VII. RECREATIONAL SERVICES
PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION
In 1973 the Town of Dover voted to combine the previously separate Park Department and Recreation Commission. In 1974 five Commissioners were elected to manage this new town department.
The towns and cities of the Commonwealth are legally authorized to promote organized recreation programs for all residents. This wide-ranging mandate involves both passive and active recreation and simple and sophisticated programs for all interests and ages. As facilities to support leisure activities, parks are an obvious amenity, and the Commission is continually re-evaluating the adequacy of existing facilities.
The Dover Park and Recreation Commission traditionally has had an "open door policy" for recreation programs and the use of the park facilities. This has meant that any interested person could participate in any activity. Most recreational activities, especially the sports programs, are self-supporting, with payments made by those who participate in the activities. Currently, payments are made into a revolving fund for these programs. The self-supporting programs require the active participation of volunteers. The Commission has committees of volunteers who supervise the separate programs and promulgate rules for their management under the guidance of a full-time Director of Parks and Recreation. PROGRAMMED ACTIVITIES
WINTER:
Boys' Basketball Recreational basketball is organized into senior and junior divisions to provide instruction in the basic skills of basketball. These skills are practiced and developed with intra-squad games as well as travel teams for Grades 4-8.
Girls' Basketball Fun is emphasized for girls in the middle school, although basic skills occupy a part of each session. There are both intra-squad games as well as travel teams for Grades 4-8.
Kapers for Kids A self-supporting volunteer organization hosts special holiday events for pre-school children of Dover. SPRING:
Men's Softball The objective is that everyone participates. Rules are devised and revised in an attempt to equalize the wide variety of ages and abilities.
Youth Baseball The activity is divided into many groups based on ability: Pre-Kindergarten T-Ball, Grades K-2 T-Ball, Instructional League, Farm League and Little League. Although much of the emphasis is based on learning and practicing fundamentals, the chief objective is to allow game participation and experience.
Babe Ruth Baseball This program is mainly for junior high school aged players not participating in organized baseball. Although practices are scheduled, the main vehicle for learning and applying fundamentals is inter-team play.
Tennis Lessons Adults and children are grouped according to ability. With beginners, there is stress on the fundamentals, such as positioning, racket grips, forehand and backhand strokes, serving, tennis rules and strategies. Intermediate and advanced players practice through supervised doubles.
Tennis Tournaments Singles and mixed doubles are scheduled for the older players with round robins and ladders.
Fishing Derby The Fishing derby occurs at Channing Pond for all Dover school age children, during the First Sunday of Spring School Vacation. SUMMER:
Playground A six week program of arts and crafts, games, sports, and field trips is held at Caryl School, 9-12 a.m. weekdays, for children in Grades K-3 from the last week of June through the first week of August.
Tennis League Men's and ladies' tennis teams are formed for spring competition with other towns.
Concerts Concerts on the Town Common are held at 7:00 p.m. every Tuesday in July and August, rain or shine. In case of rain, the concerts are held inside Town House. FALL:
Tennis Instruction and tournaments resume in the fall for interested adults and children.
Boys' and Girls' Soccer An informal but instructive program is held for Grades 1-8 that emphasizes the fundamentals for beginners and challenges the intermediates. Games are held with other towns for older students.
Junior Football Dover and Sherborn boys aged 13 and 14 participate in local Dover-Sherborn Regional School teams.
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
Among the most popular locations for recreation in Dover are the following sites:
Caryl Park on Dedham Street public tennis courts, playground equipment, and athletic fields. Town Common on Street and Springdale Avenue site of the weekly "Concerts on the Common" in the summer and the annual "Dover Days Fair" in May. Channing Pond on Springdale Avenue fishing and ice skating in appropriate seasons. Boat Launch on Riverside Drive off Claybrook Road boating on the Charles River. Boat Launch on Bridge Street boating on the Charles River. Boat Launch at Elm Bank boating on the Charles River.
In addition, there are athletic fields, gyms, and playground equipment located at Caryl School on Springdale Avenue and at Chickering School on Cross and Dedham Streets. These facilities are under the control of the Dover School Committee. More athletic facilities (fields, tracks, gyms, tennis courts) are located at the Dover-Sherborn Middle School and the Dover-Sherborn High School located on Farm Street in Dover. These facilities are under the control of the Dover-Sherborn Regional School Committee.
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