Hooksett Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting - February 17, 2026

The board convened to conduct a final review of the Alfred J. Lambert Riverside Park sign, receive staff reports on park maintenance and field conditions, discuss a pickleball court request, and begin reviewing the industrial era historical boards. The meeting was called to order at approximately 7:15 PM.

Consent Calendar

• No consent calendar items were identified; the board briefly mentioned reviewing last month's minutes but took no formal action.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public provided comments during the designated public input period.

Discussion Items

• Final Review of Alfred J. Lambert Riverside Park Sign – The board reviewed errors previously identified in a non‑public meeting. Key corrections needed: (1) The park name on the sign reads "AJ Lambert Riverside Park" but should be "Alpha J Lambert Riverside Park"; (2) A reference to "Fred's brother Paul" should be corrected to "his nephew"; (3) The reference to "the large grill pit on site" should be removed as the pit has been taken down. The sign must be physically remade (cost $1,500 authorized). The board also noted that the land for the state boat launch was not sold to the state; the town remains the owner and the state holds an easement. A discussion about the board title ("AJ Lambert" vs. "Alpha J") led to a consensus that all three storyboards should be uniform, but since the two other boards are already fabricated, the board will verify if they can be amended to match.
• Staff Report (Rob) – Reported that flower boxes on the bridge (108 total, set on a timer for twice‑daily watering) are being refurbished for spring. The crew will begin construction of a new pavilion at Petersbrook in the spring. Regarding field conditions, Rob explained that fall sports that play in the spring (e.g., soccer) will be shut down on Petersbrook fields to allow regrowth. He proposed deep rototilling and reseeding goal areas to improve root depth, and noted that he has been rotating flag football fields to prevent over‑use. The concession stand flood issue was discussed: the French drain works well in summer, but winter ice and plowing have led to occasional water entry; the water does not reach freezers and no damage has occurred in 22 years. Adding an interior drain is not feasible due to environmental regulations.
• Pickleball Court Request – A resident asked to convert one tennis court at each of two locations (Hooksett and Fraser) to dedicated pickleball courts, but the board identified legal constraints: the courts were built with state grants requiring they remain tennis courts. Growing tennis participation through HYA/USA Tennis (now using three evenings per week) further limits availability. The board deemed the current setup—with adjustable nets—adequate, and noted that pickleball already occurs at Fraser Park when tennis is not scheduled.
• Industrial Era Boards – The board began reviewing the industrial era historical storyboards. One member noted an error: the text refers to "Anna Hooks at Falls" when the correct historical name is "Hooksett Falls." A typo was also spotted on the Merrimack Valley & Eked Messenger line. The board will wait to consult a 101‑year‑old former Emerson mill worker who may have additional information before proceeding further.

Key Outcomes

• Lambert Park Sign: The board will send the list of corrections to Leanne and expect the sign to be remade. They will check with the vendor whether the two other storyboards can be updated to use "Alpha J Lambert Riverside Park" for consistency.
• Field Management: Rob will proceed with deep rototilling and reseeding goal areas in the spring, with a focus on the 9v9 field. No formal vote was taken.
• Pickleball Request: The board declined the request to convert tennis courts, citing grant restrictions and scheduling needs.
• Industrial Era Boards: Review will continue after gathering input from the elderly resident. No timeline was set.
• Next Steps: The board will schedule a spring walkthrough with Mr. Lapierre and Mr. Dohan, and prepare a draft update for the town council.