Recreation Committee

Committee Inception:

During the Town Meeting of March 2004, the townspeople voted to create a committee to "develop the use of town land". The Board of Selectmen requested interested members of the community to volunteer their time and services to be a part of the committee. Committee members first met in June of 2004 and elected officers.

Mission Statement:

The Recreation Committee is dedicated to the development of town land by incorporating the following:

• Minimal financial impact to taxpayers.
• Build a stronger sense of community by preserving our natural resources
• Long term commitment to developing and maintaining the land
• Foster a healthy relationship and combined efforts with other groups and committees in town.

2005-2007

Over the past 3 years the Committee has been able to, with the help of many volunteers and the support of the residents accomplished the following:

• Federal grant for 28K secured for the nature trails were built. The trails span approx 1 ½ miles and connect the school to the town office. Trails also loop the town office and the older baseball fields.
  
• The land by the school has had substantial development including several works days that have yielded the road, parking area, seeded the grounds, and stumped the land, bleachers by the soccer field, vernal pools protection.
  
• The sign was resurrected and donated in 2006.
  
• Our permit was submitted to the state and approved. This permit was required to cover any future growth that the committee is planning on for fields.
  
• The soccer field was completed in time for the school season of 2007. This was a huge goal for the committee.
  
• Federal grant was secured for 33K to be used to create the boys Babe Ruth field. Preliminary work was started in the fall of 2007.

2008 - What is Happening Now?

Many hours of work have been taking place! Volunteers, local contractors have worked very hard and we have surpassed our goals this season.

• The girls softball field has been graded, seeded and the infield is almost complete.
• The boys Babe Ruth field has been brought to grade and by the end of the construction season will be completely loamed, seeded and the infields complete.
• Work has continued on the trails. We have been able to clear and stump some additional 4100 feet of trails.
• Our local boys and girl scout troops have created benches and nature signs for the trails. A map of the trails is available at the town office.
• A contest at the school was conducted and all of the trails and the new access roads have been officially named and signs will be going up soon.
• The committee is always researching new grants and we hope to apply for another trails grant before the annual town meeting.
• We are also working on our budget for next year. Our goal is to have all the fencing and dugouts completed for play in the spring of 2008.

Minot Recreational Trails (click to enlarge)

2009 and Beyond

• If funds are available we will complete all of the fencing and dugouts for both fields by early spring 2009 in time for the season.
• Continue work on expanding the trails
• After the base ball and softball fields are complete the committee will evaluate next steps and may survey the town for input. Things we have out for consideration:
• Focus on trails
• Irrigation to the fields
• Snack shack
• Well
• Lights
• Additional soccer field
• Football field
• Little League Baseball field

The Committee is grateful to the residents of the town for their continued support. We are always looking for members to serve and offer their talents on our committee.

The Town of Minot 's walking trails are open! These trails are for non-motorized recreation, including walking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The trails meander through the town owned land between the Minot Consolidated School , new ball fields, old ball fields and town office. You may view the trail map here: