16:33>> Commissioner Doherty

16:38>> Yes.

16:38>> Commissioner Serrato

16:40>> Yes.

16:41>> Commissioner Stratton

16:44>> Yes.

16:44>> Commissioner Turner

16:47>> Oh, Scott, you're a little late, but

16:48hey.

16:50Yes, we're all done.

16:52>> Meeting adjourned.

16:52>> All right, thank you.

16:54>> All right, bye everybody.

16:56>> Bye.

16:56>> Bye.

16:58>> 6:52

16:59>> 6:53