The Town of Concord Recreation Department invites members of the public to gather in the gymnasium at the Hunt Recreation Center on Thursday March 8, 2023 from 5:00-7:30pm for a first Public Meeting to help update the Concord Recreation Facilities Strategic Plan (RFSP). Concord Recreation, together with design firm Weston & Sampson, is conducting an assessment to understand opportunities and challenges in the town’s current recreational facilities and to guide operational, staffing and budgeting decisions for Concord Recreation and other key town departments. The study has been funded through Community Preservation Act funds and has a target completion date of late fall 2023.

Public input for the RFSP will be ongoing through the life of the project and will begin with an online survey and several public events, both in person and virtual, throughout spring 2023. The first public meeting will be held on March 8, 2023 as an interactive and inclusive open house broken into three parts: first, attendees can visit tables manned by our team to discuss topics such as current recreation facilities and programs, improved accessibility and inclusivity, or water access points to launch a kayak or canoe along the many rivers and ponds in Concord. A short presentation will then follow to introduce the plan and its purpose, share what the planning team has learned to date from site visits and the online survey, and engage residents on what sort of future interventions they might like to see in their community. A Question-and-Answer session will wrap up the evening with additional time provided for any final visits to the topical tables. For parents, guardians, and caregivers of children who wish to attend this open house, childcare will be provided at the Hunt Recreation Center by the Concord Recreation Department, for free. Advanced registration for childcare is encouraged and can be done so by calling Concord Recreation at 978-287-1050 or by pre-registering online via this link. All input will be incorporated into the RFSP’s vision and recommendations, forming a roadmap to guide decision-making for recreation in Concord for the next decade of use.

Throughout 2023 as the RFSP planning process continues, Concord residents are encouraged to stay involved by visiting the RFSP website and by follow Concord Recreation on Facebook and Instagram. Look for us at future community events as well!

Community members are encouraged to take a multilingual online survey to contribute their opinions on Concord’s current recreation services. Available until mid-April 2023, the survey is available in English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese. Other languages and braille can be made available, by request. Informational flyers will be posted at Town parks, the Hunt Recreation Center and other locations throughout town and will include a QR code for people to access the survey directly on a smartphone device. Hard copies of the survey will be available in the languages mentioned above at Town Hall, the Concord Public Library, the Beede Swim and Fitness Center, the Council on Aging, and the Hunt Recreation Center to name a few.