WILTON — Several plans for parks and recreation development are in the works in Wilton, including new equipment becoming available for residents to rent and the beautification of Bass Park.

Recreation Department Director Frank Donald presented his department report to the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday night, including the development of several projects and programs the department is beginning to conceptualize and plan.

At Bass Park, a further beautification effort is scheduled to start in May with the removal of an asphalt loop that used to accommodate parking.

In July a new public parking lot was completed next to the park to free up the loop space in the park, which will be seeded and turned into a grassy area. Donald said new playground equipment may be added in the area once the grass grows in over the summer.

The gazebo in the park will be moved to Bishop Park in East Wilton. The intention is to replace the old gazebo with a larger one that could accommodate concerts and functions, Donald said.

A gazebo of that size would cost $6,000 to $8,000, he said. The department is seeking donations to add to the $1,500 presently set aside for the construction of the gazebo. Donald said they intend to raise money or accept community donations in the form of carpentry labor to complete the gazebo project.

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Last summer the Recreation Department received $7,000 worth of equipment from the Healthy Community Coalition to be used by Wilton residents at Kineowatha Park on Wilson Lake. The donation included six single kayaks, two tandem kayaks, one canoe and four paddleboards.

“(The equipment) is targeting getting young people out and active and in the water,” Donald said.

The equipment went relatively unused last summer because the Recreation Department was working on a rental system to make the equipment available to residents in a fair way, Donald said.

Donald told selectmen the recreation committee is developing a rental agreement that would require someone who wants to rent the equipment to leave a driver’s license or an identification card with the equipment attendant while on the lake. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult to rent the equipment.

Donald said he is working on figuring out staffing of the building where the equipment is housed to ensure that there is “some way to monitor that (equipment) comes back.”

Also in Kineowatha Park, the selectmen agreed on scheduling a winter walk through the trail system to determine what needs to be addressed as far as forest management and trail maintenance.

Lauren Abbate — 861-9252

labbate@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @Lauren_M_Abbate


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