Click on one of the links below for more information about Hanover Parks & Recreation.

About the Parks & Recreation Committee

Annual Report

Current Park & Recreation Committee Members
Members of the Park & Recreation Committee

Parks & Recreation Staff / Contact Us
Benefits of Recreation
Downloads
Related Links

Bandstand Concerts

About the Parks & Recreation Committee

Background

The Hanover Park and Recreation Committee is a six member appointed Board which was first established as the Playground Committee at the March 1930 Annual Town Meeting, and reestablished under the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws (M.G.L.) Chapter 45, Section 14.  For Additional Information see Section 4-18 of the Town of Hanover General Bylaws.

History of the Hanover Park and Recreation Committee

Click here to download a History of the Hanover Park and Recreation Committee

Purpose

"Recreation's purpose is not to kill time, but to make life, not to keep a person occupied, but to keep them refreshed; not to offer an escape from life, but to provide a discovery of life." (Author Unknown)
 

Annual Report (2004/2005)

Recreational Programs

The Summer program managed by Maggie Gallagher and Craig Johnson, continues to be our most popular and successful. Over 450 children aged 6 years and up participated in a wide-rage of activities, including weekly field trips, arts and crafts and theatrical play.

Summer Basketball and tennis programs continue to have growing attendance. The children get the assistance to improve their basic fundamentals and the practice to improve their game. These programs are in conjunction with HYAA and Mark Malloy for basketball and Adam Souza for tennis.

The Learn to Ski/Snowboard program has been very successful under the direction of Matt Peredna and Eric Newcomb. The Blue Hills improvements made by Ragged Mountain have dramatically increased the snow conditions.

Field Improvements

The B. Everett Hall field improvements were completed. The addition of the new playground for the younger children’s enjoyment is apparent in the attendance on a daily basis. The construction of the playground and its funding was due to The New Playground Committee and the many Hanover residents who helped with the construction and generous donations.

The Hanover Department of Public Works and HYAA continue to provide the support necessary for the Parks and Recreation Committee to improve and maintain the town fields. A special thanks for Douglas McLaughlin, the previous Chairman for Hanover Parks and Recreation for his many hours donated to completing the New Playground.

Respectfully submitted,

Douglas McLaughlin, Chairman
Arthur Ceurvels, Jr.
Stephen Carroll
Linda DiNardo
Kathleen Flanagan
John Gabriel, Jr

Current Park & Recreation Committee Members

Click here to view or download the current Park and Recreation Committee  membership with committee designations, addresses, and terms of service.

Members of the Park & Recreation Committee*

(*Formerly the Playground Committee) (Current & Former)

PeEdmund Q. Sylvester (1930)
Stanley A. Briggs (1930)
William A. Flynn (1930)

George L. Legg (1947-51)
Alfred G. Lovell (1947-61)
William W. Lloyd (1947-60)
Calvin J. Ellis (1951)
Edward F. Schofield (1952-56)
Austin E. Briggs (1956-58)
Harry E. Gerrish (1959-66)
Kenneth R. Lingley (1960-65)
Paul Demers (1965-73)
John L. Merrick (1966-73)

(1967 Playground Committee extended to six members.)

Preston A. Landers (1967-68)
William L. Cicchese (1967-69)
John D. MacBain, Jr. (1967-73, 1978-79)
Robert J. Boyle (1969-73)
Richard J. Collins (1969-74)

(1971 Playground Committee became Park and Recreation Committee.)

