Town of Hooksett, New Hampshire Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting – August 18, 2026

No agenda or minutes were provided with the transcript. The committee discussed playground and field maintenance, a possible walkway, field rotation for flag football, relocation of the Riverside Park gazebo, a Boy Scout project, and officer elections. No formal substantive votes were recorded; the meeting adjourned at about 6:50 PM.

Discussion Items

Playground and Park Equipment

• The fertilizer money is in good shape.
• A swingset at Fraser cannot simply be replaced in a new spot: per Ben, new playground guidelines require rubber matting/cushioning under new equipment, as done at Lambert's Park. This would affect cost.
• Ben ordered benches about a week ago; delivery is expected in roughly four weeks.
• Funding is available for the workout station.

Paved Walkway

• A contractor recommended an eight-foot-wide path to the football field, narrowing to five feet along the track, because vehicles drive across the area. A narrower path could be broken by tires riding the edge. The committee left this in discussion.

Flag Football Fields and Field Rotation

• Randall said there are more flag football teams than ever and fields are oriented in roughly the same spots; without more rotation, the fields will end up in the same worn condition as before.
• He rotates worn areas each season by five to ten feet, and has moved fields up to twenty feet. He spoke with Travis, the new flag football president, about the need for all fields to recover.
• Randall proposed rotor-tilling and reseeding bad areas between spring and fall seasons, as was done for soccer goal areas. He also suggested finding space for a fifth field so one area could be decommissioned and regrow over a full season, with rotation over several years.
• Some potential field locations were rejected because of Old Home Day. Randall questioned that objection, saying Old Home Day uses the field only one weekend and could be moved elsewhere, including back to Lambert's Park.

Riverside Park Gazebo and Volleyball

• The old gazebo at Riverside Park sits in the middle and is unsafe, especially the steps. Members supported moving it out of the middle.
• Suggested locations included the far right side of the park toward the power station, near the survey marker by the rock line, near the boat ramp "thumb," or under a tree. The committee agreed to table the decision, measure the gazebo, check mower clearance, and look at possible spots.
• If the gazebo is moved, the opened space could be used for a volleyball court, an idea raised during the walkthrough.

Boy Scout Cornhole Stands

• The committee needs A-frame stands for cornhole boards and usually asks the Boy Scouts for project help.
• One member attended a Scout meeting but was unable to introduce himself; he had already emailed the Scout leader. Members were asked to help make contact, or the member will try again.

Election of Officers

• The election of officers was tabled again because the vice chair was not available to be asked whether she would accept the nomination.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken on substantive items.
• Officer elections and gazebo relocation were deferred.
• Next steps: inspect and measure potential gazebo locations; continue field-rotation discussions with flag football; reach out to the Boy Scouts about cornhole stands; revisit the election when the vice chair can be contacted.
• A motion to adjourn was made and seconded; the meeting ended around 6:50 PM.