By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Signs of spring? Projects!
Tennis/Pickleball
Putnam’s new Recreation Director James Callaghan said plans to refurbish all or part of the tennis courts on Church Street are underway. First on his list is turning one of the tennis courts into a pickleball court. “Pickleball is still the plan for now,” he said. He is currently working on getting specs for that so a Request for Proposals can be written up. “We hope to go out for bids on that in the next couple months.”
As for the tennis courts, Callaghan called that plan “still fluid.” “We’ll need an engineer to go out, take a look at and see what’s feasible.” Then the town will know more about what’s possible. “There’s still the need but we need to find a way to go about it,” he said.
St. Marie-Greenhalgh
The town recently applied for a $1 million state Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant. If the town is successful in getting the grant, it would kick in $200,000, Callaghan said. A good bit of the funds would be used to replace or refinish the track there.
Callaghan said “An engineering firm has been out and they took borings from the track to see how extensive of a replacement or refurbishment we need.”
He added there are some side projects they would also like to do including, fencing, seating (the stands). Down the road, he said the announcer’s booth, concession stand and the scoreboard as well could use an update.
He said the grant application was supported with letters of support from WPTP, the football program, the school district and the American Red Cross since the Relay for Life is held at the complex.
Little League – Old Fields
Callaghan also said the department is working with the Little League, “coordinating with them about revamping the dugouts there. Currently the two dugouts are benches sitting with fence surrounds. “There are benches there, but no overhead protection from the elements.” The Little League is doing it and the department is coordinating.
He said the first phase might be putting down concrete slabs and then eventually, perhaps next year, they’ll be putting a structure on top Callaghan expects the town may help with “the heavy stuff” for that project.
Online
The Parks and Recreation Department is now online in every way possible.
The Rec Desk allows players to sign up and pay online. Vendors for events can also register online. This alleviates time taken in the office to do this with paper and pencil. And “no more mailing cash.” The next big registration is for Summer Camp – registrations started April 1. There’s also the Jack Benny League, senior trips, fireworks donations, Youth Hoops in the winter.
That website is:
Putnam.rec.desk.com
There’s also a Putnam Parks and Recreation page now on Facebook. In addition there is a Putnam Recreation for Kids Facebook page. There’s also a Commission on Aging section on the town’s Facebook page.
Fleshing Out New Projects
Callaghan said he’s started to think about something like Spotlight Saturday which would feature vendors, musicians, businesses, artists — all local. “I still have a ways to go to flesh it out,” he said. Some town events are big draws, like fireworks and Fire and Ice, but others are smaller — call them niche. “I want to make sure there’s something for everyone,” he said.
He also congratulated Putnam’s Youth Hoops senior boys’ team for winning the 2025 Paul Wentworth tournament in March. Putnam was the host. “Our volunteers and our staff did a great job, making sure the tournament went smoothly. It was awesome, especially since the Putnam team won one of the levels.”
caption, page 1:
The track at the St. Marie-Greenhalgh complex. More photos on page 4. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page. Linda Lemmon photo.
captions, page 4:
One of the dugouts.
Little League scoreboard