If re-elected to the Recreation and Parks Commission, lifelong resident of Marblehead with a background in physical education and health, Linda Rice-Collins, plans to improve the availability of sports programming in town.
Specifically, she would like to see increased availability of fields to practice and play on, maintenance of playing surfaces, and offering of recreation programs for all age groups, as well as the continued improvement of Marblehead’s passive parks.
If re-elected to the commission, Rice-Collins said she would focus on five main issues that concern her as chair of the Sports Committee by continuing to meet with all the sports groups to develop a plan and create a field-usage book. She would also like to work with the board to implement its six-year capital maintenance plan if funding is available.
In her candidate statement, Rice-Collins said she plans to make great use of her background in athletics and recreation by developing new athletic and nature programming.
Rice-Collins also discussed some of her goals for the passive parks in town.
“I am the chair of the Passive Parks Committee. The two pavilions at Chandler Hovey desperately need to be worked on,” Rice-Collins said. “We are also partnered with Sustainable Marblehead on a new tree and planting initiative on our properties.”
The Recreation and Parks Commission began to investigate the possibility of a complete renovation of Reynolds Playground six years ago, developing a proposal that would use the $2.2 million left to the commission by Lars Anderson to create a space that would honor his wishes regarding winter sports while at the same time improve the facility for over 3,500 users annually.
“Our proposal begins with $200,000 being placed in an escrow account for future repairs and maintenance to the property as they might be needed,” Rice-Collins said.
She added that she also plans on focusing on improving Reynolds Dog Park, creating new playing fields, and building a new ice rink.
“We feel that this plan will represent the hockey community, the recreational ice skating community, soccer, lacrosse, football, both girl’s and men’s softball, and baseball, along with the dog owners in town and MCCPS (Marblehead Community Charter Public School),” Rice-Collins said.