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Watertown Hosting Community Paddle With Short and Long Courses

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Watertown Recreation will host a paddling event on the Charles River open to all ages and abilities. See more details provided by the City of Watertown, below. Join Watertown Recreation on Saturday, May 9, 2026, for a morning of community fun featuring an on-water competition and family-friendly shore activities, highlighting the amazing resource that is the Charles River. Choose the Cookie Chase Family Fun Race or the 5-Mile Community Paddle. Boat Rentals: Canoes and kayaks are available to rent through Paddle Boston.

Around Town

Watertown Receives Statewide Award for Arsenal Park Renovation

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The sign welcoming people to Arsenal Park.(Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Watertown’s newest park renovation received a statewide award at the Massachusetts Recreation and Park Association Conference in Springfield this week. Recreation Director Ernie Thebado accepted the 2026 Agency of the Year: Design of Facility award for the Arsenal Park project, which reopened in the summer of 2025. The award is given to cities, towns, and state agencies which have created innovative park concepts and ideas. Thebado was joined by members of the Recreation and Community Development and Planning departments along with representatives from CDM Smith, the park’s design consultant, at the ceremony at the MassMutual Center on March 24. Thebado said he believes Arsenal Park received recognition because has something for everyone, including a towering play structure.

Around Town

Recreation Department Looking at Starting Youth Field Hockey Program, Sent Out Survey

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The Watertown Recreation Department provided the following announcement:

Please fill out our Interest Survey

Watertown Recreation is exploring the possibility of launching a Youth Travel Field Hockey Team to join the Baystate Youth Field Hockey League in the Fall of 2026. Before moving forward, we’d like to gauge interest from families in the community. Your feedback will help us determine whether this program is viable. Proposed Program Structure

Grades 1–4

1 Practice Per Week

Sunday Morning Games (8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.) 

Grades 5–8

2 Practices Per Week

Sunday Morning Game (8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.) 

Estimated Cost: $150–$190 per playerhttps://forms.gle/7XhhAJhqNqqyqSxq7

Around Town

New Policy for Lights at City Fields and Courts Approved by City Council

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A new policy was approved for lights at Watertown’s Recreation facilities, including Saltonstall Park, home to the Papas Elite Summer Basketball League. (Photo by Natalie Nigito Photography)

A new policy for controlling lights at Recreation Department-run fields and courts was approved by the City Council on Aug. 12, despite some confusion coming out of the Committee meeting on the issue. The purpose of the policy, said Councilor Tony Palmoba (chair of the Committee on Parks and Recreation) is to have effective lighting while balancing community needs, public access and energy conservation. Generally, lights will turn on at fields and courts at sunset and turn off at designated closing times.

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Free Activities, Movie & Food at Event Hosted by Watertown Police & Recreation Departments

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The Watertown Police and Recreation departments will host a family event with activities, music, food, followed by a movie on Tuesday, Aug. 5. National Night Out will take place on Aug. 5 from 5-8 p.m. at the park behind the Police Station 552 Main St., said Watertown Police Lt. Kevin McManus. “The Recreation Department has done a movie night with us, hosted out back (behind the station),” McManus said.

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Arsenal Park Picnic, Pavilion Permit Applications Now Available

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Arsenal Park’s renovation is nearly complete and the Watertown Recreation Department will accept permit applications for picnics and the pavilion. See more in the Recreation Department’s announcement, below. Watertown Recreation is now accepting Picnic & Pavilion Permit Applications! 

Reservations are available for dates on or after July 16th, 2025 — we are not accepting reservations for earlier dates. We’re excited to roll out new pricing and brand-new Pavilion rental options (includes multiple picnic tables and more)! Filippello Park reservations now require their own specific application.

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Longtime Employee Named Watertown’s New Recreation Director

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Ernie Thebado was named Watertown’s new Director of Recreation. (Photo by Peter Centola)

The City of Watertown provided the following announcement:

Congratulations to Ernie Thebado, the City of Watertown’s new permanent Recreation Director effective Monday, July 29, 2024. Ernie has been a pillar of the Watertown Recreation Department since he was hired as the Assistant Director in 2008. In this role Ernie oversaw the Department’s programs, services, and events; expanded programming; cultivated strong partnerships between the City and community groups like Wayside and the Boys and Girls Club; and served as a trusted point of contact for the community and City staff. Prior to joining the City, Ernie worked for the Watertown Boys and Girls Club for 20 years, most recently as the Assistant Executive Director, where he oversaw all programming as well as the day-to-day operations of the organization and the facility.

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New Spray Pad Will Keep Kids Cool at East Watertown Park

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Children enjoy the new spray pad at Filippello Park in East Watertown. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

On a warm afternoon, dozens of children waited patiently for City officials to declare the new and improved spray pad at Filippello Park open so they could run through the cooling streams of water. Friday’s ribbon cutting marked the official opening of the new feature that has 15 spray features, including geysers, an aquadome, a lunar cannon and a palm tree on 2,500 sq. ft. of non-porous rubber play surface.