WHITMAN — The Recreation Commission reminds residents of plans for its 49th Annual Family Fun Day in Whitman Park for the 4th of July.
Recreation Director Oliver Amado outlined the schedule of events and equipment upgrades during the commission’s Thursday, June 22 meeting.
“Everything’s been all set for the 4th of July for the last three months,” he said.
A water slide, music, clowns, moon walk, field day races and games, a dunk tank and egg tosses, touch-a-truck and more. The 5K road race, which preceded park events will not be part of the Recreation Commission’s events, should it take place.
But the commission is considering a run around the park perimeter if DPW work on path improvements is completed in time.
Amado replaced all field day equipment for this year’s events.
The schedule starts at 9:30 a.m., with the bike and carriage decorating contest, featuring more prize categories. The Family Fun Day games run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the pool open free of charge for residents from 1 to 5 p.m.
The Boy Scouts will again be selling hot dogs and hamburgers, snacks and drinks to fund their programs.
Park and pool
Amado also reported during the meeting that income for the summer park program has already reached the level needed to fund the program and all planned field trips this summer, with more money expected to come in.
“If money should stop coming in — which it won’t — it’s already enough for five weeks of labor, supplies and trips,” he said. “It’s already paid for.”
Any additional income would go toward more staff should enrollment for the program continue to grow as expected as well as to reinvest into the program for equipment and any other needs.
The pool program is also in the black for eight of the nine weeks offered between Town Meeting Article 2 and revolving accounts.
“We should be hearing bells go off,” said Commission member June O’Leary. “That’s amazing.”
Amado said a lot of money has been invested in the pool and park program this year. JJ Pools vacuums the pool every 10 days for $100 each time, and conducts daily spot-checks of the pump and chlorine levels — even though pool staff also does that — at no additional cost.
“We’re in real, real good shape,” he said. “Right now people are talking about how crystal clear the water is — you could read a quarter this morning from the bottom of the deep end. The quality of the water is bringing in people in droves.”
The autumn hockey league, which has just started accepting registration is up to $850, according to Amado and field use fees have brought in nearly $6,000.