Lifelong ’Header Matt Martin has announced that he won’t seek another one-year term on the Recreation and Parks Commission this June to make room for new faces and ideas. He has been serving on Rec & Parks for eight years.
Martin said he’s proud of several projects during his Rec & Parks tenure, including opening new pickleball courts, approving a contract for stand-up paddleboarding at Riverhead Beach and repairing the historic grandstands at Seaside Park.
“Unfortunately, I will not be part of the board to see the Green Street project get underway, which I’m saddened about,” he said. “The Larz Anderson money (a $2 million gift to the town) will be well spent to update the entire Green Street Park. This project has been in progress since I first got on. This project should be very exciting for the town and all youth sports.”
The plan is to redo the entire park, turf the field and update the outdoor ice rink, according to Martin.
“The highlight of being involved in Recreation and Parks over the past eight years has been working closely with some of the other board members,” Martin said. “Derek Norcross and Jerry Tucker were with me right from the start. These guys were great to learn from and lean on for knowledge, advice and anything else. The current board is a great group as well.”
In addition to his Rec & Park service, Martin has worked at National Grand Bank for 16 years and has coached youth football since 2006, which he plans to continue. He’s also on boards for the Chamber of Commerce, Marblehead Youth Football and the Marblehead Gridiron Club. He’s also a dad to two daughters, 22 and 25.
“‘Like others, I bleed black and red,” he said.
As of April 11, no candidate had come forward to run for Martin’s seat. His four other commission members — Shelly Bedrossian, Karin Ernst, Linda Rice-Collins and Rossana Ferrante — are running for re-election.
Martin encourages anyone interested to jump into the race.
“My advice to anyone running is keep an open mind, have patience as the wheels turn slow in town, although the current board is dialed in and will be making things happen,” he said. “These elected boards should have turnover. No offense to anyone, but people should move over and let other people get involved.”
So what will Martin do with his new free time?
“I’m really looking forward to just having some free time on the water this summer with family and friends,” he said.
The deadline to return election papers to the Town Clerk’s Office is April 22, 5 p.m.
For more information about the Rec & Parks, visit marblehead.org/recreation-parks-department.
This story was updated on April 17 to reflect that Martin said he approved a contract for paddleboarding at Riverhead Beach.
Editor Leigh Blander is an experienced TV, radio and print journalist.
