02038.com » Youth Sports

Opening day ceremonies for baseball, softball in Franklin, MA

Warren Reynolds — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:40:29 +0000

Opening day for the boys’ baseball and girls’ softball leagues is an annual rite of spring in Franklin, Massachusetts. The day’s events involve literally 1,000s of Franklin residents. These festivities speak volumes about the high quality of life offered by this Massachusetts community of approximately 31,000.

Family-focused event with terrific support

Here’s a YouTube video on opening day events, including the parade and ending with opening day ceremonies for the Franklin Youth Baseball Organization.

Opening day ceremonies for the Franklin Girls Softball Association will be covered in a post on this site next year.

Parade through town

The opening day youth baseball and girls’ softball events kick off with an annual parade through the downtown area of Franklin, MA.

Scene from 2009 parade

Kids in the Youth, Girls’ and Pee Wee Leagues all participate. If all players make the walk, that’s nearly 2000 children in the parade!

Many parents, caregivers and siblings accompany the marchers. Admiring onlookers line the streets.

It’s a lively, colorful and very heartwarming event involving all ages in the Franklin, MA community.

First pitch of season

After the parade, the boys and girls split off to participate in separate opening day ceremonies.

At the 2010 ceremonies for the boys, there were opening remarks, recognition of the efforts of volunteers and the playing of the National Anthem. Then the first pitch was thrown and the season was officially underway with a raucus “Play ball!” by the children.

Family fun activities for kids in Franklin, MA

Warren Reynolds — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:08:42 +0000

As the warm weather returns, people caring for young children will be on the lookout for fun activities for the preschool set. And once the school year ends, there’ll be lots of free time to fill for kids of all ages.

Susan F. recently asked 02038.com about activities for young children at the Franklin Public Library:

“I was wondering if you know of any programs designed for 4 year old children. We are new to the area and are interested in what the library has to offer for kids.

Thank you.”

Lots to do with kids in Franklin, Massachusetts

To help everyone find solutions to the sometime pressing need for safe and fun things to do with the kids, here’s a list of just some of the many organized activities, playgrounds and other outdoor places for family fun in Franklin, MA.

Just click on the images or hotlinks below to access helpful information. If anyone has other ideas, please share them in the comments section – and thank you for your question, Susan!

Franklin, MA Public Library

Click the image above or the hotlink to access information on programs for children at the Franklin, MA Public Library. The Library has some interesting history and a beautiful interior, too.

Franklin, Massachusetts Recreation Department

Click the image above or the hotlink to access information on programs for children sponsored by the Franklin MA Recreation Department. Franklin has what I honestly believe is one of the best municipal recreation departments in Massachusetts!

Franklin, MA Hockomock YMCA

Click the image above or the hotlink to access information on programs for children at the Franklin, MA Hockomock YMCA. Franklin is very fortunate to be host to such a vibrant YMCA.

Youth Sports in Franklin, MA

Click the image above or the hotlink to access information on the many organizations sponsoring youth sports programs in Franklin, MA – there are organized sport activities in Franklin, MA for boys and girls of all age and skill levels!

Nason Street Tot Lot, Franklin, MA

Click the image above or the hotlink to access information on the delightful “Tot Lot” playground for young children on Nason Street in Franklin, MA. Lots of early childhood memories in the making here!

Dacey Fields Playground Franklin, MA

Click the image above or the hotlink to access information on the playground and ball fields at the Dacey Community Fields off Lincoln Street in Franklin, Massachusetts.

Fletcher Field Recreation Area

Click the image above or the hotlink to access information on the playground and ball fields at the Fletcher Field Recreation Area in Franklin, MA.

King Street Memorial Playground, Franklin, MA

Click the image above or the hotlink to access information on the playground and ball fields at the King Street Memorial Playground in Franklin, MA.

Beaver Pond Recreation Area, Franklin, MA

Click the image above or the hotlink to access information on the outdoor swimming, playground and ball field at the Beaver Pond Recreation Area, Franklin, MA.

Walking trails in Franklin, Massachusetts

There are quite a number of places to take the kids for a walk in Franklin, MA - you’ll find trails in woods and around scenic ponds.

My favorites include Indian Rock (great spot for a picnic) and the DelCarte Conservation Area (nice water views and wildlife).

The State Forest in Franklin, MA has bike trails as well.

Please feel free to suggest other good ideas for family fun in Franklin, MA – your comments are welcome!

Franklin, MA Recreation Dept announces spring-summer 2010 programs for kids

Warren Reynolds — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:09:39 +0000

For 2010, Franklin, MA’s Recreation Department has come up with a wonderful array of spring and summer programs for young children. Franklin residents are very fortunate to have such a robust and creative Recreation Department!

