2024 Annual Report - Public by Easton Recreation

Acknowledgements

Department Mission

ThemissionofEaston'sCommunityEngagement&Programming Departmentistopositivelyimpactthewell-beingofallEastonResidents throughinclusiveactivities,engagementopportunities,andprogramming.

OurofficeliaiseswithboththeRecreationCommission,andtheCouncilon Agingtounderstandandmeetcommunityneeds,developpolicies,andachieve eachboard’srespectivecharge.Weoweagreatdealtoourboardmembers. Theircommitmentandpassionforimprovingourcommunitycannotbe overstated.

Council on Aging

JimBenson,Chair

DonnaWelch,ViceChair

JeanShearing

MarjorieGoldstein-Fradin

ChristineMidura

MatthewSoeldner

LynnCleveland

Recreation Commission

TanaBabbitt,Chair

MeredithKeach,CPCLiaison

MichelleDurrance

JenniferGilabert

MelissaHartz

SarahMorrison

JessicaClifford

TotheCommunity

A note from the Department

Withanotheryearcomingtoaclose,ourteamisexcitedtohighlightthenew offerings,themilestones,andtheimpactwehavehadonthiscommunity.The membersofourdepartmenthaveenjoyedeveryminuteofservingour residents,andlookforwardtowhatwecanaccomplishinyearstocome.

FromreintroducingSchoolBreakProgramming,tocreatingchildcare programssuchasKidsNightOut,andafterschoolsportprograms,aswellas offeringdynamicfitnessandsocialprogramsforagingadults,ourofficewill continuetoprioritizetheconstantlyevolvingneedsofthistownandit’s residents.

Offeringprogramsthathelpfamiliesparticipateinactivitiesthatbringthem joy,buildhealthyhabits,andbuildingrelationshipswiththeirnumbersisan easyjobtolove.Ourteamisgratefulfortheopportunitytobringsomanyof youtogether.

Wehavecompiledthisannualreporttooutlinetheworkweloveanddoin servingyou.Thereportincludesdataonourreachthroughprograms, informationonparks,theindividualsthatmakeupourstaff,andechoesour office’svaluesandpriorities.

Weappreciateyoutakingthetimetoreadthisreport,andhopetoseeyouin ourprogramssoon.Thankyouandbewell!

CE&PSummary 2024

TheofficeofCommunityEngagement&Programmingstrivestoprovideprogrammingand servicesthatenhancethewell-beingofourresidents.

Ourquarterlyprogrambrochure,“EngagedinEaston”hasreachednearly25,000residents thisyear,highlightingallthatourofficehastooffer.TheCouncilonAging’snewsletter, “TheCoordinator”,highlightsprogramsspecificallyforolderadultsandhad1,200copies distributedmonthlytoEastonresidents.Thisyear,wewereabletoexpandthedistributionof

“TheCoordinator”tonewsitesincludingShovelWorksApartments,Avalon,Roche Brothers,andNorthEastonSavingsBank.

Easton’snewcommunityprogramportalhasbeenusedbynearlyfourthousandresidentsand helpedtofacilitateregistrationforouractivities.Ouroffice'sprogrammingeffortscontinue tooffernewandfamilyfriendlyactivitiessuchasfamilyfishingclinics,seasonalcardmaking classes,andpumpkindecoratingprograms.

LongstandingtraditionssuchastheEggHunt,Children’sRaces,MiddleSchoolMarch MadnessTournament,andTouchaTruckeventsreturnedascommunityfavorites,surpassed lastyear’srecord-settingparticipation.Additionally,wewereabletooffer34newprograms!

TheTownPoolprovidedrecreationforallagesduringthesummermonths,seeingovera thousandvisitors.ThisyearwepilotedourOpenSwiminitiative,whichofferedaccessatno charge,MondaythroughThursday.Wealsoprovidedthetown’sfirstbeachwheelchair, availabletoresidentsneedingmobilityassistancetoutilizethepool.

OursinceregratitudegoesouttoourcolleaguesinEastonPolice,Fire,andourDepartment ofPublicWorksfortheircontinuedsupportofourprogramsandfacilities.

COASummary 2024

TheCouncilonAging(COA)iscomprisedofsevenresidentrepresentativesactingasadvocatesfor Easton’sagingpopulation.Thegroupmeetsmonthlytodiscussinitiativesrelatedtoaging,changes tobenefits,andtownprogramming.

ProgramsthatcontinuetobeofferedatFrothinghamhallincludeyoga,healthyeating,senior fitness,Swedishweaving,artsandcrafts,cardsandgames,mahjong,andtaichi.

ThankstotheCOA’sguidance,aseriesofnewprogramssuchasFriendlyFeud,MemoryTraining, ScamPresentations,andFloralArrangementshavebeenintroduced.

