Commission on Disability talks accessibility with Parks & Rec director

Parks & Recreation Department Director Jon Lewitus appeared before the Commission on Disability on Monday night to discuss the department’s inclusivity efforts and take suggestions for accessibility improvements.

Since becoming the department’s director in September 2023, Lewitus said he has been “expanding our offerings” with a focus on inclusivity.

“At Parks & Rec, our biggest thing is listening to the community, getting feedback from the community and seeing how we can serve everyone,” he said.

While people’s initial perception of Parks & Rec may be youth sports, Lewitus said the department’s programming goes deeper despite its limited space. The department offers pickup leagues in several sports for adults, adult pickleball lessons and a variety of adult classes. The free summer concert series and summer movie nights present offerings from different genres to attract all ages.

Lewitus said he has been able to form partnerships with the School Department and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts to utilize their spaces as well.

“One of the big things is trying to knock down any barriers that prevent people from participating in programs,” he added.

To that end, the summer playground program, which is run like a summer camp, is intentional about inclusivity.

“A lot of that is including kids who are on [individualized education programs] or who have physical, emotional or cognitive disabilities,” said Lewitus. “Our biggest thing is giving as many reasonable accommodations as we can for any of the programs that we offer.”

Lewitus participated on the Adaptive Playground Committee and said he was happy that the article about its creation passed at the May 5 Annual Town Meeting. He noted its proximity to EMC Park.

COD member Nancy “Punky” Drawe praised the department for “It’s a Puzzler,” a team jigsaw puzzle competition that has attracted many participants from the Senior Center.

Drawe said it was a fun opportunity for intergenerational connection she hoped would be expanded, even though she jokingly admitted being on the last team to finish. Lewitus agreed it has been popular and may be offered several times a year.

Alex Danahy, the COD vice chair, mentioned the lack of accessible parking as a deterrent for people with disabilities attending events on the Town Common, and Drawe agreed. Danahy noted that he cannot use his vehicle’s ramp on grass and suggested that the town look at a paved surface. He currently has to park at Center School and “wheel over” using his wheelchair.

Lewitus said he has spoken with Dave Daltorio, the town’s engineer/facilities director, about the situation and would follow up with him.

Drawe added that to get that one parking space, she has to arrive hours in advance of a concert. By the time she navigates her way onto the Town Common with a walker or crutches, seats on the one bench are taken. She requested that more benches or folding chairs be made available and asked about curb cuts to improve accessibility.

Lewitus noted that the Hopkinton Garden Club is donating a bench that will be located next to the Town Common water fountain. He will bring the request for more seating to the Parks & Recreation Commission for its review.

Later in the meeting, Nancy Cavanaugh, a COD member and the School Committee chair, noted that the new Charleswood School is “planning for an adaptive playground” as well.

“It really should be the norm in this day and age,” Danahy said.

“We need to have all projects have an accessibility component,” added COD chair Holly Morand.

Along those lines, COD member Praveen Hariharan suggested looking at accessibility improvements that can be made at town parks and Hopkinton State Park.

Danahy noted that he has had recent discussions with FedEx drivers who he said frequently use the accessible parking spaces at CVS on Main Street, as well as at BoMain and the Town Common.

“I was told that they are told by the corporate office to do this,” he said. “They say it’s because they are only running in for a minute.”

Members suggested reaching out to the corporate office to discourage the practice, noting it is illegal to park there without a driver having a placard.

Cavanaugh suggested that the Hopkinton Police Department eventually consider implementing a ticketing program that could capture license plate numbers of offenders on camera.

Drawe said she liked the concept of having guest speakers such as Lewitus. She suggested inviting new school Superintendent Evan Bishop to a future meeting, along with the person who will replace him as the Hopkinton High School principal.

Cavanaugh said an ideal person to invite is Jessica Beattie, the district’s new director of student services, who is a Hopkinton resident. Having served in this role in the Holliston Public Schools, she could work with the COD to identify student and overall community needs. Beattie will begin her new role July 1.

Hopkinton Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) members will be asked to join a future meeting to talk about their children’s experiences and challenges.

Morand said connecting with the schools is important, as proposed federal cuts to the Department of Education will impact students with disabilities and the resources available to them.

Another suggestion Drawe made was to invite Commission on Disability members from other towns to learn from their experiences.

The next meeting is scheduled for June 23.