Around Town

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.

Around Town

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.

Around Town

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.

Around Town

Field at East End Park to be Closed for Multiple Months

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The City of Watertown announced that one of the fields at an East End Park will be closed to let it recover from high use. The City sent out the following announcement:

The Watertown Department of Public Works (DPW) and Recreation Department have concluded that the Filippello (Grove) Field should be shut down due to poor field conditions. Due to overuse and weather the turfgrass went into winter in rough condition and will not recover unless it is allowed to rest. There is extreme wear on the east end of 11 v 11 soccer layout caused by shading of trees, which prevents area from drying out after rain events. We will take an aggressive approach to renovation (aeration/seeding/fertilization/topdressing) over the next 3 months and expect the field to fully recover for Fall ’24 sports.

Around Town

Recreation Department Considering Adding Pickleball at Watertown Park

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The following announcement was provided by the Recreation Department:

Do you love pickleball? If so, join the Department of Recreation for a Community Meeting at the Hosmer School on Tuesday, February 20 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the potential of adding permanent pickleball courts at the Filippello Park courts off of Grove Street. Please select this link for more details: Community Meeting – Filippello Park Courts – Repurpose for Pickleball

Around Town

Watertown’s Fall Recreation Programs Begin Soon

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This fall, the Watertown Recreation Department will run multiple sports programs for all ages, as well as some crafting groups. The session begins on Monday, Sept. 11. Programs include Sports programs for PreK, Juniors (grades K-2), All Sports (grades 3-5), plus flag football, youth tennis, youth volleyball. Middle school students can participate in volleyball school basketball open gym.

Sports

Watertown Summer Basketball League Final Going to Deciding Game 3

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Action in the 2022 Papas Elite Summer Basketball League at the court behind the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. by Lindsay Graham

Number 2 seed and defending champion New Day forced a deciding Game 3 to even the 2023 Watertown Recreation Summer Basketball League Championship series following a 62-54 comeback, victory in overtime over top seed Donohue’s Kaos Club. Trailing by six, 27-21, at halftime, New Day went on an extended run midway through the second half. Stonehill graduate Andre Tongo was the spark in New Day’s comeback, dropping 13 of his team-high 15 points in the second half. Amherst’s Johnny McCarthy followed up with 12 points, while Akeem Williams rounded out the trio in double figures with 10 points.

Around Town

Recreation Department Hosting Walking Tour, Discussion of Renovation Plans for Casey Park

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Plans for the renovation of the baseball field and playground at Casey Park. (Courtesy of CDM Smith)

The following announcement was provided by the Recreation Department:

The Watertown Recreation Department in partnership with the Department of Public Works will host an onsite public meeting at Casey Park on Thursday, Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. to present recreational facility renovation plans for the remaining sections of Casey Park which were not completed in our Phase I renovation several years back. Glenn Howard, Design Consultant from CDM Smith with lead the presentation for the City of Watertown. On Site Community Meeting – Casey Park

An overhead view of Casey Park.