Great Barrington Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - February 2, 2026

The Great Barrington Parks and Recreation Commission met on February 2, 2026, at 5:15 PM. The meeting covered approvals of parks usage requests for youth sports programs, a memorial tree donation, an update from the Housatonic (Who's Atonic) committee, and a broader discussion on volunteerism and compensation for program leaders.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: Motion to approve the minutes of January 5, 2026. One commissioner abstained because they were not present at the previous meeting. All others voted in favor; motion passed.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Laura (citizen, Sumner Street resident): Introduced herself, expressed interest in trails and outdoor recreation, mentioned frequent use of Flag Rock trail, and asked how to get more involved in parks and recreation activities.

Discussion Items

• Parks Usage Request – Pick & Roll (basketball program): Matt presented an annual request for use of facilities. A date correction was noted: the end date should be October 30, not November 3, due to calendar errors. Matt stated the program has two sessions – a traveling team with a fee (approximately $300 per participant last year, covering about 75% of tournament costs, with fundraising for the rest) and a workout session for younger participants. Most participants (75-80%) are from Great Barrington, with a few from outside. Commissioner Bill raised the topic of whether program leaders should be compensated for their time, sparking a wider discussion about volunteerism and valuing youth program leaders. Several commissioners (Steve, Joe, Paul) noted the importance of volunteerism but acknowledged that attracting and retaining leaders may require some form of support, such as funding for equipment or scholarships. The commission agreed to return to the fee conversation at the next meeting and suggested exploring creative networking to recruit more volunteers. Motion to approve with the date correction; all in favor, motion passed.

• Parks Usage Request – Southern Berkshire Youth Football & Cheerleading: Representatives requested annual renewal for field use from August 1 to November 7. Fees last year were $185 for football and $150 for cheerleading; fees may rise slightly this year due to insurance. The program serves about 60 kids (50 per football/cheer), has a scholarship policy (10+ kids per season unable to pay), and relies on volunteers and fundraising. Coaches are currently in short supply. Discussion again touched on volunteerism and potential town contributions (e.g., covering costs for 5 scholarship kids per year). Commissioners also discussed improving volunteer recruitment through town website, Facebook, and other networks. Motion to approve; all in favor, motion passed.

• Memorial Tree Donation – Kitty Silverman: Kitty Silverman (on Zoom) requested to donate a tree in memory of her parents, who lived on Sumner Street and loved Great Barrington. She expressed openness to either a tree or a bench with a simple plaque, ideally walkable to town. Commissioners supported the idea and discussed options, noting that the Tree Committee and the town's tree warden would need to vet location and species. Commissioner Leo shared that his mother had worked for Kitty's parents. Motion to endorse the donation and to ask the Tree Committee to work with Julie (the neighbor who initially contacted the commission) on finding a suitable location and tree. All in favor, motion passed.

• Update from Housatonic (Who's Atonic) Committee – Sarah Parker: Sarah Parker, chair of the committee, provided an update on six primary goals for 2026, focusing on three relevant to parks: (1) hosting three community events (Halloween, winter lights, Party in the Park on June 13, Earth Day Cleanup on April 25 from 11-4, Berkshire Busk on July 18, and a long table event in August); (2) advancing local trail and canopy restoration, including a tree sponsorship program that raised over $3,000 and plans to plant 38 trees; (3) improving public outdoor spaces in partnership with the Housatonic Beautiful Fund, including seasonal planter barrels, water access improvements, and temporary installations. Commissioner Bill noted the Housatonic Improvement Committee meeting had 36 attendees and was very engaged. The commission expressed appreciation and requested regular updates.

• Other Parks & Rec Activities: Joe reported on a moon walk with the conservancy (30 people, bonfire) and a lake walk (10 people, 7°F weather, fire on the lake), demonstrating winter use of the lake.

• Youth Engagement: Commissioners discussed creating a youth advisory board and inviting local youth to future meetings, building on ideas from a previous conversation. An RSIP staff member mentioned a youth mentoring day at the Boston State House and offered to reach out to interested youth from local schools.

• CPC Basketball Court Application: Commissioner Bill asked for an update on the Community Preservation Committee application for resurfacing and improving the basketball court. The project has not yet been approved by the CPC; a more detailed update was requested for the March meeting.

• Facility Issue: Joe reported a frozen pipe at the athletic center; water was shut off to prevent further damage.

Key Outcomes

• Pick & Roll approval (with corrected end date of October 30, 2026).
• Southern Berkshire Youth Football & Cheerleading approval for field use August 1 – November 7, 2026.
• Memorial tree donation endorsed; to be coordinated with Tree Committee and Julie.
• Discussion on volunteerism and compensation to be continued at the next meeting.
• Youth engagement outreach to occur before the next meeting.
• March meeting agenda to include CPC basketball court update and creative volunteer networking ideas.
• Meeting adjourned at approximately 6:15 PM (motion and second, no vote recorded).