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The Sudbury Park and Recreation Commission met on Monday, May 12 and discussed an Atkinson Pool renovation, as well as phasing for other recreation projects around Sudbury.
Additional funding for the pool renovation was approved overwhelmingly at Annual Town Meeting the week prior, and the commissioners heard an update on how the Town would approach the project. Town Manager Andy Sheehan and Finance Director Victor Garofalo were present to provide an update.
Commissioners were eager to complete the renovation as quickly as possible. Town Manager Sheehan made it clear that the pool was a top-priority project for staff, and they were moving forward with urgency. The goal is to complete the renovation before swim team season picks up in November.
One of the concerns of the commission was the risk of supply chain delays for critical equipment. Sheehan explained that there’s no way to predict if they will run into supply chain delays, but that the Town was working closely with the Owners Project Manager (OPM) and architect to accelerate on shop drawings and order equipment as quickly as possible.
The commission also discussed the upcoming presentation of the first draft of the Fields Needs Assessment. They’ll be reviewing that at their June 2 meeting. Other projects discussed included the upcoming repairs at the SMILE playground at Haskell Field, and phase two of the Feeley Fields project. The Feeley project may be subject to further discussion depending on the findings in the Field Needs Assessment.
Town Meeting also approved funding for a pavilion and a second sport court at the Fairbank Community Center. Commissioners discussed the timing for those projects. Finance Director Victor Garofalo indicated that spring 2026 might be the right time to complete them since winter isn’t a good time to pour the surfaces. Town Manager Sheehan made it clear that they want to prioritize the pool renovation through completion. Park and Recreation Director Dennis Mannone explained that one of the challenges with projects at the community center is that they have to be timed to avoid disrupting key programs like the Sudbury Summer camp.
In a bit of good news for the commission, Sheehan told them that he thinks the Planning Department intends to get moving on the Open Space and Recreation Plan soon after the completion of the Fields Needs Assessment. The completion of that plan makes the Town eligible to apply for a number of State grants for park and recreation projects.
