A resident group has formed a nonprofit to assist in fundraising for the town’s open spaces, parks, and places where families gather, including an ongoing effort to restore the Recreation Department’s tennis courts, and add equipment to the Tetreault Park play scape.
The Friends of Rindge Initiative raises funds for parks and playgrounds, trails and conserved land, courts and athletic fields, and recreation facilities and community spaces.
The group is currently raising for two specific projects: the redesign and repair of the Rindge Recreation tennis courts and Tetreault Park.
“In a small town, it can be difficult to get things funded,” said Rindge Recreation Director Dan Bemis. “The purpose of the group is to solicit donations for projects in town or assist current projects in being expedited.”
For the past four years, the Rindge Recreation Department has been requesting funds for its capital reserve, with the intent of redoing the tennis courts. So far, that fund has accumulated about $100,000 of the $250,000 cost to renovate the courts. Friends of Rindge have secured an additional $55,000 in pledges.
The funds are planned to be used toward a complete reconstruction of the courts, including one dedicated tennis court with a permanent net, four dedicated pickleball courts, new fencing, nets and posts, drainage and base work.
The goal, Bemis said, will include repair of the court surfaces, but also extending the courts to allow for a tennis court and four pickleball courts.
Friends of Rindge will also be seeking donations to add equipment to Tetreault Park, which has a natural play scape. Bemis said that, based on community feedback, the number one request is to add a swing set, which is planned to include an accessible swing, as well as toddler and children’s swings. There are also plans for a second slide, more suitable for younger children. The total goal for the purchase and installation of that equipment is $50,000.
The park is located at the trail entrance to Tetreaul Park, a 37-acre parcel of conserved land with five miles of hiking trails.
Friends of Rindge is also seeking a volunteer workforce to manage the installation of the equipment, to complete the work by the end of the fall of 2026.
For more information, or to volunteer or donate, visit www.friendsofrindgeinitiative.org.