Pre-COVID Southborough Summer campers enjoying the outdoors.
By Liz Nolan, Contributing Writer
SOUTHBOROUGH – Summer camp, summer concerts, and summer movies are all returning this year as part of programs being offered by Southborough Recreation. Director Tim Davis is excited to get the department back to regular programming, which is already seeing high registration rates.
“The focus is to make sure operation gets back to where it needs to be,” Davis said. “We are not here to make money, but ensure residents are out having fun, and kids are staying healthy and with friends.”
Newly constructed playground located at 17 Common Street behind Southborough Town House.
Downtime last year used wisely
Davis said the department used the program shutdown last summer to work on capital projects, such as refinishing a soccer field, installing new basketball courts, and completing two athletic lighting projects. Additionally, the playground behind the Town House was replaced with new equipment and is ADA compliant.
“With schools being closed (last year), it gave us an opportunity to get site projects underway,” he said. “Overall, we switched gears and instead of programs, we put effort into facilities.”
Some programs ran well virtually over the last year, such as yoga. The annual Gobble Wobble Road Race for Thanksgiving was held virtually and was an overall success.
However, nothing replaces on-site programming, which is now the focus of the department.
Newly constructed outdoor basketball court at Fayville Playground located on Central Street in Southborough
Summer camp returns
Summer camp will run full days, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., beginning the end of June. Registration is on a week-by-week basis and children will be grouped by age (3-6 and 7-11).
New this year, camp for both age groups will be held at one site at Woodward Elementary School. This will be more convenient for parents and eliminate the need for drop-off at two different locations.
Summer camp is open to non-residents and available spaces are filling up quickly.
Davis said it was also purposeful to offer camps this summer at a low, affordable rate given the pandemic and the realization that financial hardships are present in the town.
In July, a new program, Viking Sports Ninja, is being offered for a Warrior Week.
“It’s a unique obstacle course and is athletic based, gets kids moving, and is health focused,” Davis said.
New programs not in the brochure are being added so Davis encourages people to check the website frequently.
The Friends of Southborough Recreation’s Annual Gobble Wobble was held virtually, but families and individuals in and out of state had fun.
Family summer fun
Another true sign of summer normalcy is the return of eight weeks of the Southborough Recreation’s summer concert series and movies in the park. The concerts and movies are free and will be held on alternating weeks starting on Wednesday, June 30 with a performance by Knock on Wood. Concerts will be held from 6-8 p.m. at Neary School Field and the movies will begin at dusk at Depietri Field at Neary School.
Collaborations continue
Davis is proud that the Recreation Department partners with other community resources, such as the library, Family Youth Services, schools, and town youth sport leagues.
“It’s always a team effort,” he said.
Programs are added frequently and can be found at https://southboroughma.myrec.com. Questions can be directed to [email protected] or 508-229-4452. Follow on Facebook @southboroughrec and Twitter @sbororec.
