In March 2023, Cindy Hazelton will have spent 32 years working as the director of the Gorham Recreation Department, the second person to hold that position on a full-time basis. She was born and raised in Easton, ME and graduated from the University of Presque Isle, working in several positions with the YMCA before coming to Gorham in 1991.
Hazelton commented that when she arrived in Gorham, “Daigle’s were still growing potatoes and Gorham seemed like one of the small towns I was used to,” as at that time the population of Gorham was roughly 8,000. As the Town quickly grew, she learned that people wanted to participate in a variety of activities. These included youth sports, summer day camps, before and after school care, community special events, and multi-generational activities which included seniors.
In 1996, the building which currently houses the Gorham Co-op Preschool was built by volunteers with mostly donated equipment and materials. Hazelton ran the Recreation Department from that location which was an improvement from the janitor’s closet at the former Shaw Junior High, now currently the Gorham Health Council Loan Closet. In 2005, when Shaw was renovated and transformed into the Municipal Center, the Rec. Dept. got a permanent home.
Hazelton noted that the former PTA was able to save the Old Robie School on Rt. 202 from the wrecking ball. It now has a full kitchen and is used for large gatherings with table seating for up to 125 people. A variety of functions including weddings, receptions, reunions and even Line Dancing on Wednesday nights happen there. The former Little Falls School, now known as the Little Falls Activity Center, has before and after school programs, a day camp, and a senior center along with senior fitness activities in the gym.
The Recreation Department staff of six manage facilities, fitness activities, child care programs, senior activities, and youth sports with 500+ signed up for basketball, 400+ for soccer and 450+ for baseball/softball each year.
In addition to all of the above, Hazelton plans mystery lunches for seniors (where they travel by bus to dine at various locations in the Greater Portland area), the Burn off the Turkey Race (now in its 25th year), Glow in the Park at Shaw Park, and the Memorial Day Parade. Facilities she is responsible for managing include the new Skate Park, multi-sport courts near the skate park, Little Falls Rec Area, Shaw Park, Robie Park, Robie Gym, the multipurpose field at GMS, pickleball courts at Little Falls and now the former White Rock School, Shaw Gym, and the Mt. Division Trail (Gorham section).