Around Town

Field at East End Park to be Closed for Multiple Months

By |

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

By |

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

By |

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

By |

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

By |

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.

Around Town

Former Recreation Director Tom Sullivan Has Left His Mark on Watertown’s Parks and Youth

By |

Charlie BreitroseRecreation Department staff current and past: (from left) current Director Peter Centola, Assistant Director Ernie Thebado and former Director Tom Sullivan. From a young age, Tom Sullivan had an interest in parks, athletic fields and gyms. He even took detours on trips to get a closer look at something at a park in another community that caught his eye. On May 3, 1973, Sullivan walked into his office on the top floor of Town Hall (where the Planning Department is now), to start his career as Watertown Recreation Director. He served in that position for 36 years, and continues to lend a hand and provide advice 50 years later. Sullivan had worked for three years at what was known as the Waltham Boys Club prior to taking the job in Watertown.

Around Town

Recreation Department Filling Part Time & Seasonal Staff Jobs

By |

The City of Watertown sent out the following information:

The Watertown Recreation Department has a number of Part Time and Seasonal Staff Positions available:

Department-CIT-Park Instructor, Department-Jr. Counselor-Park Instructors, Department-Jr. Program Staff, Department-Park Instructor, Department-Park Ranger, Department-Program Staff, Department-Scorekeeper, Department-Ski Program Coordinator, Department-Ski Staff, Department-Special Needs Transportation, Department-Tennis (Other) Coordinator, Department-Tennis Counselor. Pequossette-Director, Pequossette-Associate Director, Pequossette-Assistant Director, Pequossette-Office Manager, Pequossette-Extended Day, Pequossette-Nurse, Pequossette-Specialist, Pequossette-Support Staff, Pequossette-Kitchen Staff, Pequossette-Senior Counselor, Pequossette-Counselor, Pequossette-Junior Counselor, Pequossette-Counselor in Training. If you are looking for employment to begin before the summer season, please complete your application and an interview will be scheduled with the Director of Recreation as soon as your application is completed. For all new applicants, the following documentation must be completed and returned to the Watertown Recreation Department as soon as employment is desired on or before Thursday, May 4, 2023. Applications could be accepted after this date depending on need but cannot be guaranteed.

Government

City Manager Outlines Schedule for Renovating Watertown Parks, Other Capital Projects

By |

City of WatertownAn aerial view of Victory Field. Multiple projects at the complex are on the City’s five year capital improvement plan. Watertown’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) includes preparing the former Parker School to house City departments, upgrades to the skating arena, park and recreation projects, and making municipal facilities more energy efficient and less reliant on fossil fuels. The proposed Watertown Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2024-28 includes $245.74 million in projects and equipment purchases, of which $161.39 million would be funded with general obligation bonds. City Manager George Proakis told the City Council on Tuesday that the numbers could change depending on the rising cost of construction, inflation, and how much tax revenue from new developments (known as new growth) occurs in Watertown.