Rec Department pushes Kohl Center study as fields remain overused; masters-plan update proposed

The Recreation and Parks Department told the Select Board that the Kohl Center is at capacity for after‑school and teen programming, that storage consumes roughly one‑third of the building, and that the gym is too small for many programs. Director Lauren Moyer asked the board for a blessing to use available funds to complete a feasibility study and conceptual designs for future recreation space at the Kohl Center site in West Natick.

Moyer also presented field-use data showing heavy demand: the town stewards 22 fields and many are scheduled for more than the recommended municipal-use hours, producing wear, compaction and unsafe playing surfaces. "A majority of our fields in town are heavily used," she said, and staff recommended updating the 2016 park-and-field master plan to reprioritize projects, explore additional land acquisition and evaluate weatherproof-field and lighting upgrades.