Franklin Matters: recreation

Showing posts with label recreation. Show all posts

Thursday, June 4, 2026

Yoga on the Beach: Sundays from June 14 to July 19, 2026

"Summer is right around the corner, and so is this year's session of Yoga on the Beach!

Sponsored by the Franklin Recreation Department, running each Sunday from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM beginning June 14th.

Grab your mat, a friend and sunscreen and come to the beach. It's free and accessible for all who love yoga and the outdoors!!!

I hope to see you there!"

Shared from https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BAj4Z3USt/

Monday, May 18, 2026

Yoga on the Beach: Sundays during summer from June 14 to July 19, 2026

"Summer is right around the corner, and so is this year's session of Yoga on the Beach!

Sponsored by the Franklin Recreation Department, running each Sunday from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM beginning June 14th.

Grab your mat, a friend and sunscreen and come to the beach. It's free and accessible for all who love yoga and the outdoors!!!

I hope to see you there!"

Shared from https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BAj4Z3USt/

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

FY 2027 Budget Narrative: Recreation Department

From the Town Administrator's FY 2027 Budget narrative, each department's story is worth sharing.

General Purpose

The Recreation Department is responsible for delivering exceptional recreational programs and facilities that enhance the quality of life for our residents. Through a steadfast commitment to consistency, dependability, and a deep sense of obligation to our community, we strive to elevate the well-being of all those we serve. As a self-supporting department, we rely on program fees to sustain operations while fostering partnerships with local sports organizations, the Franklin Public School Department, residents, private groups, and other town departments. Our impact is far-reaching, with over 12,000 individuals beneﬁting from our programs, parks, and playgrounds annually. This year alone, our registration numbers exceeded 7,200 participants, reﬂecting our ongoing growth and success.

Core Functions

● Coordinating recreation activities with youth and adult sports organizations (e.g., youth baseball, youth and adult soccer, youth and adult lacrosse, youth softball, youth football, youth and adult cricket, adult pickleball, and youth and adult street hockey).

● Expanding partnerships with public schools, nonproﬁts, and citizen groups.

● Trail maintenance efforts led by Eagle Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts.

● Enhancing resident participation in program development and park planning.

● Developing new self-supporting programs and securing additional funding through grants, donations, and sponsorships.

Stafﬁng

● One (1) Recreation Director

● One (1) Deputy Director

● One (1) Program Coordinator

● Three (3) part-time Program Coordinators

● One (1) part-time Administrative Assistant

Strategic Initiatives & Accomplishments

● Revenue Overview

○ In FY25, our revenues were $844,702, marking a 6.5% increase from the
$793,230 generated in FY24. This growth is driven by:

■ Increased participation, rising from 7,136 in FY24 up slightly to 7,179 in FY25.

■ So far in FY26, we have seen higher monthly revenue peaks, with August 2025 reaching $131,000, February 2026 hitting $82,000, and March 2026 reaching a record high $156,000.

■ Expansion of programs and facilities, attracting more participants and broadening our offerings by moving to the Gerald F. Parmenter complex in June 2025.

■ Anticipated revenue growth in FY26, with a projected total of

$868,000.

■ As we grow, we are committed to reinvesting in our programs, staff, and facilities to enhance community engagement and accessibility

● Facility & Infrastructure Improvements

○ King Street Memorial Park Master Plan: Seeking Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding for new electrical service, additional parking near the pickleball/basketball courts and community garden, restroom/concession building for summer camp, 4 additional pickleball courts, improved ﬁeld lighting, and security enhancements.
○ New 70’ baseball batting cage at Fletcher Field with synthetic turf surface.
○ Construction of a press box at Beaver Pond turf ﬁeld.

FY27 Requested Budget Highlights

● Budget realignment: increasing our Other Contractual Services line by $1,000 due to expenses related to basketball referees and concerts on the common. However, we have decreased our Printing and Meetings/Conference line item by $1,000 to match.

● Increasing our Recreation Programs line by $10,000 due to expenses related to programs offered by our department. These expenses will be recouped by revenues.

