Parks Commission Weighs New Benches for Ball Fields

MENDON -- The Parks Commission met Oct. 19 and spent much of its session on upgrades to town recreation facilities rather than competitive sports results.

TOWN -- Commission members said the wooden benches at the baseball and softball fields, built around 2011 and later moved from the beach to the park, are "at the end of their life" and discussed replacing them with recycled plastic benches, possibly with a memorial plaque. They also discussed adding a bench near the playground and toward the back fields. The board considered ordering ADA-compliant picnic tables, estimating eight-foot tables at about $1,000 and six-foot tables at about $900, with plans for one at the baseball field, one at the softball field and one near the playground. Discussion also touched on a possible bench at Founders Park and continued work on an existing memorial bench there dedicated to Lionel Leclerc.

Commissioners also discussed a potential synthetic ice rink, roughly 40 by 80 feet, that could be installed on the basketball or tennis court for public skating. A base equipment package was quoted at about $7,100, with a replacement liner at about $800. Members noted the courts are not perfectly level, with the tennis court off by as much as nine inches in some corners and the basketball court off by about six inches. The board discussed limiting the rink to recreational skating rather than organized hockey and exploring vendors for skate rentals and a possible curling demonstration.

Separately, the commission noted that storage space for the Lions Club's holiday gift program, previously discussed with the town hall, is expected to be resolved once a basement room used for voting becomes available for the winter. Members also reported that the equipment sheds near the ball fields have been freshly painted.

Compiled from team and league reports, reader submissions, and local coverage.