The Holy Ghost Reuse Committee met on October 28 to discuss components of a presentation planned for the Select Board. The volunteers had taken on the task of not only diligently reviewing options for the town-owned acreage and surveying the community’s wants, but what uses became the first and most relevant question the committee needed to answer. To reach a consensus, a survey was in order.
In January, after determining the best survey type, how to understand the collected data, and producing a report, the committee found passive recreational uses as the primary desired use.
During the October meeting, they revisited the survey results. There were 553 surveys submitted with the average age of respondents being 41 years of age. 80 were identified as non-full-time residents or non-residents from surrounding towns. The largest age group responding fell between 60 to 75 years of age. Respondents were also asked to share how frequently they might use the proposed renovated space. Then came the possibilities. What did they want?
A dog park and pickle ball courts rated high, but a study of the data showed it was nearly a tie between those wanting them and those not wanting them. For instance, those wanting pickle ball courts came in at 137 but the “no” responses were 163. The dog park was even closer of a tie, with 182 wanting one and 183 registering “no.”
Three passive recreational use options came out on top. Those suggestions were a picnic area (225), a playground (224), and a walking loop (270). They have now agreed to present those options to the Select Board as the primary uses desired by the committee at large. They believed that the noted three passive uses were not only the most popular, but also the easiest to accomplish.
Next step, meet with the Select Board. A December meeting will be arranged. Date and time to be announced.
Holy Ghost Reuse Committee
By Marilou Newell