June 29 – July 5, 2026

The Southborough Recreation Commission voted to send a letter of support for the Trails Committee's revised Community Preservation Act application to fund a pedestrian bridge along the Peninsula Trail. Commissioners also reviewed parking options for Fay Memorial Park, expressing a clear preference for a 33-space street-parking layout rather than a more costly configuration behind the park. Additionally, the commission reviewed annual safety impact testing for the 9-11 turf field, discussed potential field closures for the upcoming fall Special Town Meeting, and considered renovations at 21 Highland Street.

• General department updates and 9-11 Field lease

  Parks, trails & recreation. Watch at 0:16

  The director provided an update on closing out FY26 finances and reported that the Department of Conservation and Recreation lease invoice for 9-11 Field came in unexpectedly higher by about $1,300, totaling $13,024 instead of the budgeted $10,794. A board member researched the underlying parcel arrangement, noting the 15-year lease runs through roughly 2032 and that town costs are typically offset by state payments in lieu of taxes for watershed land. Staff will verify whether a reserve fund transfer is required or if the cost is balanced through municipal accounting.

  • 9-11 Field DCR lease invoice increased by roughly $1,300 to $13,024.
  • Lease runs for 15 years through approximately 2032.
  • Town receives approximately $383,000 annually from the state in PILOT watershed payments.

  Outcome: Staff will follow up with town accounting and the DCR revenue director.

• Peninsula Trail CPC project update

  Parks, trails & recreation. Watch at 9:15 Peninsula Trail Phase 2 · 22 meetings

  Trails Committee Chair Kathryn McKee presented an update on the Peninsula Trail, explaining that Phase 1 accessible parking, fencing, and signage are wrapping up. For Phase 2, bids for both a boardwalk and bridge exceeded the budget, so the committee is focusing its Community Preservation Act request on the bridge over the reservoir and rerouting the path onto a natural surface to bypass wetlands. The Recreation Commission voted unanimously to submit a letter of support for the Trails Committee's updated CPC application.

  • Phase 1 closed out with unspent CPC funds returned to the general pool after outside grant funding was secured.
  • Bids for combined boardwalk and bridge exceeded available funds, prompting a bridge-only CPC proposal.
  • Trails Committee volunteers rerouted the trail around the wetland in early June.
  • The project connects to the 33-mile Boroughs Loop Trail, the Aqueduct Trail, and the Bay Circuit Trail.

  Outcome: Voted 3-0 to approve a letter of support for the Trails Committee's CPC application.

  Why it matters: The trail project provides regional trail connectivity and accessible outdoor recreation for Southborough residents using Community Preservation Act funds.

• Fay Memorial Park parking study and CPC application timing

  Parks, trails & recreation. Watch at 41:48 Fayville Memorial Park improvements · 10 meetings

  The commission reviewed three design options from the Fay Memorial Park parking study. Commissioners favored Option 2, providing 33 spaces along Central Street and across the road, over Option 3, which proposed 43 spaces but required building a driveway behind the park near the reservoir for an estimated $312,000. Commissioners also debated whether to submit their CPC application for the October 17 Fall Town Meeting or wait for the Annual Town Meeting in spring if fall warrant articles are minimal.

  • Option 2 provides 33 total parking spaces including ADA accessible spots along Central Street.
  • Option 3 was estimated around $312,000 and raised safety and conservation concerns near the reservoir.
  • DPW installed rapid flashing beacon crosswalks elsewhere in town using a state grant, running roughly $50,000 per unit.
  • Commissioners leaned toward postponing the park CPC warrant article to spring if the fall meeting agenda is light.

  Outcome: Commissioners agreed to proceed with Option 2 and will evaluate whether to delay the CPC funding request to spring 2027.

  Why it matters: Parking design and capital improvements at Fay Memorial Park impact user access, pedestrian safety, neighborhood traffic, and town CPC funds.

