By Elle Wood

HARRINGTON — Many residents have known the city’s Parks & Recreation Department building to be a small hub, where athletes can gather to practice, play games and more.

However, it’s now added a second structure to provide more space to those participants.

Bill Falasco, the longtime director of Harrington Parks & Recreation, is thrilled about the long-awaited addition, which includes a full-size basketball court and was funded by grants.

The project, at 114 E. Liberty St., took three years to develop, he said. The final piece — a curtain to divide the court in half — is still to come.

Mr. Falasco said the staff hopes the updated site can allow young athletes to grow in their sports.

“It is going to be the perfect place for older kids to take advantage of teamwork with their high school friends,” he said. “We want them to come over here to get better.”

The department offers various programs, from basketball to field hockey to soccer. Mr. Falasco said he enjoys seeing children return to try new sports.

“We get pretty lucky to see children many times because a lot of the kids come back for different programs,” he added. “We just want to be friends in doing this. And we have been, but we just did not have the room before. Now, we can push the envelope.”

One way he seeks to expand is by opening up the location to local high school teams that may not have a spot in which to practice.

“I would love to have a couple of the after-school programs from the high school to be coming in, but that’s going to happen later down the road,” said Mr. Falasco. “That way, the high school can add more students into their programs, and it might suit their schedules.

“It will help relieve some of the pressures of the after-school rush.”
In addition to the new building, Parks & Rec has added a playground and parking lot. Before, drivers would have to park on the street, Mr. Falasco noted.

As the project finishes up, the department’s director is excited for what is to come.

“I think the residents will love it,” he said. “We really had a good punch with this.”

Harrington Parks & Recreation will hold a ribbon cutting on a to-be-determined date.

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