Keyes Memorial Park Feasibility Study

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Keyes Park

How to Get Involved and/or Offer Your Input

This study is currently ongoing, and there are number of ways you can get involved. You may contact the feasibility study team directly. Additionally, you may participate in the community survey to give your feedback about how a community center might enhance the Town of Milford and address its current challenges. The project team welcomes all input, and invites you to share this survey broadly. Each and every response is critical to the outcome of this feasibility study. Thank you for your input!

About the Feasibility Study and Proposed Milford Regional Community Center

The H. L. Turner Group, Ironwood Design Group, and Turnstone Corporation have been hired by the Town of Milford, NH to perform a Community Center Feasibility Study. The firms will conduct and prepare a needs assessment and feasibility study to develop options for a Community and Senior Center through the reuse/renovaation of the building at 127 Elm Street, or through the construction of a new facility on the same site.

The firms will also evaluate the current and future recreational and social programming with the community. Part of this evaluation includes engagement, collaboration, and potential partnerships with nonprofits, private organizations, and community groups. Staff from the Town of Milford and employees of The H. L. Turner Group, Ironwood, and Turnstone look forward to working with community members to develop recommendations that will serve the town for years to come.

Background

In 2014, the community was presented with a unique opportunity to acquire valuable land in downtown Milford adjacent to Keyes Memorial Park. The proposal was called "The Keyes Park Expansion Project" on the September 9, 2014 ballot for the required special Town election. With forethought, the community voted in favor of authorizing the purchase of the land and the 30,000-square-foot former office and manufacturing building at 127 Elm Street. This acquisition served two major purposes: securing additional land to better meet Milford's current and future recreational needs, and providing a second access point to Keyes Memorial Park.

With the 127 Elm Street purchase finalized in December 2015, the Board of Selectmen moved forward with the project/site planning by appointing a committee to evaluate the two properties and develop short- and long-term recommendations for the integration of the property into the Keyes Memorial Park, and how best to utilize or repurpose the land and buildings so as to improve and expand recreational opportunities. There is as growing demand for programs in Milford, and a report completed in December 2016 by the Committee provided a series of phased recommendations.

With regards to the 127 Elm Street facility, the report concluded that the Town should spearhead the development of a strategic plan to design and fund the construction of a new community recreation center building at Keyes Memorial Park, and include coordinated renovations of the Keyes Pool bathhouse and concession stand. In addition, the report recommended that the new facility be designed to reasonably accommodate expansion based on the future needs of our community.

In 2017, the Board of Selectmen and Committee met to discuss the report, recommendations, and phasing plan. The Board of Selectmen requested that additional information be sourced so that they may fully evaluate and explore options for renovation of the existing structure. The goal of this project is to provide a comprehensive study into the Town's Capital Improvement Program for future consideration and implementation.