John W. MacDougall, Jr. (1973-76)
Harold S. Smith (1973-75)
Paul P. Basiliere (1973-74)
Diana Morris (1974-78)
Gene G. Macomber (1974-78)
George Ronald Babineau (1974-78, 1980-82)
Ronald K. Whitt (1976-79)
Audrey Yeingst (1976-80)
Michael A. O’Malley (1976-88)
Judith A. Brooks (1978-83)
Patricia Beers (1978-80)
Ernest MacFadgen (1978-81)
Robert J. Flynn (1980-81)
Mary Miele (1980-82)
Thomas J. Scannell (1981-88)
Peter D. McIntyre (1982-84)
Donald F. Buckley (1982-88)
Darrell Brandon (1984-88)
James DiGravio (1987-89)
Arthur Ceurvels, Jr. (1988-06)
Ralph Lordi (1988-90)
John L. Gabriel, Jr. (1988-06)
Robert Shea (1988-89)
Sydney E. Elliott, III (1988-92)
Barbara J. Stone (1989-91)
Patricia Shea (1989-98) (Also Bandstand Committee Representative)
Mark Harrington (1990-99)
Kathleen A. Flanagan (1992-07)
Christine Keegan (1992-02)
Linda DiNardo (1998-07) (Also Bandstand Committee Representative)
Douglas J. McLaughlin (1999-05)
Stephen J. Carroll (2002-08)
Cathy Harder-Bernier (2005-08)

Parks & Recreation Staff / Contact Us

Recreation Administrator:  J. Ted Carroll, CLA

Phone:  781-826-7529

Fax:  781-826-5950

Address:

Hanover Park and Recreation Committee

550 Hanover Street

Hanover, MA  02339

Benefits of Recreation*

(*From "The Benefits Catalogue," Canada)

1)  Recreation and active living are important to personal health:

Recreation and active living helps people live longer – adding up to two years to life expectancy.
Recreation, fitness, sports, and active living significantly reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke – the leading cause of death in United States.
Recreation, fitness, sports, and active living combats diabetes – the fourth ranking killer disease (after heart disease, cancer, and respiratory disease).
Recreation, fitness, sports, and active living has been shown to help in preventing site specific cancers – particularly in the colon, breast and lungs.
Recreation, fitness, sports, active living, parks and arts/culture all contribute to mental health – reducing stress, reducing depression, and contributing to emotional/psychological well-being.
Recreation is important to balanced human development – helping people reach their potential.
Recreation is essential to the development of our children and youth: We learn motor skills (physical) through play and sports. We learn social skills through play and sports. We learn creativity through play and arts/cultural activity. We develop intellectual capacities and concepts through play – and many other life skills.
Recreation and parks are important to quality of life.
Recreation, sports, and arts/culture build self-esteem and positive self-image – foundations to personal quality of life.
Recreation, parks, sports, and arts/culture enhance perceived quality of life – for individuals, families, and communities.
Recreation, sports, and arts/culture reduce self-destructive behaviour and negative social activity in youth – an antidote to smoking, substance abuse, suicide, and depression.

2)  Recreation and parks build stronger families and healthier communities:

Families that play together – stay together. Children and youth remain connected; couples that share leisure interests are more likely to stay together.
Recreation, sports, and arts/culture produce leaders who serve their communities in many ways.
Recreation, sports, and arts/culture build social skills and stimulates participation in community life.
Recreation and parks are often the catalysts that build strong, self-sufficient communities (sports groups, arts guilds, adopt-a-park).
Recreation, parks, sports, and arts/culture build pride in a community.

3)  Recreation and parks are significant economic generators.

Recreation, sports, and fitness improves work performance – increased productivity, decreased absenteeism, decreased staff turnover, reduced ‘on the job’ accidents.
Recreation, parks, and arts/culture attract businesses to the community – prime economic development and relocation magnets.
Parks and open spaces increase property value, and therefore tax revenue, on adjacent land – many developers are automatically including parkland, golf courses, etc. as marketing features.

Downloads

Click on the links below to see Parks & Recreation related Downloads:

Bylaws & Regulations

Maps & GIS

Forms, Permits & Applications

Related Links

Town of Hanover Website
Hanover Bandstand Committee
Hanover Youth Athletic Association
Hanover Youth Hockey Association
Hanover Public Schools
Hanover High School Athletics Calendar

John Curtis Library
Massachusetts Recreation and Park Association

Massachusetts State Website

National Recreation and Park Association

South Shore Moms and Dads Guide

Hanover Mariner