WARE – On the evening of July 11, the Parks Commission in Ware hosted a meeting to see what improvements residents would like to see at Memorial Field, a 4-acre ball field off the end of Monroe Street. The commission was seeking input to include in their 2022 PARC grant application that the town submitted on July 14.

Town Manager Stuart Beckley said, “The commission submitted a request for improvements that included a reconstruction of a new basketball court, irrigation system for Memorial Field and additional upgrades for the field. These improvements will increase recreational opportunities for residents and increase the ability to use the field more often.”

Town of Ware Parks Department Manager John Piechota added, “It will be great to have another avenue for people in different areas of town to be able to walk, ride bikes, enjoy some activities like playing basketball and socializing with their friends.”

Memorial Field was donated by Ware Industries in the mid-1940’s for use by the town as a recreational field. During the spring and summer, the field is used for Ware’s varsity baseball teams as well as youth football and soccer leagues in the fall.

According to Beckley, the residents loved the basketball reconstruction idea. They also said the town needs a pool. The pool will not be at Memorial Field, but there was support in seeking funding to restore the town swimming pool. Additionally, there was a request for better access for people with disabilities, which the commission will implement into the design if the grant is successful.

“The best use is to allow residents a multiple use of the facility,” Beckley stated. “In addition to football and soccer, we can now add basketball back in. The town used Memorial Field for a carnival this year that was hugely successful, so the more that it’s used by the public is the highest and best use of the field.”

The PARC grant is a two-year process. If the commission is awarded the grant, the work will be completed in 2024. The grant was submitted and generally it is mid to late fall before the State Division of Conservation and Recreation will let the commission know if the town is successful.