• Fall Town Meeting field permit restrictions

  Parks, trails & recreation. Watch at 1:09:22

  The director reported a request originating from the Select Board to consider closing town sports fields on Saturday, October 17, until 12:00 PM to encourage resident attendance at the scheduled 10:00 AM Fall Town Meeting. Commissioners discussed the potential disruption to youth soccer and lacrosse schedules and noted that canceling local games often pushes families to travel out of town rather than attend Town Meeting.

  • Fall Town Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, at 10:00 AM.
  • Proposed field closure would restrict play until 12:00 PM.
  • Youth soccer would be the primary group impacted.

  Outcome: Staff will discuss schedule flexibility with youth sports organizations once permit applications are submitted.

• 9-11 Field turf impact report

  Parks, trails & recreation. Watch at 1:16:45

  Staff reviewed the annual GMAX impact testing report conducted by RAD Sports for the synthetic turf at 9-11 Field. The field averaged a score of 98, which is within the safe range under 100, though specific high-wear areas like goalmouths reached scores up to 109. RAD Sports advised that if scores approach 110 to 120, the town should consider adding a secondary fall maintenance visit at approximately $2,500 per visit to prolong turf life.

  • Overall turf GMAX impact score averaged 98.
  • High-traffic goalmouth areas scored between 105 and 109.
  • Additional seasonal maintenance trips cost approximately $2,500 each.

  Outcome: Commissioners accepted the report and will monitor turf condition.

• 21 Highland Street building use and improvements

  Buildings & facilities. Watch at 1:21:09 21 Highland Street future use · 2 meetings

  With Youth and Family Services vacating 21 Highland Street in August, the Recreation Department plans to expand its footprint by transforming its current office into an after-school programming room and creating a shared evening meeting space for town boards and committees. The chair also noted discussions from a recent Select Board goal-setting session regarding the potential future sale of the building.

  • Youth and Family Services is scheduled to move out in August.
  • Recreation intends to add an after-school program room and a civic meeting space.
  • Select Board discussed potential sale of 21 Highland Street during goal-setting sessions.

  Outcome: Commissioners will tour the facility in August to develop a firm space-use plan.

Routine business (3 items)

• Summer programming and department updates

  Parks, trails & recreation. Watch at 26:37

  The director shared summer program updates, including camp counselor training and enrollment exceeding targets. Temporary cooling rooms were established in the Woodward School library while air conditioning repairs are scheduled for mid-to-late July. Staff also reported strong registration for the kickoff Family Fun Run and added two new local business sponsors.

  • Air conditioning at Woodward School is expected to be repaired in mid-to-late July.
  • Nearly 80 participants registered for the Family Fun Run kickoff event.
  • New sponsors include Btone Fitness and Concierge Therapy.

  Outcome: Informational update; no formal action taken.

• Routine business

  Governance & committees. Watch at 1:07:11

  Staff noted ongoing recruitment efforts to fill two vacant seats on the Recreation Commission. The commission approved the meeting minutes of May 13 and May 20, 2026, and scheduled their next meeting for late August 2026 before adjourning.

  • The commission has two vacant seats.
  • May 13 and May 20, 2026 meeting minutes were approved unanimously.
  • Next meeting planned for the week of August 24, 2026.

  Outcome: Minutes approved; meeting adjourned.

• Athletic field net safety discussion

  Parks, trails & recreation. Watch at 1:24:00

  The chair highlighted a recent incident at Trottier Middle School where an owl became tangled in soccer field netting before being successfully rescued. Commissioners discussed the importance of ensuring youth sports leagues take down or bundle nets once their seasons conclude to protect local wildlife.

  • An owl was rescued from soccer netting at Trottier Middle School and reunited with its mother.
  • Staff noted leagues usually take nets down quickly at season end, but vigilance is needed.

  Outcome: Raised for awareness; no formal policy adopted.

