Commission votes to hire new recreation therapist
The Burlington Recreation Commission voted 4-0 to appoint Tia Zanardi, a certified therapeutic recreation specialist, as the town's new recreation therapist effective July 1, 2026.
Other Committee · Meeting of June 1, 2026
BURLINGTON — The Burlington Recreation Commission voted 4-0 to appoint Tia Zanardi, a certified therapeutic recreation specialist, as the town's new recreation therapist effective July 1, 2026. Commissioner Dorn made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Ryan, who called the hire "a huge position for the town, for the Recreation Commission and our staff." Zanardi currently works as inclusion specialist for the Haverhill YMCA and is a Regis College graduate. Commissioners also discussed the Marshall Simons Trust, which this year released roughly $78,000 for Simons Park projects after initially offering up to $100,000; a trustee, Joshua Simons, is expected to address Town Meeting in September.
Five staff, including Emma Andrews and Kelly Lehman, earned national CPRP certification. The department plans to pitch a selective-herbicide program for school athletic fields to the School Committee on June 9.
In the full story:
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Source: the Other Committee meeting of June 1, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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