Milton’s Recreational Master Plan presentation has been deferred to the October Town Meeting, a move intended to give the Board of Park Commissioners more time to refine cost estimates and secure alternative funding sources. During a meeting on May 1, board members and consultants from Tighe & Bond emphasized that the delay provides a critical window to identify state grants and open space funding, potentially shielding residents from the full financial weight of proposed park improvements.

The session began with a formal reorganization of the board following the recent town election. Outgoing chair Rob nominated Carolyn to lead the group for the coming year, noting the board’s tradition of rotating leadership roles based on years of service. Motion Made by S. [Stephen] to reorganize the board with Carolyn as Chair, Rob as Vice Chair, and Stephen as Member. Motion Passed 3-0.

Rob, who will remain the lead point of contact for the master plan despite stepping down as chair, underscored the importance of fiscal responsibility as the project enters its final stages. He noted that the October timeline allows the town to keep our foot on the gas while exploring revenue streams that do not rely solely on property taxes. We also need to look at opportunities for public funding so we aren't just going back to taxpayers, Rob said. I know the Open Space committee is moving forward, so there will be grant opportunities.

Ryan, a consultant with Tighe & Bond, informed the board that while many revisions regarding the High School and Flatley Field are complete, the next phase of work will focus on the order of magnitude for project costs. He suggested that the board should prepare to phase the improvements rather than attempting a single, massive construction project. We can talk through what the board thinks is a reasonable first project so we can start wrapping our heads around what that looks like, Ryan explained.

Community engagement emerged as a top priority for the board as they look toward the fall. Stephen, the board's newest member, advocated for renewed dialogue with local sports organizations to ensure the plan reflects the needs of active users. We would be remiss if we moved forward and people felt they weren't included, Stephen noted, adding that some groups may not have had sufficient input during earlier phases of the study.

Chair Carolyn echoed this sentiment, specifically highlighting the need for neighborhood-level outreach for sites like Andrews Park and Flatley Field. She expressed concern that residents living adjacent to major parks might feel blindsided by proposed changes if they are not brought into the process early. My biggest concern is that as we show what could be, people living in those areas will feel they weren't part of the process, Carolyn said. If we do a meeting highlighting Andrews Park, we should contact the East Milton Neighborhood Association and let them know. We want their input.

The board also addressed administrative housekeeping to ensure the project remains funded through its conclusion. Bonnie, representing the town’s finance staff, confirmed that a contract amendment for Tighe & Bond is moving through the signature process to cover the final two steps of the master plan. I'll send it to Tighe & Bond for a signature after the finance department and Nick sign, Bonnie told the board. The amendment finishes the allocation for the original proposal, which had been phased due to initial funding limits.