Parks board presses for electronic town sign and power for Commons projects

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board met and discussed advancing infrastructure for the Town Commons, including plans for an electronic, Wi‑Fi enabled community sign and power to support seasonal amenities such as an ice rink.

The chair opened the meeting and moved to approve the March minutes before the board turned to updates on the Town Commons project. Members reported that the town has pulled the grid tickets and that the installation may qualify as a new service rather than an upgrade; if that is the case, the town could receive the connection at little or no cost and use previously approved funds for additional street and amenity work. Board members said they will push the installation as far as the funds allow so the project can accommodate lighting, power for an ice rink and other community uses.

Board members discussed an electronic sign that would be internet-enabled and capable of displaying emergency notices, including Amber Alerts, as well as community events. One member recalled a rough estimate of about $20,000 for a sign from several years ago but noted costs have fluctuated since then. The board agreed to ask accounting for the parks-and-recreation trust fund balance and a transaction register for the past five years to determine whether the sign or portions of it could be funded from that account or from a technology fund.

Members also described a volunteer-led community calendar project under development by the town’s economic development partners and a high school volunteer; the calendar could provide standard content for the sign and reduce reliance on hard-to-read banners. The board asked staff to coordinate with grant managers and the Greenway timeline where applicable, and to pursue grant opportunities for complementary items such as parking-lot work associated with a kayak launch and trailhead improvements.

The board did not take a final funding vote during the meeting; members agreed to obtain account transaction records and cost estimates before returning with recommendations. The group scheduled follow-up coordination with grant staff and stakeholders as the next procedural step.