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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-09-04 BarnstableOSRP_StakeholderInterview_Recreation Barnstable Open Space & Recreation Plan Update Stakeholder Interview Questions Date: September 4, 2025 Time and Location: Zoom Interview Questions Group 1: Recreation Attendees: Aqsa Butt – BSC Group, Senior Planner Adam Duchesneau – BSC Group, Planner Kyle Pedicini – Assistant Director of Planning & Community Development Kate Maldonado – Senior Planner Peter Bertling – Community & Economic Development Planner Alice Marcus-Krieg – Grant Coordinator John Gleason – Director of Recreation Chris Gonnella – Director of Community Services Krissanne Caron – Assistant Director of Community Services Tammy Cunningham – Assistant Director of Human Resources and ADA Coordinator Kris Clark – Town Council, Vice President Steve Robichaud – Planning Board, Chair and Planning Board Representative on Community Preservation Committee Patty Ericson-Taylor – Disability Commission Paul Logan – Disability Commission Susanne Conley – Golf Committee Lev Malakhoff – Open Space Committee Doug Payson – Open Space Committee Tom (Charles) Coyle – Council on Aging Marty Bruemmel – Greater Hyannis Chamber of Commerce, President/CEO Lauren Barker – Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, Vice President of Strategy & Government Relations Written Comments: – Tony Lapolla – Recreation Commission 1. What aspects of Barnstable’s open spaces and recreation system are currently working well? Are there particular parks, playgrounds, beaches, or programs that stand out as especially valuable? Chris Gonnella – Lowell Park has great support from Cotuit organizations. Marstons Mills Pickleball and Tennis Courts are the most used facilities in town. The playgrounds in Osterville and Centerville (Osterville is coming soon). Lombard Field with a relocated playground and softball field. Dowses Beach and Craigville Beach. Both championship golf courses in Marstons Mills and Hyannis. Marstons Mills community gardens. John Gleason – The Osterville Bay Recreation Fields were recently constructed and are a gem. Lev Malakhoff – I wanted to emphasize the open space component of community. There are lots of open spaces with trail networks. Some have damage from motorcycles and could use attention, as well as making connections between the trails. New open space acquisitions to create a network will be key. Those existing spaces out there, if they are not used or monitored, they can become abused. Having responsible public users is key as they become the eyes on those properties and that invites people into those spaces. Patty Ericson-Taylor – Long Pasture has an all-persons trail which is great. We had our first Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Day this year. Every year they celebrate ADA Day and this year was the 35th year. We had people out from different programs and groups to let people know there are ways all people can look at nature. Doug Payson – I live in Barnstable Village and probably the most heavily used recreational feature is the sidewalks. Those connections, multi-use sidewalks and trails, are really what people use. We are seeing people from other villages come to Barnstable Village to use the network here because it is so connected. Sidewalks are a resource. Expanding those connections is important and there are missing segments that need to be filled in. Route 132 near Trader Joe’s and Route 128 have gaps which make it incredibly dangerous. We need to think beyond the ball fields or other locations that are used periodically. Sidewalks are the number one resource in my opinion. Susanne Conley – The championship golf courses are used by several hundred Barnstable residents, but they are also great open spaces and provide areas for wildlife. We need to do more to preserve open space and golf courses do that. Beaches and golf courses are major economic drivers. The future Open Space and Recreation Plan needs to recognize this. Beaches and golf courses bring dollars into Barnstable and we need to make them the best we can. Tammy Cunningham – As ADA coordinator I engage in a lot of conversations with residents and visitors who have a person with a disability in their party. They are looking for access friendly locations. Beaches are treasured and these people are looking to head to the most accessible beach, but that is hard for me to answer. More and more individuals are choosing communities they are visiting based upon inclusive designs at their activity locations. We need to think about how we can be forward thinking and include that aspect more. People are always looking for accessible bathhouses. Surfaces to access different areas are important, such as parking lots, bathrooms, access to water, etc. We need to work with the Disability Commission, Community Services, and Recreation Department to provide beach chairs that allow people with disabilities to access the water. Lauren Barker – I support the previous comments. In a general sense, open space and recreation amenities are a driver economically. We hear the main driver for visitors are our resources, boat launches, beaches, and eco-tourism. Barnstable’s location on Cape Cod makes it well positioned to build upon this. Steve Robichaud – Sandy Neck is a good example of balancing recreation and conservation resources together. Recreation that respects natural elements of the area is important. It is nice to hear so much conversation has taken place regarding the accessibility of our beaches. Overall, Cape Cod is renowned for its beaches and Barnstable is the shining example of how it can be done the right way between access for all, recreation, and conservation. John Gleason – People come from off Cape Cod and Wellfleet to use the Marstons Mills Pickleball Courts. We designed one of the nicest courts in all of New England. People come from all over to use the golf courses as well. Paul Logan – The Hyannis Youth and Community Center has two ice rinks, a basketball court, a teen center, a skate park, and a community room, and is the gem of the town with people coming from off Cape Cod