WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE – 06/17/25

PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION 

At its Tuesday meeting, the Parks & Recreation Commission learned that there will be available funding at the end of FY 25, on June 30th, to replace Carrigan Park’s dilapidated fence, discussed with abutters at a May 28th meeting. In other business, it was announced that the boat dock at Sandy Beach has been installed; a program to schedule pickleball playing time via the PlayTime Scheduler app for three courts off Fruit Street was discussed; and a Pyne Field update was given. The department’s July 22nd meeting will be dedicated to further discussions regarding Pyne Field. Additionally, the Parks & Rec director was set to present the department’s project updates to the CPC at its Thursday night meeting. 

Parks & Rec to replace deteriorating Carrigan Park fence (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 06/10/25)

COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE 

At its Thursday meeting, the Community Preservation Committee heard quarterly project updates from department / commission representatives and unanimously voted to extend completion deadline dates for all outstanding projects. These included projects by Parks & Rec, the Housing Authority, the Cemetery Commission, the Historical Society, and the Open Space Preservation Commission. In other business, the committee elected member Ken Weismantel as committee liaison to the Center School restoration subcommittee under the Permanent Building Committee.  

CPC votes to extend deadlines for projects not yet completed (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 06/13/25)

SCHOOL COMMITTEE 

At its Thursday meeting, the School Committee heard a final report and bid farewell to Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh in her last meeting before her retirement, and elected Kyla McSweeney as chair with Susan Stephenson as vice chair for the committee’s new term. The board also approved a proposal for Hopkinton to join an existing gymnastics co-op with neighboring towns for winter 2025-26 to provide an option for interested female student athletes, and approved lease payments with Apple to come out of FY26 technology budget. Among other business, the board agreed that incoming superintendent Evan Bishop would serve on the ACCEPT Collaborative and Education Collaborative’s board of directors. 

School Committee reorganizes, bids superintendent farewell (Article by Susan Gonsalves, 06/13/25)