SOMERS — The Somers Recreation & Leisure Services Department offers programs for youth, families and seniors, and is committed to enriching the lives of the residents of Somers and making their community a better place to live, work and play.
This summer, the department has a wide range of programs and youth camps which are open to residents as well as non-residents. Director Maureen Parsell of Recreation & Leisure Services said, “It is always our goal to offer a diverse array of programming to meet the needs of every member of our community.”
She continued, “It is also important to keep the costs of our programming affordable. We offer a little of everything for everyone to meet the social, physical and recreational needs of our residents.”
For youth and adults, some of the current offerings include before and after school programming, tot soccer, community Heartsaver CPR training, day camp, art workshops, STEM camps, cooking camps, sport camps — co-ed basketball, flag football, futsal, golf, lacrosse, pickleball, spartan soccer and tennis — Zumba and barre fitness.
For adults over the age of 55, offerings include spa services and haircuts; foot care and blood pressure checks; support groups; special presentations and resources on dementia, balance, diabetes, heart health and more; cornhole, fitness classes, special event breakfasts and luncheons, trips and games, among others.
“We survey our participants to find out what they might like for new ideas and programs,” Parsell explained. “We also network with other recreation departments and senior centers and discuss programming in general, what’s popular, what works and what doesn’t.”
There are also different parks and facilities in town.
At 19 Battle St. — the Somers Senior Center — the Recreation Department offers many programs for the 55+ community, like monthly movies, educational presentations, AARP Safe Driving classes and tax assistance, to name a few.
Kibbe Fuller, at 619 Main St., is home to the Recreation Department and the Somers Human Services Department, where some camps, programs and fitness classes take place. There is also a playground behind Kibbe Fuller and a gazebo where the Somers Cultural Commission hosts is Summer Concert Series.
Field Road Park — the largest park in Somers — is home to Connor’s Place Playground, Macie’s Place Splash Pad and numerous amenities like Connor’s Place Pavilion and a gazebo (the department rents both the pavilion and the gazebo for small parties and events), nine-hole disc golf course, basketball court, gaga ball pit, tennis and pickleball court, baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse fields, volleyball and a men’s and women’s bathroom. The park is located at 96 Field Rd.
Somersville Grammar School Park, 41 School St., has multipurpose athletic fields, a playground and a kayak launch on Somersville Pond and Scantic River.
The Town Hall Fields at 600 Main St. is home to the Little League Baseball fields.
With many hiking trails in town, the Recreation Department provides descriptions and maps of the trails on its website, somers.recdesk.com.
Parsell said, “We hope to improve the health and wellness of our community, assist the 55 plus community so they remain active and engaged in our community and ensure that every resident has equitable access to our offerings.”
To participate in any activity at the Somers Senior Center, you must be a member, but membership is free to residents as well as non-residents. Information on its programs, camps and fees can be found at somers.recdesk.com.
