By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
CLAREMONT, N.H. — The Claremont Parks and Recreation Department is having a busy spring, with the excavation portion of the pickleball/tennis court construction well underway at Veterans Park. Director Justin Martin told the Eagle Times that the project is on schedule for it all to be completed in the fall.
“Pine Hill Construction has been on site for phase one of the project, which is to remove some of the old outdoor pool materials under the ground,” Martin said. “They soon hope to be back to fill the area with the correct material to be filled in.”
The plan is to build a “state-of-the-art” facility at Veterans Park for tennis and pickleball that will be free and open to the public. When completed, there will be two tennis courts and four pickleball courts, with added amenities like trees, ADA parking, a walking path to and from the courts and the parking area, benches and a water fountain.
As far as funds go, Martin said $299,902.50 came from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which covers the 50% match needed from the $300,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds that the city set aside for the project.
Athletes are eagerly awaiting the completion of the courts, as Martin admitted that the courts at Monadnock Park are in “rough shape.”
Also this spring there have been a pair of ribbon cuttings hosted by the town’s recreation department involving the new flume slide at the Claremont Savings Bank Community Center, as well as the Claremont Story Walk in Moody Park.
The flume slide’s ribbon cutting was on April 24, and officials said it represented a fun way to enhance the quality of life for residents of all ages. Officials also said it was part of the city’s investment into community focused spaces that bring people together.
The Story Walk is on the Shady Pines Loop Trail, involving pages of a children’s picture book displayed on posts along the path within the park. The Fiske Free Library helped with book selections, the Parks and Recreation Department provided the location, and the Claremont Elks lodge worked with the Claremont MakerSpace to build Story Walk book holders using part of the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant.
This is also the first spring of the Moody Park Dog Park, and Martin said so far it has been a big hit with pups and their owners alike. The goal is to let the dogs enjoy the area but also keep up with filling the holes they might dig while they’re out playing and getting much needed exercise.
“There’s been steady usage and we’re happy with the traffic through there,” Martin said. “We have some plans to continue to make upgrades with maintenance and looking into improvements at the entrance of the dog park for the muddy seasons.”
Martin said there are still plans for the future to create a “Friends of the Moody Park Dog Park” group in the coming months, in an effort to get more community involvement. The feedback about having this designated spot has been mostly positive, but one thing they are aware of is that parking is an issue.
“We are looking to expand this, and have work being done this spring,” Martin said. “Next to the dog park and across the roadway from the playground, we’ll be making this into a larger parking area to come visit.”
The Parks and Recreation Department announced on Tuesday morning that the brand-new parking area at Moody Park will make it easier than ever to enjoy the playground, dog park and disc golf course, or to just stroll through the park on a nice day.
The gate for vehicular traffic will open on Saturday, May 24 through Columbus Day, and open during normal park hours from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily.