FY27 Requested Budget Summary

We remain committed to ﬁscal responsibility, ensuring that revenue growth aligns with strategic reinvestments. Through careful budgeting and diversiﬁed funding, we continue to strengthen our self-sustaining model while enhancing the quality of our offerings. With projected revenue of $875,000 in FY27, we aim to:

● Expand recreational programs to meet rising demand.

● Improve accessibility and inclusion across all facilities.

● Pursue additional grant opportunities to reduce ﬁnancial barriers for residents.

● Continue infrastructure enhancements to maximize community beneﬁt. Our consistent growth in participants and revenue reﬂects the Recreation Department’s commitment to delivering exceptional services and enriching the lives of Franklin’s residents. We expect to see further growth in FY27 and anticipate our revenues to surpass the $875,000 mark.

The PDF of this section -

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p36YcnY5Uf7g7ePV_tMvwb98a3pIjDvJ/view?usp=drive_link

For the full FY 2027 budget narrative - https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8912/FY27-Budget-Narrative-FINAL-1

The FY 2027 budget information can be found

https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=577

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Grab Your Gear: Learn to Fish at Beaver Pond! - June 8

Grab Your Gear: Learn to Fish
at Beaver Pond! - June 8

Grab Your Gear: Learn to Fish at Beaver Pond!

Looking for a reason to get outdoors? We’re hosting a Learn to Fish session at Beaver Pond on Monday, June 8th.

This is a great, low-pressure way for beginners to get comfortable with a rod and reel. Whether you're looking for a new hobby or just want to spend an hour by the water, we’d love to see you there.

Event Info:
When: Monday, June 8th
Time: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Where: Beaver Pond
Ages: 7 and up

How to Join:
Pre-registration is required. You can sign up quickly at the link below:
 Franklinma.myrec.com

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/1FvDoLGNxc/

Friday, April 24, 2026

Boston Globe: "US reclassifies state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug"

Via the Boston Globe:

Boston Globe: "US reclassifies state-licensed medical
marijuana as a less-dangerous drug"

"President Donald Trump’s acting attorney general on Thursday signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, a major policy shift long sought by advocates who said cannabis should never have been treated like heroin by the federal government.

The order signed by Todd Blanche does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law. But it does change the way it’s regulated, shifting licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I — reserved for drugs without medical use and with high potential for abuse — to the less strictly regulated Schedule III. It also gives licensed medical marijuana operators a major tax break and eases some barriers to researching cannabis.

The Trump administration also said it was jump-starting the process for reclassifying marijuana more broadly, setting a hearing to begin in late June."

Continue reading the article with this shared link -

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/04/23/nation/medical-marijuana-reclassified-schedule-iii/?s_campaign=sharetool_copypaste_view

Friday, April 17, 2026

Earth Day opportunities - April 18

at least three opportunities to choose from to help with Earth Day

1 - Recreation Dept clean up start point at Beaver Pond - 9 AM to Noon - https://www.facebook.com/share/18UM9o5DZG/

2 - Pack 92 Earth Day Clean up - 9:30 AM to 11 AM

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/join-earth-day-clean-up-with-pack-92.html

3 - The Franklin Agriculture Commission, the Conservation Commission and Fairmount Fruit Farm activities - 10 AM to 2 PM https://www.facebook.com/share/1FJkMUFJhw/

Saturday, March 28, 2026

Franklin Recreation has shared their 2026 Summer Brochure

"Good Afternoon,

We are excited to announce that the Franklin Recreation Summer 2026 Brochure is now available! (CLICK HERE)

Franklin Recreation has shared their 2026 Summer Brochure

Our summer lineup is packed with programs for all ages, including youth sports leagues, fitness programs, preschool activities, instructional classes, summer camp, and family-friendly opportunities designed to keep everyone active and engaged throughout the summer months.

Registration Information

Walk-in and online registration for select summer programs begins Monday, April 6 at 8:30 AM.
Online registration is available at franklinma.myrec.com.
In-person registration can be completed at the Franklin Recreation Department, located at 235 Wachusett Street.

Programs are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, and many programs reach capacity quickly. We strongly encourage early registration to secure your spot.

We look forward to another great summer and hope you and your family will join us for a season full of fun, learning, and community connection.

