JUNE 2018 COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WITH UTILITIES For the Town of Hillsborough The purpose of this Chapter is to evaluate Hillsborough’s community meet some of these needs are provided throughout the Chapter. Town and recreation facilities, including utilities. Providing and maintaining Department heads were interviewed for a report on the status of their the essential services of a community are primary functions of department’s facilities, staffing, and equipment. They were also asked government. As the population and demographics of the community to provide an assessment of their current and anticipated future needs. grow and change over time, it is important that the community make An important component to a high quality of life, recreation provides a adjustments in its delivery of services to meet the needs of residents. much-needed means of stress reduction and physical well-being. Historically, rural communities in New Hampshire have provided very Recreational facilities also provide residents with a place to interact and limited community facilities and services. In many cases, community create a sense of community that is beneficial to people of all ages. In facilities were limited to only a Town Hall and later, public school. recent years, numerous studies have identified that recreational However, as the population of the state increased, more services have facilities and programs also give children and teenagers a place to go. been required to meet the needs of residents. Today, communities are Utilities inventoried within the town of Hillsborough include broadband, expected to provide full-time police protection, fire protection, as well water supplies, and the wastewater treatment facility. Utilities are the as highway crews, recreational facilities, and professional administrators backbone of everyday life in small and large towns alike, and to manage daily operations of local government. recommendations are proposed in order to enhance or expand their For community facilities, this Chapter will inventory and assess current delivery. Town facilities, identify publicly sponsored programs, identify and assess the adequacy of existing equipment, and also identify current and long-term staffing needs. In addition, recommendations on how to COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WITH UTILITIES HILLSBOROUGH MASTER PLAN 2018 6.1 JUNE 2018 OBJECTIVES OF THE CHAPTER HILLSBOROUGH VISIONING SESSION OBJECTIVE 1 Residents who attended the Hillsborough Visioning Session Inventory and evaluate the Town of Hillsborough’s existing community demonstrated their high appreciation of the Town’s natural and recreational facilities and services. resources; however, many felt there is a lack of awareness OBJECTIVE 2 of access points, which limited them from being able to use Anticipate the Town’s future community and recreational facilities and the Town’s resources as much as they wished. Support was service needs. shown for the development of trails in Town, which would not only provide recreation opportunities for residents but OBJECTIVE 3 also bring tourists into Hillsborough. Offer creative means of meeting the future facility and service needs. It was discussed by attendees that a community center is a OBJECTIVE 4 high priority need in Town. It was felt that the center would Recommend innovative Town community and recreational facilities that be beneficial to residents of all ages and could include will foster a greater sense of community in Hillsborough. recreation facilities such as a pool or basketball hoops. OBJECTIVE 5 It was felt that there are currently few choices in Recognize and seek to overcome the geographic challenges to providing broadband providers and that Town officials should be services to all Town residents. more proactive in getting a wider range of choices. Attendees also mentioned that many areas of Town seem to have poor cell phone reception. 6.2 HILLSBOROUGH MASTER PLAN 2018 COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WITH UTILITIES JUNE 2018 COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS respectively) followed by rescue/ambulance services (71.3%) and police protection (70.4%). In those categories in which many residents had no In order to gain input from residents, a community survey was available opinion or declined to answer (welfare, cemetery care, zoning that covered a variety of topics, including several questions related to administration & enforcement, health regulations and enforcement, facilities and services available in Hillsborough. Like many other planning regulation administration and enforcement, and animal communities in the Central NH Region, Hillsborough has a long history control), respondents provided a moderately favorable rating. This of residents with strong ties and commitment to their community. indicates that, of the people dealing with those specific Town Completed in 2015, responses showed resident’s high appreciation of departments