Parks & Recreation outlines Hollow Park master plan steps; pickleball court to be raised out of floodplain

Graham Musson, Woodbury’s Parks & Recreation director, reviewed operations and capital needs during the Jan. 24 joint budget workshop and led an extended discussion on the Hollow Park Master Plan.

Musson said a 6% utilities increase in his budget reflects estimated actuals caused by energy inefficiencies at specific sites. He explained that program instructor fees, plus an administrative fee, allow many programs to operate without subsidies. He described how field maintenance is handled and noted limited opportunities to share equipment with neighboring towns.

Discussion then focused on the Hollow Park Master Plan, particularly the pond area. The boards asked that engineering plans be developed now so designs are ready next year; Musson was urged to coordinate with the America250 committee on activities tied to that celebration. Musson said the planned pickleball court will be elevated out of the floodplain; permitting work will be the focus this year with construction slated for the following year. Concerns about noise and neighbor impacts were raised; Musson said the river and site placement should minimize noise effects.

Capital items identified for parks included painting and roof repairs to the observation tower, structural stabilization of the Lions-built bandstand on the north green, and window replacement at the Rec House. Musson noted that accepting a state preservation grant for Rec House exterior work constrains subsequent alterations to match State Historic Preservation Office requirements and the Historic District Commission’s standards.

Boards discussed reserving $30,000 from a Long Island Sound grant for river engineering after a 50/50 matching grant failed to materialize; members stated those funds must be preserved in capital planning.