VisitationtoFrothinghamHallforolderadultprogramstotaled+10,000residentsacrossfinancial assistance,healtheducation,counseling,andrecreationalactivities,foratotalof+29,000hoursof service.

Thehall’smonthlyprogrammingnewsletterforolderadults,“TheCoordinator”,hascontinuedto bedistributedthankstothehardworkofourstaffandvolunteers.Thenewslettercontinuesto provideentertainment,encouragement,andvitalinformationabouttransportationandfinancial servicesofferedbyourdepartmenttoseniors.1,300editionsofthisnewslettergooutonamonthly basistoEastonresidents.

Since2018,theCOAhasadvisedtownstaffonaspectsofourAARP-sponsoredAge-Friendly ActionPlan.Thisgroupcontinuestoprovideinvaluableperspectiveandinfluencethedirectionof thisinitiative.

TransportationhasbeenafocusforEastonresidentsthisyear.Through2024weprovided3,600 rides,aswellastrip-basedprogramstoTheMassArtsCenter,PatriotsTrainingCamp,PatriotsHall ofFame,FullerCraftMuseum,andtoatourofthePatriotsLighthouse.Eachyearourvolunteersfor Massachusetts“ServingtheHealthInsuranceNeedsofEveryone“(SHINE)assistresidentswith insuranceneedsandopenenrollment.Thisyearourvolunteershelpedover210seniorssavemoney ontheirmedicalcoverage.

Wearegratefultothemanygroups,facilitators,instructors,andvolunteerswhohavededicated theirtimetoenhancingtheopportunitiesweprovideourolderresidentsAspecialthank-youtothe ExecutiveOfficeofElderAffairs,EastonLionsClub,OldColonyElderServices,theBristolCounty Sheriff’sDept.,theBristolCountyDistrictAttorney’soffice,theEastonPoliceandFire Departments,andtheEastonFoodPantry,inadditiontosomanyothers.

RecreationSummary 2024

TheRecreationCommissionisa7-memberboardthatmeetsmonthlytohelpguideandfurther developtheofficeanditsprogramming.TheCommissionalsoservesasacorevolunteergroupfor departmentprogramsandinitiatives.

Afewprogramsthatreturnedin2024includedT-ball,TrackandField,Pickleballprograms,Adult Basketball,YouthandAdultFieldHockey,andUltimateFrisbee.Additionally,traditionssuchasthe EggHunt,Children’sRaces,andourFallPumpkindecoratingprogramtookplacearoundtown, offeringfunandaccessibleevents.Acrossthe142uniqueprogramsofferedthroughouttheyear,this departmentprovidedopportunitiesto2,555residents.

Theguidanceofthiscommissionhasledtotheimplementationof34newprogramssuchasour MockStockMarketprogram,KidsRunningClub,KidsNightOut,andFamilyScavengerHuntsat theTownPool.

TheTownPoolopenedJuly1st,2024,forthesummerseason.Weofferedswimlessonsforages3 andup,openswimandsenior,individualandfamilymemberships.Touch-A-Truckeventswere scheduledthroughoutthesummerthankstoourcolleaguesinPolice,Fire,andtheDepartmentof PublicWorks.Thisyear,withthehelpofpartnersinourtown’sSharedMissionGroup,ourteam waspleasedtointroduceourfirstbeachwheelchairatthetownpool,enhancingtheaccessibilityof thisfacility.

Additionally,thisgrouphasprovidedadvisementtothetownonseveralpublicinitiatives.These includeplanningtorestoreSwift’sPark,assistingwithEaston’sOutdoorSpace&RecreationPlan update,andsubmittingCPCapplicationsforSplashPadFeasibilityStudies,aswellasstudiesfor treatingNewPondofinvasivespecies.

EngagedinEaston,enteringitsthirdyearasapublication,hasbeenread+5,300times,and generated+25,000impressionsfromresidents.Wealsoestablishedourownsocialmediapages, whichhave+250followersonbothFacebookandInstagram.Recdesk,ourcommunityprogram portal,hasincreaseditsmembershipto+3,800users.

RecreationalAssets

Park & Fields Inventory

Inadditiontothepeoplerunningourprograms,recreational spacesarepivotaltorunningourdepartment.Ourteamis responsibleforoperating,programming,andfacilitatingrentals fortown-ownedrecreationassets.Thesespacesincludeparks, fields,ourpool,andFrothinghamHall.

5,680sqft COMMUNITY CENTER

+32 acres

RecreationalAssets

Visitation Numbers - Frothingham Hall

Recreation - 2024

Brochures Impressions

ProgramSatisfaction

Survey Summary

Ourdepartmentpridesitselfonprovidinghighqualityexperiences.Tosee howwearedoing,wedistributequestionnairesfollowingallprogramsin eachquarter.Questionsaskedparticipantsabouttheirperceptionsofthe programquality,facilityquality,valueoftheprogram,andthequalityof theinstructor.Surveyswereconductedusinga5-pointLikertscale.

