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Parks and Rec Eyeing New Improvements

The Chester Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) is eyeing new improvements at several of its park spaces, including new sustainable tree plantings and structures for expanded recreational and social opportunities.

The PRC is looking forward to constructing a new pavilion at North Quarter Park to stand in an area with several aging picnic tables. Funds for the new pavilion were raised by the Chester Rotary Club, whose generosity was thanked by PRC head Aaron Page.

“They have raised funds for it through the Duck Race and the Lobster Fest,” said Page. “They do so much for the town of Chester as far as generosity. That’s what this whole town runs on as volunteers.”

He said the pavilion will be an open-air structure with new picnic tables and modular benches. While sugar maple trees that currently stand at the picnic bench area provide some shade, the pavilion should be inclusive in that regard and give “more caregivers the opportunity to have guaranteed shade” and provide a spot for groups to gather and “build community,” said Page.

“That’s what the whole point of this thing is,” he said.

The timeline on the pavilion is tentative, said Page, since the PRC will need to go through the necessary legal steps for the construction of the pavilion to occur before settling on a start date.

New tree plantings are another goal for the PRC in several parks, including North Quarter Park. Page said they are specifically looking at planting sourwood trees, which should be more ecologically friendly.

“Sourwood is a native species to the Eastern U.S. [that is] flowering and deciduous, and attracts honey bees and pollinators, low pests,” said Page. “It’s a big win; there’s a lot of opportunity with those trees.”

Page added that the sourwood trees will also mix well with the change in leaves’ colors for the fall time, adding a beautification component to their beneficial nature.

“We’re going to try the first sourwood in by Oct. 20,” said Page.

Additional fundraising over the winter will occur to plant even more sour wood trees at North Quarter Park, added Page.

“That wood be ideal,” he said.

The PRC is looking at expansion at Lakeview Park for next spring, bringing in more sand and installing a second kayak rack at the space. This builds on an initiative that began last year for residents to store kayaks and canoes at the park rather than transport them from their homes.

“It’s gotten a lot of use and we want to build another one,” said Page. “Cedar Lake is such a beautiful spot to use that natural gem that we have in our.”

The PRC is looking for additional stonework at Pelletier Park and to reclaim some of its brush areas to make room for more beach area, said Page. As far as activities go in the near-future, Page said the PRC is looking to hold more concerts next summer at the park.

Several recreation opportunities continue in town, along with new ones, such as cribbage and coffee on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. at 20 Water Street, led by Page. This, along with the new improvements like the pavilion and other activities, add up to an inclusive, community-building effort by the PRC.

“The idea is there’s something for everybody,” said Page. “There’s something for everybody. That’s the whole point of this whole thing is bringing people together.”

For more information about PRC's fall activities, visit https://chester.recdesk.com/Community/Home.