Human Services

Recreation Commission

John Fossett, Chair
Michele O'Brien
Jim Jackson
Elizabeth Seabury
John Inman

In 2006 there were two major stories to report: the successful opening of the Beede Swim & Fitness Center and the Playing Fields Initiative.

Beede Center

The Beede Swim & Fitness Center opened on April 18, 2006. The Center is open year round, 102 hours a week and in less than a year's time it has achieved the position of operating on a self-supporting basis.

We would like to acknowledge and thank the Beede family for their vision and generous support that resulted in the creation of this wonderful asset for the entire community. We look forward to cc Pools formally transferring the Center to the Town next spring.

Our thanks go to Town officials and Town staff for their support during the preparation of the opening of the Center. The Commission also wishes to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of the Recreation Department staff who spent considerable time doing the planning, organization, hiring, marketing and purchasing prior to the opening of the Center.

Highlights:

• Over 1,400 contributors donated towards the construction. Many others purchased car raffle tickets and attended numerous fundraising events.

• 5,000 plus memberships which include 90 members over the age of 80!

• An average daily attendance exceeding 500 members.

• 56 Recreation Department Swim Team members.

• cchs Physical Education and Swim/Dive Team use.

• Water Safety Instructor/Lifeguard training courses.

Playing Fields

The Recreation Commission has taken a strong position in support of current initiatives underway to increase the number of community playing fields in Concord. For years the Commission has regularly discussed the scarcity of playing fields while observing an ever increasing interest in youth sports programs including such "new" programs as Pop Warner Football, Youth Lacrosse, Ultimate Frisbee and Flag Football.

The Commission thanks Jeff Adams, Dekkers Davidson, Peter Castrichini, and Don Hawley for their extraordinary efforts spearheading the playing fields campaign. It has been over forty years since a new field was constructed in Concord and because of their commitment to this project it finally appears that new athletic fields will be constructed on the cchs site.

Community Service Award

We would like to congratulate Coretta McGill, this year's winner of the Maureen Taggart Award for Community Service. This prestigious award includes the feature of the recipient selecting which deserving charitable organization will recieve a financial donation in Maureen's name; Coretta selected Concord Minuteman arc.

Exterior of new Beede Swim and Fitness Center on the CCHS campus.