67 respondents The average was either a household with 2 adults and 2 kids or a household with seniors.
Sports:
The most popular that adults and kids currently participate in are soccer, basketball, baseball, pickleball, cycling, hiking, and skiing.
In addition to sports that are offered in Cornwall and Regionally, people would like to have lacrosse, badminton, cycling group, yoga, and hiking.
Some other comments were to add more pickleball courts, more youth sports, and maintenance at Foote Field in general.
The Commission looked at these suggestions to see what we can add and what is already offered in town. There are many yoga classes already offered at The Union in West Cornwall and several conservation groups offer hikes; therefore we feel our energy is better spend on other areas. We are working on offering some intramural sports that would be played in Cornwall. We need coaches in order to be able to offer a wide range of activities. If you are interested in teaching a sport please reach out to park.recreation@cornwallct.gov.
Community Events:
The top 5 events that people attended in the last 2 years (2022 & 2023) were Halloween, Town Picnic, July Fest, Taste of Cornwall, and Clean Up Cornwall. The Commission so appreciates all the positive comments and support that was shown for the work that is put into all the events. We have been working hard to address some of the suggestions to improve vegetarian options, more food trucks, and creating a layout that will lead to shorter lines for Taste of Cornwall, as well as improving the sound for movie nights.
Events for 21 and over and outings had such a wide range of suggestions that it clearly showed the diversity of what Cornwallians like to do. Many suggestions for outings to museums or historical houses, sporting events, theatre shows, outdoor activities and the list goes on. The price range people would pay is from $10-200. We have created a list of the suggestions and will use it when looking to plan additional events in our calendar. This year we partnered with Sharon Park and Rec to offer a package to Goodspeed Opera House that includes lunch, a play, and transportation for $100. There are 4 shows this summer/fall, so please join us. We are also working on an outing to a Yard Goats game. Be sure to sign up with park.recreation@corwallct.gov to get notified about events.
Foote Field:
The response regarding the use of Foote Field was 38 yes and 29 no. The biggest reasons why people didn’t use it were their own age and physical limitations, needs maintenance/amenities, or forget about it/use other facilities. It is most often used for people to meet up and gather with family and friends or for a Park and Rec event.
We know that Foote Field needs some TLC and that is the plan. The Little Guild has done a tremendous amount of work that will benefit the community when they return to their new facility. That area is already graded and can be made into a basketball court and add a Pickleball court. There is much to do and we look forward to hearing from you and working with you as we update and redesign the recreation field. If you have skills in the landscaping, architecture, engineering, or construction fields and you would like to volunteer to help with the project please contact park.recreation@corwallct.gov
Music:
Top 3 Genres: Rock & Jazz (tied for first), Bluegrass, Swing/Big Band
We will keep the list of suggestions for bands to play, so we can use it in the future.
Additional Comments found the need for a Community Center to be top of the list. It was suggested to be something that all ages would enjoy using and would benefit the community. The other top comment was about hosting activities/crafts for adults and at a time that those who work can attend.
The Commission thanks all who took the time to complete the survey. We have been using it to guide us in planning the programs and events for 2024. If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, please email park.recreation@corwallct.gov, call Jen at (860) 480-0600, or attend a meeting. Our meetings are on the 2nd Monday of the month and are hybrid.
Thank you for all your support for what we do!
Cornwall Park and Recreation Commission
