It is with great sadness that I read of the continuing strife between the Harvard Parks and Recreation and the Bare Hill Rowing Association. I was especially saddened by the resignation of John Lee after 20 years of service. Thank you John for your tremendous dedication to recreation in the town of Harvard.
The Bare Hill Rowing Association is a jewel. It serves children and adults. As you have read in the Press and the Globe, one of our own just won Gold rowing for the US junior national team in an international competition. Holly Hatton, the head coach for the program, is a nationally and internationally recognized coach. I am thankful to the BHRA for creating opportunities for adults to row. I am back on the water following a 10-year hiatus, due to the ability to use their equipment.
Each fall, winter, and spring hundreds of Harvard kids head to Acton to participate in a myriad of sports: baseball, softball, and hockey to name a few. This spring, I was tickled to read in the Press that two of the boys in the Men’s Varsity Four were boys my son had played hockey with through Acton-Boxborough Youth Hockey. This seemed like a fantastic piece of local reciprocity and cooperation. I was greatly concerned by the action of the Parks and Rec board to limit the participation of students from the town of Acton. It is my understanding that Acton’s participation had already been limited, so that it could not exceed one third of the total number of students. The cooperation among local towns makes many sporting activities available to citizens of Harvard that a small town like us would never be able to field in isolation. We need to reciprocate and be good neighbors.
Sarah Arnold
Old Mill Road
