SPARC Winter 2025 RECAP!

Greetings friends of SPARC,

The sun is finally shining, and we hope you’re getting a chance to enjoy it! We just wrapped up the winter 2025 recap meeting with Parks and Recreation and are excited to share that year two of SPARC was a big success—participation doubled from last year, and we smoothly transitioned from a volunteer-led to a staff-run program. A huge THANK YOU to our incredible SPARC staff, volunteers, and community members for making it all possible. We also reviewed participant feedback, and a summary is included below.

Friends of SPARC is hopeful that the program will return next year. We're especially excited about a potential expansion to the Penacook Community Center, increasing access for even more families.  In the meantime, please spread the word that Parks and Rec is hiring lifeguards for the summer season - more info here!

Now that SPARC has successfully transitioned to a fully staffed model, there is no longer a need for volunteers. However, Friends of SPARC still sees meaningful value in maintaining a small, supportive volunteer presence to assist staff, foster community, and encourage multigenerational connection. We’re grateful that Parks and Rec is open to continuing conversations about the possibility of this secondary support role.

To boost engagement and visibility, we’re excited to support Parks & Rec in trying something new next year: a SPARC Kick-Off Pizza Party! Instead of celebrating at the end of the season, we discussed starting with a fun, welcoming event to help attract more participants and set a positive tone from day one.

To bring these special events to life, Friends of SPARC is actively raising funds—and your support makes all the difference! If you’d like to help, you can donate in one of two ways:

• Write a check to Parks and Recreation with “SPARC” in the memo line - drop off or send to 14 Canterbury Rd. Concord, NH 03301

• Donate online via the Parks and Recreation Registration page (login is required) - look for the "Sports, Play, Art & Recreation Club" option at the top of the list and enter your donation amount under "Amount" (not under "Quantity". Here's th link: https://webtrac.concordnh.gov/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/donation.html

Every contribution goes directly toward enhancing SPARC events and special programming. Donations may be tax-deductible—we’re deeply grateful for your support in helping SPARC grow.

Thanks for being a part of this journey—we’ll keep you posted on what’s next!

Gratefully,

Meredith with Friends of SPARC

SPARC FEEDBACK - Key Takeaways

1. General Satisfaction

• Most participants (youth, parents, staff, and volunteers) rated SPARC highly (4s and 5s).

• Many respondents said they'd “definitely” want SPARC to continue next winter.

• SPARC was appreciated for offering fun activities, community engagement, and a safe space for kids.

2. Schedule & Structure Preferences

• A majority prefer a single, continuous session where all ages can participate together.

  • Single, continuous session: 11 responses

  • Separate time slots: 10 responses

  • No preference / Other: 1 response

• Families with children in different age groups found split sessions (Family SPARC and Teen SPARC) harder to manage.

• A few participants liked separate time slots, especially teens who appreciated time without younger kids or parents.

3. Common Suggestions for Improvement

• Snacks! – A popular request from multiple youth and teen participants.

• More engaging or varied activities – Suggestions included volleyball, gymnastics mats, earring making, karaoke, and science experiments.

• Unstructured art time – Volunteers noted the need for more creative freedom and variety in art sessions.

• Improved communication & promotion – Several noted that SPARC wasn’t included in city brochures or adequately promoted early enough.

• Volunteer clarity – Volunteers wanted more structure, training, and inclusion in planning. Some felt underutilized or unclear on their role and undervalued by Parks & Recreation.

4. Community Impact

• Many said SPARC built friendships, supported inclusion, and helped families feel welcome.

• Some noted the need for stronger connections between volunteers, staff, and kids—especially proactive engagement from staff to connect kids who don’t know each other.

5. Barriers & Inclusion

• SPARC is seen as generally successful at reducing barriers and fostering belonging, though some logistical issues (e.g. time slot separation) created participation challenges for families.