to use it. The facility has great accessibility and is one of the most accessible buildings in town. So many people can do so much there. Susanne Conley – The accessible fishing pier at Dowses Beach is an incredible resource and is used by many people. In the off season it attracts people from off Cape Cod. Chris Gonnella – Nine different youth hockey tournaments, from Massachusetts and the New England area, are held at the Hyannis Youth and Community Center. The Director of Golf does a great job of hosting Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) qualifiers and Massachusetts Amateur qualifiers Tony Lapolla – Barnstable offers a range of recreational activities for its residents. The beaches, especially Craigville, Dowses, and Covells, are well used. Hathaway Pond is also a popular facility for dog owners, and the pond is very active on weekends. Additionally, Sandy Neck is a treasure the town should be proud of. The 4,700 acres offer beach, camping, and access to recreational facilities and vehicles. Additionally, the nature programs are vast. The Marstons Mills Pickleball Courts are popular. I was there last weekend, and the parking lot was full. Lastly, the Hyannis Youth & Community Center is an excellent facility that provides two sheets of ice for skaters and many recreational hockey programs for youth and adults. Additionally, the basketball court provides valuable indoor space for youth and adult programs. 2. What challenges do residents experience when trying to access and enjoy parks, playgrounds, or recreational facilities? What barriers affect underserved groups and vulnerable populations, such as older adults, youth, and people with? What actions or improvements could help reduce these barriers and ensure equitable access for all? Patty Ericson-Taylor – I have been to a few beaches recently and have noticed that at Keyes Memorial Beach and Kalmus Beach there is no place for a wheelchair to fit into picnic tables. Some locations do not have locations to get past the curbs. John Gleason – Transportation is an issue in this large community (geographically) for families. Fees can be a problem in terms of the cost to participate in a program or rent a building. A lot of our playgrounds are currently on school property and families cannot access those when school is in session. The Osterville and Centerville playgrounds will help with this issue. We have seen changes in our community in the last 20 years, and a problem can be language barriers to understanding policy and procedures. Steve Robichaud – Parking is a challenge with so many of these sites. Part of me says “this is Cape Cod and it is what it is.” Locals have a good sense of when to go to the different locations. An informational guide compilation would be helpful. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, locals know when to visit popular locations. Useful informational resources for guests and visitors would be of assistance or could provide them alternative options to have a more enjoyable stay. Doug Payson – One item the Open Space Committee is working on is signage for trailheads, so our local residents know where to access hiking and biking trails. Harwich has brown hiking signs at trailheads and Chatham has followed that as well. Folks from other parts of town may not know where to access hiking and biking trails in another village. In Barnstable Village there was a new great playground (the Barnstable Hollow playground), but there is no parking. People coming from other locations likely do not know there is a playground there and it seems underutilized. Steve Robichaud – We need to be doing more to educate visitors. Bed & Breakfasts and hotels could have brochures with information for visitors. The Barnstable Hollow playground has lots of parking in Barnstable Village, but the playground is underutilized as people are not aware of the parking options. Chris Gonnella – Language barrier issues. We are working to develop new recreation software which has embedded translation in it. We are trying to tie it into community building access information as well. It has two-way translation and we are trying to close that gap. Sometimes what is overlooked is the change in behavior of visitors and residents. Sometimes people visiting a park, open space, or recreation area do not feel secure. At Hathaway’s Pond and other locations, people tend to not feel safe. We have had discussions regarding security/safety issues at various locations. Tom Coyle – I am a big fan of the sidewalks and trails. With the Barnstable Council on Aging Facility, we are trying to get more seniors involved, but it would be nice to have something very local. Trails around Dunns Pond connecting the surrounding area would be great. Getting people outdoors and getting seniors more active is the idea. Transportation is a real problem and people do not want to drive long distances locally. In Craigville, we have organized Tuesday and Thursday evening soccer nights, which have been popular. Chris Gonnella – We have been looking at an outdoor pavilion for the Dunns Pond area. Tony Lapolla – There is currently no access to an indoor pool that would serve all members of the community, including individuals with special needs, as well as recreational programs for families and youth within the community. In a beach/water community, where the potential for drownings is increased, it would be nice to offer swim lessons for all members of the community throughout the year. There is a need to improve or enhance bike and walking access within the community. Improved bike lanes and sidewalks should be an ongoing project for Barnstable. This may provide improved access to recreational facilities. I am not aware of the public transportation options to the facilities, but this is particularly essential for youth and older members of our community. The Town does a good job of maintaining its playing fields, but, again, there is a need to repair and/or renovate some of the facilities. The facilities at the high school and some parks are well-maintained, but others need attention. Has a study been conducted on the cost associated with artificial turf? 