Votes

Public comment

• A resident and former official provided details on state grants received by the Department of Public Works for rapid flashing crosswalk beacons and noted the necessity of ADA-compliant access. 53:36

Next steps and dates mentioned

• July 1, 2026 at 6:00 PM: Family Fun Run at Neary School
• Week of July 13, 2026: Community Preservation Committee meeting regarding trail application
• Week of August 24, 2026: Next regular Recreation Commission meeting
• October 17, 2026: Southborough Fall Special Town Meeting

The Select Board held a single-agenda meeting to consider Police Chief Ryan Newell's request to use year-end budget surplus funds to purchase a $105,000 five-year drone package from Axon. The purchase will be partially offset by a $20,000 donation from Fay School. Opponents argued the capital expenditure should be vetted by voters at Special Town Meeting to avoid setting a poor precedent for departmental bottom-line spending, while supporters prioritized immediate public safety needs.

• Police Department drone purchase and bottom-line budget spending

  Public safety. Watch at 0:06 Police Department drone program · 4 meetings

  The board evaluated whether to authorize the police chief to use surplus department funds from the closing fiscal year to acquire an Axon outdoor drone package. The Capital Improvement Planning Committee previously voted 3-0 to recommend the drone purchase itself, leaving the funding mechanism to the Select Board. Board members debated whether bypassing Town Meeting by using bottom-line spending set an inappropriate financial precedent, while the police chief emphasized urgent local safety needs and lengthy dispatch delays when relying on mutual aid drones.

  • The total drone package from Axon costs $105,000 over five years and includes two drones across a hardware refresh cycle, software, storage, and maintenance.
  • Fay School committed a $20,000 contribution toward the purchase, reducing the town's initial net outlay to $85,000.
  • A pending state budget earmark of $30,000 requested by State Representative Kate Donaghue could not be retroactively applied to a contract executed prior to grant award.
  • The police department logged nine incidents in the past year requiring mutual aid drones, including searches for missing children, suicidal individuals, and fleeing suspects.
  • Mutual aid drones take approximately 30 minutes or more to arrive, compared to an estimated 2 to 4 minute on-scene deployment time for an in-house drone.

  Outcome: Approved 3-2

  Why it matters: Authorizes the immediate acquisition of public safety drone technology using town funds without bringing the capital expense before Town Meeting voters.

Votes

Next steps and dates mentioned

• October 17: Special Town Meeting

The Wastewater Study Committee evaluated preliminary site screening analyses and determined that spending $30,000 on a District Improvement Financing (DIF) financial study by Camoin Associates would be premature. A technical review raised questions regarding Sudbury Reservoir watershed restrictions that could eliminate potential treatment locations, including properties north and south of Route 9. The committee voted 0-5 against funding the Camoin study, choosing instead to focus resources on identifying a viable site and consulting with state environmental regulators.

• Site selection review and Camoin DIF study funding

  Roads, water & infrastructure. Watch at 0:30 Route 9 wastewater infrastructure plan · 9 meetings

  The committee reviewed desktop site analyses conducted by consulting firm Artifacts and committee members, which examined locations such as 532 Turnpike Road. Members discussed regulatory restrictions associated with Sudbury Reservoir watershed zones and concluded it is premature to spend $30,000 on a Camoin Associates economic development study before knowing whether a feasible wastewater site exists. The committee voted unanimously against funding the Camoin study, effectively postponing a planned DIF article for Fall Town Meeting.

  • Artifacts initially identified 532 Turnpike Road as a potential location, but watershed restrictions complicate parcel availability.
  • Sudbury Reservoir watershed rules include three protection zones with varying degrees of development restrictions.
  • The proposed Camoin study would have cost $30,000 to prepare financial modeling for a District Improvement Financing district.
  • Members agreed a Fall Town Meeting DIF article would likely fail without a confirmed treatment site.
  • The committee plans to consult with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection in Worcester and explore potential regional cooperation with Westborough.

  Outcome: Failed 0-5

  Why it matters: Halts a planned $30,000 financial consulting contract and pauses efforts to place a wastewater financing article on the Fall Town Meeting warrant until an allowable site can be secured.

Votes

Next steps and dates mentioned

• before next meeting: Follow up with MassDEP in Worcester regarding watershed zone restrictions and consult with MassDevelopment and Camoin
• July 25: Next Wastewater Study Committee meeting