SCORES

DepartmentPriorities

Why these priorities?

Attheheartofourdepartment’smissionisacommitmenttocreatingavibrant,inclusive communitythroughinnovativeprogrammingandequitableaccess.Byintroducingdiverse anddynamicnewprograms,weaimtoredefinerecreation,offeringopportunitiesthat enrichlives,fosterpersonalgrowth,andstrengthencommunitybonds.Recognizingthe importanceofempoweringthewomenofallagesinourcommunity,weprioritizetailored programstoaddresstheirlowerparticipationrates,asresearchunderscoresthe transformativebenefitsofrecreationonhealthandwell-being.Equally,ourfocuson"Recquity"ensuresthatallresidents,regardlessofbackgroundorability,feelwelcomedand valued.Byremovingbarriersandemphasizingsharedhumanity,wepromisetoprovide accessible,affordable,andmeaningfulopportunitiesthatcelebratethepassionsand connectionsthatuniteusall.

Rec-Quity & Inclusion

ProgramHighlights

Department Priorities

New Programs

Senior Cardio Dance

Balance Yoga

Friendly Feud

Bootcamp Fitness

Mock Investing & Financial Literacy

Technology 101

Floral Arrangement

Crafts

Dementia Support

Women in Programs

Girls Youth Field Hockey

Girls March Madness - 6th, 7th, 8th

Women’s Field Hockey

Co-ed TBall, Ultimate, & Floor Hockey

Women’s Pickup Basketball

Ladies Pickleball - Leagues & Tournaments

Kids Night Out

Animal Interactions

Noon Years Eve

Summer Olympics

Kids Running Club

DrumFit for Kids

Family Scavenger Hunts

Rec-Quity & Inclusion

ADA Beach Wheelchair

Shared Mission Group

Coffee Talks & Social Hours

Intergenerational & Family Programs

New Program Scholarship Providers $5/day priority

StaffSummary Staffing Highlights

Professional Development:

Joe Pitti:

MassachusettsRecreation&ParksAssoc.

ConferenceAttendee&RegionalRep.

CertifiedLifeguardManager

FEMAEmergencyResponse

CertifiedYouthSportsAdministrator

CertifiedParks&RecreationProfessional

Jeff Page:

MassachusettsRecreation&ParksAssoc.-

ConferenceAttendee

CertifiedYouthSportsAdministrator

ReframingAging-Programming&Age-

FriendlyCommunitiesTraining

RecordRetentionTraining

SocialMediaBestPracticesTraining

PCIComplianceTraining

MicrosoftOfficeSuiteTraining

Shea Matta:

MassachusettsRecreation&ParksAssoc.

ConferenceAttendee

MRPAInclusionCommitteeMember

ADAinRecreationTraining

AmericanRedCrossCPR/FA/AEDtrainin

SafeServCertified

MicrosoftOfficeSuiteTraining

Volunteer & Hourly Staff:

Preseasoncoaches/facilitatormeetings

Program-specificcoachingplans

Diffusingoutbursts&EmergencyResponse

Inclusivecommunicationandrequesting

modifications

HowWeConnect

Checkoutthesewaystokeepintouch!

Instagram&Facebook

QuarterlyBrochure-EngagedinEaston

MonthlySeniorBrochure-TheCoordinator

OurProgramPortal-RecDesk

TheTownCrier

StopbyFrothinghamHall!

ToOurSponsors

Thisyear,wewanttopublishaspecialthankyoutoourinaugural sponsors.Thesebusinesseshavehelpedourteamcreateanevenbetter Easton.

Localsponsorshipsnotonlyhelpprovidesafe,engaging,andaccessible programs.Theyallowresidentstolearn,grow,andbuildhealthyhabits.

Eachdollarthatasponsorcontributesgoesbeyondbuyinguniforms, renovatingparks,andofferinginclusiveprograms.Localsponsorships showthatbusinessescare,andareinvestedinbuildingathriving community.Ourappreciationforthesupportoftheselocalbusinesses cannotbeoverstated.Theyaretrulycommittedtothistownandit’s residents.

ToOur CommunityPartners

Thank you!

Thegroupsandorganizationsbelowhavebeenessentialcollaborators, andhavehelpedourdepartmentachieveourmissioneachandevery day.Throughthesepartnershipswehavebeenabletoexpandthereach andimpactofrecreationalinitiatives,ensuringourservices,and empoweringindividualsandfamiliestoleadhealthier,moreactive lifestyles.Wearebeyondgratefulforyourcontributions,your committmenttoourcommunity,yourfriendship