If you have any questions, please contact the Recreation Department at (508) 613-1666 or email franklinrecreation@franklinma.gov.

Thank you for your continued support of Franklin Recreation.

Sincerely,

Franklin Recreation Department

235 Wachusett Street

Franklin, MA 02038"

Brochure link - https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8890/SUMMER-BROCHURE-2026?bidId=

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Your Brain Is Your Superpower! - Franklin Recreation offers series of Chess Classes

Your Brain Is Your Superpower! - Franklin
Recreation offers series of Chess Classes

Join us this spring for Chess Wizards at the Franklin Recreation Department! Whether your child is brand new to chess or already loves the game, this program makes learning fun with engaging lessons, group activities, and exciting challenges. Kids will build strategy, confidence, and critical thinking skills while making new friends along the way.

Wednesdays:

4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13 (No class 4/22)
4:30 – 5:30 PM
Franklin Rec Department – Art Room (235 Wachusett St.)
Grades K–5

$150 Residents | $160 Non-Residents

Seats are limited, so be sure to sign up soon!

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/18WcMqBtrv/

Monday, March 2, 2026

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Monday, March 2, 2026 ???

Monday, March 2 = Town of Franklin (birthday)

Regular curbside trash/recycle schedule for this week
Free overflow bags at DPW Admin building, 257 Fisher St
Hours added at Beaver St Recycling Ctr https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/reminder-regular-curbside-schedule-for.html

Library & Senior Center events

For additional details on Library events ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

For additional details on Senior Center events ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

Note: Senior Center checking on why their events are suddenly being shown as "All Day". You can use the monthly newsletter for specific program/event times

*** Town Meetings today ***

Library Board of Directors Regular Meeting

Monday, March 2 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03022026-2157

Recreation Department Meeting

Monday, March 2 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03022026-2158

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Find the full Community event calendar https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication: https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

Thursday, January 29, 2026

2 new Spring Flag Football leagues coming to Remington Right Grass Field

2 new Spring Flag Football leagues
coming to Remington Right Grass Field

We’re excited to introduce two new Spring Flag Football leagues coming to Remington Right Grass Field this spring!

Men’s Flag Football

High School Flag Football League

Both leagues run Sundays from April 12th – May 31st and are perfect for players looking for fast-paced, competitive fun.

Registration opens February 2nd

Monday, January 12, 2026

Recreation 3v3 Basketball Tournament is Back - Weds, Feb 18

3v3 Basketball Tournament is Back!

Recreation 3v3 Basketball Tournament is Back - Weds, Feb 18

Looking for something fun to do on a day off from school? Join us for our Co-Ed 3v3 Basketball Tournament for Grades ~~6–8~~! Changed to 6-7 grades

Wednesday, February 18th

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Lincoln Street School

This is an all-day, drop-off tournament featuring:

Morning pool play
Lunch break (players are encouraged to bring their own lunch!)
Afternoon single-elimination playoffs

Our 3v3 tournaments have become a favorite over the past few years — fast-paced games, tons of touches, and a great competitive atmosphere for all skill levels!

Saturday, December 6, 2025

You can cast your vote for Kim Carney who has been nominated for USA Field Hockey's 2025 Grow the Game Award

We're excited to share that Kim Carney, Deputy Director of Franklin Recreation, has been nominated for USA Field Hockey's 2025 Grow the Game Award.

This national recognition highlights the incredible work Kim has done in building and running the Commonwealth Field Hockey League, which has become a model for growing the sport across Massachusetts.

Kim Carney - nominated for USA Field
Hockey's 2025 Grow the Game Award

This nomination is not just an honor for Kim—it shines a spotlight on the Town of Franklin and our commitment to expanding athletic opportunities for youth. Under Kim's leadership, the league has experienced tremendous growth, helping establish Massachusetts as a rising field hockey powerhouse.

We would love your support in helping bring this award home to Franklin.

Please take a moment to cast your vote here:
https://www.usafieldhockey.com/news/2025/december/04/vote-now-people-s-choice-voting-now-open-for-usa-field-hockey-s-2025-annual-awards

Your vote helps highlight the positive impact recreation programs can have on our community and beyond. Thank you for supporting Kim and the Franklin Recreation Department!