or services, the majority was mostly satisfied. recreational opportunities, including recreational trails, the Contoocook and Piscataquog Rivers, and nearby Deering Reservior. The majority of In response to the question regarding Town spending, many responders rated Town services as “Good”, noting the amount of respondents indicated that the current amount of spending was funding allocated should remain the same for the majority of adequate to maintain Town services. Residents would like to see more departments and services. spending on road maintenance (54.0%), parks and recreation (40.2%), and the library (34.7%). Hillsborough residents are most satisfied with fire protection, snow removal and library services (76.8%, 74.9%, and 72.2% “good” rating WHAT WE HEARD… “The internet is adequate, but “Maintain, clean, keep inviting for public use. very expensive.” Grimes Field is a town focal point and supports our youth.” “Would love to see some indoor activities for kids, specifically sports” “Your snow removal services are outstanding on most roads and sidewalks.” COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WITH UTILITIES HILLSBOROUGH MASTER PLAN 2018 6.3 JUNE 2018 COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES QUESTIONS Community Survey Question 36: Please indicate what recreational facilities you would like to see the Community Survey Question 35: Town develop: Should the Town invest in improving the following areas? Q. 36 Total Percent Q. 35 Yes No No Total Bicycle Paths 153 53.1% Opinion Recreational Trails (all types) 153 53.1% Butler Park 26.1% 39.5% 34.5% 261 Canoe/ Boat Path (local rivers) 139 48.3% Manahan Park 37.2% 24.8% 38.0% 266 Community Center 128 44.4% Grimes Field 51.1% 18.4% 30.5% 272 Seasonal Ice Rink 113 39.2% Stone Arch Bridges 29.6% 37.3% 33.1% 260 Picnic Areas 107 37.2% Beard Brook Swimming Hole 28.1% 34.8% 37.1% 267 Senior Center 101 35.1% Kemp Park 20.5% 30.6% 48.8% 258 Playground 100 34.7% Community Survey Question 37: Swimming Areas 91 31.6% Do you have access to broadband internet that is adequate for your Wildlife Preserves 90 31.3% needs? Cultural Activities 88 30.6% Town Forest 82 28.5% Q. 37 Total Percent Sports Fields 61 21.2% Yes 238 80.7% Basketball (outdoor) 55 19.1% No 32 10.9% Hunting and Fishing 49 17.0% No Opinion 25 8.5% Basketball (indoor) 38 13.2% Total 295 100.0% None. Recreational facilities in Town are 22 7.6% adequate Community Survey Question 38: No Opinion 10 3.5% Should the Town investigate the development of WIFI broadband access in the Central Business District? Community Survey Question 39: Should the Town investigate the development of WIFI broadband access Q. 38 Total Percent throughout Hillsborough? Yes 115 39.8% Q. 39 Total Percent No 73 25.3% No Opinion 101 35.0% Yes 120 42.6% Total 289 100.0% No 86 30.5% No Opinion 76 27.0% Total 282 100.0% 6.4 HILLSBOROUGH MASTER PLAN 2018 COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WITH UTILITIES JUNE 2018 Community Survey Question 40: Community Survey Question 43a: Do you have adequate cell phone coverage? Please note how well you think the Town is performing with the Q. 40 Total Percent following Town Services. Yes 199 66.3% No 84 28.0% Zoning Administration & Enforcement No Opinion 17 5.7% Total 300 100.0% Welfare Garbage Disposal & Recycling Community Survey Question 41: Snow Removal Have you participated in any of the following? School System Q. 41 Often Occasi Rarely Never Road Maintenance onally Schnitzelfest 21.7% 25.7% 17.3% 35.3% Rescue/Ambulance Service Balloon Fest 47.8% 32.9% 12.8% 6.6% Police Protection Farmers Market 26.3% 45.9% 14.8% 13.0% Planning Regulation Admin. &… Living History Event 27.8% 22.0% 13.7% 36.5% Artisans Fair 12.6% 38.2% 16.1% 33.1% Parks and Recreation Concerts in Butler Park 10.8% 26.5% 22.1% 40.6% Art in the Park 8.1% 23.9% 22.7% 45.3% Natural Resource Conservation Old Fashioned Christmas (Cookie 11.5% 15.2% 12.4% 60.9% Library Walk) Health Regulations a& Enforcement Community Survey Question 42: Fire Protection Should the Franklin Pierce Homestead be open year round? Cemetery Care Q. 42 Total Percent Animal Control Yes 48 16.3% No 100 34.0% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% No Opinion 146 49.7% Good Fair Poor No Opinion Total 294 100.0% COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WITH UTILITIES HILLSBOROUGH MASTER PLAN 2018 6.5 JUNE 2018 Community Survey Question 43b: CONSERVATION AND RECREATION FACILITIES QUESTIONS How much money should the Town invest on each service? Community Survey Question 19: What resources in Town do you think should be protected? (Please Zoning Administration & Enforcement check all that apply). Welfare Q. 19 Total Percent Garbage Disposal & Recycling Lakes/Pond 280 93.3% Snow Removal Aquifers 242 80.7% School System Forests 252 84.0% Road Maintenance Natural Habitat 235 78.3% Rescue/Ambulance Service Wetlands 215 71.7% Fields/Agriculture 203 67.7% Police Protection Fish/Wildlife Management 228 76.0% Planning Regulation Admin.