Great programs for kids

The Franklin Recreation Department offers a wide range of programs for children and adults. The Recreation Department devotes a lot of effort making sure there’s alot to do for the younger child in Franklin.

Click on the above image or the hotlink to download a special excerpt from the Recreation Department’s 2010 program guide focusing on activities for young children.

Many activities for the very young

It’s nice to see the needs of young children being addressed in so fully in the Franklin, MA Recreation Department offerings for the spring and summer of 2010.

From Sports for Tots, Tumbling Twos and Girls on the Run to the more traditional Pew Wee baseball, basketball and street hockey, parents and caregivers with young children will find wholesome physical activities for the little ones.

There’s even a summner camp in the works for children from 2.5 years through age 5.

Here’s a sincere “Thank you” to the Recreation Department in Franklin, Massachusetts!

Franklin, MA YMCA announces 2010 programs for kids

Warren Reynolds — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:26:06 +0000

Franklin, MA’s Hockomock Area YMCA recently released its program guide for spring 2010. With almost 80 pages of programs and activities, the guide has offerings for all ages and fitness levels.

Programs for young children

With warmer weather coming, parents and adults caring for young children are on the lookout for safe, wholesome activities for the little ones.

Click on the the image above or the hot link to download a special edition of the YMCA’s spring guide focusing exclusively on fun activities for young children.

Safe place for fitness, learning and fun

It can be a blessing to have some place for the kids to go for a few hours every week.

The YMCA in Franklin, Massachusetts provides a safe, local and truly beneficial place for children to learn and burn off excess energy. My 10 year old has loved going there since he was about 4 years old. He learned how to swim at the YMCA.

The Hockomock Area YMCA is quite an asset to have right in town!

Franklin Recreation Now Serves Medway

Warren Reynolds — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:12:23 +0000

It’s a win-win for the neighboring Massachusetts communities of Franklin and Medway! Medway residents now can participate in the wide range of programs offered by Franklin’s robust Recreation Department.

All Franklin, MA residents can be proud the Franklin Recreation Department. Its youth sports and activities programs are astonishingly broad and diverse for a community the size of Franklin. And the Franklin Recreation’s emphasis on programs for girls is very commendable and much needed.

You can read the Milford Daily News article on Medway’s new right to participate in the programs offered by the Franklin Recreation Department by clicking the link.

Franklin Recreation Department Programs

Warren Reynolds — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:24:11 +0000

Here’s a sampling of the youth sport programs offered by the Franklin, Massachusetts Recreation Department. Note that these programs are separate from the many youth league sport programs in Franklin (these are reviewed in detail elsewhere in the Youth Sport section of 02038.com).

I’ve divided the following list into cold and warm weather programs:

Cold Weather (Indoor) Programs

• Boys Intramural Basketball (Grades 9-12.)

• Girls Indoor Lacrosse

• Sports For Tots (Includes indoor soccer, tee ball, lacrosse, and running indoors.)

• Indoor Track & Field (All boys and girls ages 7-14 years old.)

• Youth Wrestling

• Girls On The Run (An indoor program for 3rd-8th graders; program aims to improve girls’ self esteem via workouts that promote emotional and physical development.)

• Girls Volleyball (For girls of all skill levels in grades 6-8 grade.)

Warm Weather (Outdoor) Programs

• NFL Flag Football (Noncontact football for boys and girls aged 6-14 years.)

• NHL Street Hockey (Non-contact street hockey for boys & girls 6-14.)

• Youth Golf Lessons (Lessons teach how to use the various clubs and how to go about putting, chipping and bunker play.)

• Recreational Basketball

• Archery

• Moutain Biking (Children aged 10-16 years old are taught to negotiate 5K, 7K, and 10K bike routes in the Franklin State Forest in Franklin, MA.)

• Middle School Golf (Golf league for boys and girls grades 6-8.)

Click here to learn more about the various program offerings at the Franklin Recreation Department.

Franklin Recreation Department is Superb!

Warren Reynolds — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:17:35 +0000

The Franklin Recreation Department focuses especially on serving the recreation and development needs of children.

Recreation Department Director Ryan Jette won recognition in 2008 for his commitment to sports and activities for young women and girls in Franklin, Massachusetts. His efforts have created a very welcoming and supportive environment for girl sports in Franklin.

The Franklin Recreation Department offers a wonderfully broad range of programs for children of all ages, interests and abilities. It rivals (and even surpasses) the programs of much larger towns and cities in Massachusetts!

Franklin Recreation Department
150 Emmons Street
Franklin, MA 02038
Phone: (508) 520-4909
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Recreation/index