Manchester Parks & Recreation
WINTER I 2023
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You may have noticed we hit the "pause button" on our newsletters last summer. We've taken this time to upgrade our production software and re-think our approach.
In this and future issues, you will see more topics, more pictures, and (with the exception of this intro) fewer words. Topics will be organized into three sections, described in detail below.
Manchester has so many outstanding amenities. Check out our new design and get inspired to enjoy them.
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Mark Gomez
Chief of Parks, Recreation & Cemetery
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Programs
& Events
Learn about Parks & Rec programming -- day camps, skating, swimming, tennis, pickleball, basketball, and more.
Keep tabs on events at McIntyre Ski Area, Derryfield Country Club, and downtown parks. No matter the season, there's something going on.
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Projects & Partnerships
Read about capital improvements, major repairs, volunteer stewardship, and our growing list of public-private partnerships.
With over 1,400 acres of parks, cemeteries, and school recreation areas, there is never a shortage of exciting projects to report on.
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Operations & Maintenance
Take a look behind the scenes and see how crews ensure fun, high-quality, and safe recreation.
From athletic field, swimming pool, and ice sheet preparation to holiday decorating and emergency storm response, personnel are busy year-round.
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Saturday Basketball Shootaround is an open-gym, winter-time program for kids ages 7-17. Shootarounds are held at Beech St School Gym every Saturday through March 25th.
Each age group is separated into 90-minute blocks. Stop by the gym and register any Saturday.
- 7-8 year-olds 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
- 9-10 year-olds 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
- 11-12 year-olds 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
- 13-17 year-olds 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM
The gym will also be open Monday - Friday from 9 AM to 12 PM during February School Vacation Week (2/27 to 3/3) for basketball shootarounds and a 3v3 basketball tournament.
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2023 Clem Lemire Tournament | |
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Registration is open for the 2023 Clem Lemire Tournament!
This hockey competition is split into an Elementary School Division (grades 3-5) and a Middle School Division (grades 6-8).
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Elementary School Division
Open to residents of Manchester, Goffstown, Bedford, Hooksett, Auburn, Londonderry, and Litchfield, plus residents of other towns who attend a Manchester school (public, private, or charter).
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Middle School Division
Open to Manchester residents, as well as non-residents who attend a Manchester school (public, private, or charter).
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Public Skating at JFK Coliseum
Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Saturdays & Sundays 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
February School Vacation Week (2/27 to 3/3)
Monday - Friday 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
$3 Children/Seniors
$5 Adults
$5 Skate Rental
Cash only
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Downhill Skiing, Boarding & Tubing | |
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Located on Parks & Rec land and operated privately, McIntyre Ski Area boasts 11 trails, a tubing area, a terrain park, a lodge, and stunning views -- all in the heart of Manchester.
Fantastic upgrades have been made in recent years. If you haven't visited lately, now's the time!
Snow-making equipment keeps the fun happening throughout the winter. Lessons and rentals are available.
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Seven inches of fresh snow fell on January 23, allowing us to open the cross-country ski trail at Derryfield Country Club.
The trail is groomed and available for use when there is six inches of snow cover. Recent warm weather has rendered it unskiable, but the trail will be open again if we get a sufficient amount of additional snow.
For access, park in the main lot. Enter the trail just north of the restaurant and pro shop. Please stay on the groomed path!
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Join us at Hallsville School Gym on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 9 AM to 11 AM for pickleball madness.
Adults only. Open to players of all abilities. Maximum of 12 participants per session.
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Sign your child up for Minds in Motion STEM Camps during February school vacation week at the Hallsville School Gym.
- Future Engineers 9 AM to 12 PM, ages 8-12
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Re/CO Robot 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM, ages 8-12
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Itching to play golf during those long New England winters?
Tucked away downstairs at the Derryfield Country Club is Mike Ryan’s Indoor Golf and Learning Center.
Practice your swing. Take lessons. Join a league. Food and drink are available from the restaurant upstairs.
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On October 5, the park at the intersection of Brown Avenue and Mitchell Street was formally rededicated as Barbara Shaw Park.
Barbara was a long-time public servant, educator, and alderman. On hand for the ceremony were family members, Mayor Joyce Craig, current and former aldermen, and many friends.
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In a collaboration among Parks & Rec, the Office of Economic Development and the Mayor's Office, the inaugural Spooktacular Fall Festival was held in downtown Manchester on October 28.
Costumed festival-goers enjoyed storefront trick-or-treating courtesy of Elm Street businesses. Parks & Rec provided music, games, and crafts at Stanton Plaza.
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Halloween at Weston Tower | |
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In the days leading up to Halloween, the Witch of Weston Tower returned to her perch atop Derryfield Park, overlooking the city.