3. Are there trends or emerging interests in Barnstable that the Town could better support or explore? Steve Robichaud – The Marstons Mills Pickleball Courts are very popular with both seniors, staying active, but they are also multigenerational. There is also a trend of converting old retail spaces into other uses. Our mall is doing well, but old retail spaces have sometimes been turned into recreational facilities. Perhaps the Town could purchase these spaces using Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds and turn them into recreational facilities. Splash Pads have also been very popular draws in many communities and Barnstable should include this feature as a recommendation in the Open Space and Recreation Plan. We need this style of facility and hopefully can be implemented in the next five years. The entire Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is committed to expanding recreation. Perhaps we have not done this as much with CPA funds in the past, but we have been good with using CPA funds for housing and historic preservation projects. The CPC has discussed the idea of doing a bond specifically for recreation and is a willing partner. John Gleason – Pickleball is an emerging trend. If we are looking to expand pickleball, the Town needs to think about where it should be located due to the noise generated by it. Splash Pads have been discussed for years. These are preferable to some people over the beaches because not everyone can swim or perhaps they do not feel as comfortable at the beach. We lack outdoor basketball courts. We have some, but they are not that great. We need more outdoor basketball spaces, more for kids and adults. With the change in the population, we also need to look at other facilities. For example, we have a street soccer cage, but it would be better to have a dedicated area for street soccer games or street hockey. When there is not enough room for a big soccer field, the street soccer cage is a good alternative. Tammy Cunningham – We need to look at the possible creation of more all access trails. We are seeing these more at the state level. Long Pasture has one and it is amazing. Affordability of activities is also an issue. Exposing people to a trail so everyone can participate would be great. Lev Malakhoff – A youth riding location in Hyannis is being constructed at Oak Ridge School. Having one at Hathaway Pond would be great as well. It could be a year-round resource since trail conditions are good throughout the year unless there is snow. The NEMBA, also assists with adaptive bike program. The New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) has proposed an overlook deck with a ramp on it to allow those who cannot walk to access great views. Chris Gonnella – We face a lot of challenges with aging infrastructure. The Hyannis Golf Course irrigation system is 50 years old. There are opportunities to upgrade existing resources. Having the funds to replace and maintain existing resources is important. Doug Payson – The extension of the Cape Cod Rail Trail through Barnstable is a huge economic development opportunity. The could be a tremendous potential driver of economic development. We need to look at where the trail will go and where the secondary roads to get to the trail will be. I do not sense this is a priority with the community. It will be great for walkers, bikers, inline skaters, etc. We may need to look at some dedicated trails with trail makers for more sidewalks and multi-use paths. Patty Ericson-Taylor – I look out to the water and think it would be great to have meditation areas in certain locations. 4. Is there anything else you would like to share that could help improve the community’s recreation experience? Steve Robichaud – As a member of the CPC, I have been frustrated with speed at which playgrounds come into existence. The CPC has approved funding recently for the Osterville, Centerville, and Barnstable West Barnstable (BWB) playgrounds. Osterville has just taken too long to get going. We need to take the design process for future playgrounds outside of the Town to consultants to move them along more quickly. This should be discussed as part of the Open Space and Recreation Plan. Templates, such as West Barnstable, should be used for other sites. Hyannis is in need of a new playground as well as other locations. We should really strongly consider taking design aspects outside of the inner workings of Town to speed things up. It should not take as long as it does to turn around a playground project. The CPC is motivated to advance additional playground projects. Susanne Conley – Some Towns move at the speed of light, but Barnstable is not among them. Procurement rules, bidding, permitting, restrictions, and other regulations really inhibit improvements for recreational opportunities and advancements. In many meetings I have heard it taking 18 years to put in certain playgrounds. Maybe we are being careful, but I would like to explore a happy medium so things can be expedited for all recreational facilities. Paul Logan – We have a great employment group in Town government. However, we are understaffed in many positions and because of this, it is sometimes hard to move projects along. It would be great to dedicate substantial amounts of CPA funding to recreation. It would be wonderful to work with consultants outside of the Town to help quickly advance recreation projects. The Town has an ADA Self-Evaluation Plan, but it is a 25 year plan. Some of the items in the plan should already be in place, but they are not. A 25 year plan does not do it for me. I know it is not a 2.5 year plan, but with consultants, we could complete more of these projects more quickly. Tom Coyle – The issue of awareness. There are a lot of good things happening in Barnstable, and the issue is awareness and making people aware of them. In my past we had developed websites from a resident’s perspective to make it easier to find things. We need some kind of world class veterans center. There are a lot of veterans on the Cape Cod. Awareness, educating people, and getting a good website from a user perspective makes a lot of sense.