Recreation Panel Clears Six New Park Hires

Recreation Commission · Meeting of April 27, 2026

Kingston Recreation Commission flags dog waste risk at Graves Beach. Commissioners approved April meeting minutes 3-0 and heard that the department is managing 160 spring and summer activities and roughly 3,600 hours of field and building use, with 2,300 program registrations logged in the first two days registration opened. Conservation agent Matt Vanella raised alarms after a Facebook post described repeated dog waste along Graves Beach, warning that bacteria contamination has forced swimming closures before; fines up to $300 are possible under Conservation Commission rules, though there's currently no clear way to enforce them beyond conservation staff.

The mowing contract for the athletic complex now runs about $50,000 a year, commissioners said. The commission cleared six new seasonal park hires for Select Board approval and thanked outgoing members Pat and Suzanne, plus longtime field volunteer Todd, "who's been doing the field... and spent hours and hours."

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• The complete report — 735 words

Source: the Recreation Commission meeting of April 27, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.