For a small fee, visitors were transported by chairlift up Oak Hill. They were treated to candy, a spooky walk through the woods, and a climb up historic Weston Tower. The tower boasts exceptional views of Manchester and the Uncanoonuc Mountains in the distance.
Before and after their tour, participants could partake of food and drink at McIntyre Ski Area's Hill Bar and Grille, a family-friendly venue featuring indoor and outdoor seating and games.
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Livingston Park visitors couldn't help but notice something new taking shape this past Fall.
The beautiful garden pictured above is the work of The Brigit A. Feeney Foundation for Hope and Healing, a public charity whose mission is to provide resources for crime victims and the trained advocates who support them. The space has been thoughtfully designed for contemplation and connection.
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Last autumn, full restoration of the 144 year-old Veterans Park Civil War monument was completed.
This multi-year project included: cleaning of granite blocks; repairs to the fountain basin, water line and pump; electrical upgrades; and meticulous conservation of the bronze statues and decorative lamps.
Project management support from the DPW Highway Division was critical to completion of the work.
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Military Marker Restoration | |
Fourteen plaques throughout the city honoring Manchester natives who lost their lives serving their country have received some much-needed attention.
At the urging of Ward 10 Alderman Bill Barry, the markers were made available for adoption this past Fall. Donors stepped forward in short order, funding the conservation of the plaques and mounting posts.
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Memorial HS Soccer Building | |
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The Memorial High School Soccer Building is undergoing an extensive renovation. This beloved building has provided meeting rooms and restrooms to generations of Crusader athletes.
Repairs include structural reinforcement, concrete work, roof replacement and new siding.
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Weston Elementary School will be getting a new playground this summer to replace the existing one installed in 1998.
The new installation will be a multi-sensory playground featuring custom-designed components, integrated shade, and strategic use of rubberized surface and ramps to create fully inclusive play for children of all abilities.
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Piscataquog River Park Stewardship | |
On February 11, volunteers with the newly-formed Friends of Piscataquog River Park removed invasive species from this 135-acre recreation area full of nature and trails. Their efforts were supported by Lauren Zielinski, NH Water Resources Program Manager for Merrimack River Watershed Council. | |
On a rainy November Sunday, members of ASEZ WAO, an international young adult volunteer group, raked leaves, picked up litter, and cleared brush at Veteran's Memorial Park. | |
Valley Cemetery Volunteerism | |
The historic Valley Cemetery routinely benefits from the care and attention of a passionate group of volunteers. In 2022, these dedicated individuals cleared overgrowth, removed litter, and preserved monuments. | |
Operations & Maintenance | |
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The severe windstorm of December 23 resulted in widespread damage to trees across Manchester.
Our crews worked throughout the day and evening to remove street trees threatening homes and downed limbs blocking roads, then returned on Christmas Eve to do more of the same.
Hazards at 28 separate locations were abated over this two-day period.
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Manchester's two ice arenas (JFK Coliseum and West Side Arena) are in operation from late August through March. Teeming with activity throughout the season, JFK will host the NHIAA Division I hockey semi-finals on March 8.
In addition to overseeing a sophisticated mechanical system, arena personnel take actions such as flooding the ice (pictured above) to maintain an ideal two inches of thickness across the entire surface.
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Open Dorrs Policy
When winter arrives, many people dream of ice skating on Dorrs Pond at Livingston Park.
Personnel regularly monitor the thickness of the ice with the goal of opening the pond and warming hut for skating.
Unfortunately, there has not been a long enough stretch of sub-freezing temperatures this year to make the ice safe for skating.
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Winter provides an opportunity for maintenance crews to undertake large brush removal projects, such as the one recently completed at Pine Island Park (pictured above).
Similar work has been completed at Youngsville Park off Candia Road, allowing for views of Lake Massabesic in the distance.
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Winter Work at the Golf Course | |
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Did you know there are over 30 pieces of specialized cutting equipment used to manicure and maintain the Derryfield Country Club golf course?
Each winter, personnel strip down, repaint, rebuild, and sharpen these units to prepare for the upcoming season.
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Every year, crews from Parks & Rec and other Public Works divisions help decorate downtown Manchester for the holidays.
This past season, personnel worked closely with the Office of Economic Development to hang wreaths on archways, place a Christmas tree in Vets Park, and install colorful lights.
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Manchester's Park Rangers work daily to keep parks and trails clean and safe. A friendly presence, the rangers provide visitors with information, enforce park curfews, remove litter, handle minor ordinance violations, and haul away abandoned items. | |
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We are pleased to announce the promotion of Kelly Koetsier to Parks Operations Manager. Kelly replaces Tom Mattson, who served Manchester in this critical role for 17 years before his well-earned retirement in December.
Kelly has 15 years of public and private sector landscaping experience. He is a Certified Arborist, possesses a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Vermont, and has expert knowledge of a wide variety of equipment used in Parks & Rec operations.
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