News: 2020 Morristown Parks & Recreation Committee Annual Report

Although life has been anything but ordinary this past year, the Parks & Recreation Committee has met the challenge and has been busy planning safe and creative ways for our community to recreate in these unusual times. 

Morristown Parks & Recreation Committee
In 2019 the Town of Morristown resurrected the Parks and Recreation Committee that was originally formed in 1949.  The purpose of the Committee is to develop a wide variety of recreation programs, park facilities, and services to meet the total needs of the residents of the community and to increase awareness of all the many existing recreational assets and events happening in the greater Morristown community. The Committee plans to partner with community members and organizations to promote, encourage and share information regarding existing recreational activities in Morristown.

Morristown has an online recreation management software program; you can learn more about it online at: morristownvt.myrec.com. Click on the new account link to create your household account and gain access to program registrations. Be sure to then add all the members of your household into the account and please don’t forget to enter your email and cell phone number with the carrier so we can contact you with any last-minutes changes. Your new household account will provide you with registration history, financials and much more. This is where you can now register your children for the Morristown Summer Recreation Camp Program, download tax deductible receipts, and check out recreational events happening in town. We look forward to expanding this online program and enjoying the enhanced registration experience with you.

Although the Morristown Summer Recreation Camp program was unable to operate due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Parks & Recreation Committee hired three high school summer interns to curate recreation ideas and locations around Morristown and launched a campaign featuring community members recreating around town.  The #MoRec campaign, along with the revamp of the Committee’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, has increased our presence around town.  It also provides a great foundation for advertising and inspiring recreation opportunities in the future and seeks ongoing community input.  We encourage anyone to share your photos, sense of adventure, and positive thoughts to help inspire #MoRec in our community!

Due to a generous Alexander Hamilton Copley Trust Fund grant, the Parks & Recreation Committee successfully constructed and opened a new fenced-in dog park across from the Library.  The grand opening on November 4, 2020, welcomed our community’s furry friends and their humans for treats, giveaways, and a ribbon cutting ceremony.  The park is the topic of regular posts on Front Porch Forum for safe dog meetups.   

The Parks & Recreation Committee continues to work on ways to improve our wonderful Oxbow Park.  Despite COVID, a successful adaptation of Wednesday Night Live at the Oxbow took place for several weeks this summer to share smiles, music, and community with those able to attend.  There are now swings and a basketball court available for community use. 

The Parks & Recreation Committee invites community members to search out one of the new whimsical painted hopscotch stencils around downtown for some impromptu childhood nostalgia while running an errand or an intentional adventure with the kiddos. 
As part of the Committee’s efforts to consolidate Town-owned recreation equipment, the Committee was able to give away dozens of bikes to families in Morristown.  The recipients were overjoyed to receive bikes that they could use to get around town and utilize the many trails and other bike-riding locations Morristown has to offer.

The Committee has also resurrected its Skateboard Park subcommittee to work on finding a location for a community skateboard and pump park in Morristown. For more information contact morristownsk8@gmail.com.

Do you want to be involved in the future of recreation in Morristown?  There are lots of great free activities in our community to get your family and friends together and enjoy the outdoors.  The nine member committee meets on the second Monday of each month from 4:30-5:45 pm in the municipal building at 43 Portland Street or virtually using GoToMeeting during COVID.  We can always use an extra hand and fresh ideas and we welcome you to join us moving forward to meet the town’s recreation needs and become a part of the committee. Questions or suggestions for Morristown Parks & Rec?  Email us at parksandrec@morristownvt.org.

Parks & Recreation Committee Members
Judy Bickford, Ray Boutin, John Duffy, Sara Haskins, Steph Hoffman, Alison Link, Kasey Longe, Kristi McAllister, and Valerie Valcour.