The Nick is open to everyone. Outdoor areas are free for general public use when not reserved, while fees apply to organized programs, events, leagues, and other scheduled uses. The indoor facility will also be open to the public, with fees for both individual and group use. Drop-in recreation will be available as scheduling allows.
No. The Nick provides and manages recreational facilities and works to keep these spaces accessible to local leagues, nonprofits, and organizations that run their programs at our facility. Organizations running programs or events at our facility operate independently, carry their own insurance, manage their own registration, and set and collect their own program fees.
The Nick does not run or manage programs directly. Programs are offered independently by local leagues, nonprofits, Parks & Recreation, and other organizations that use our facilities. We do our best to share information about these organizations on our website and list scheduled programs on our public booking calendar. For the most current program details, schedules, fees, and registration information, please visit the website of the organization running the program.
You can certainly ask us if such a program/activity could be hosted at The Nick if that program were to form. However, since The Nick does not create programs, suggesting programs would not be an effective way to get a program going. Instead, search for someone qualified to lead that program/activity and encourage them to formalize an organization that fills that community need. It often helps if you have already identified others that would be interested in participating in this program/activity should it be formed.
The Nick does not rely on local property tax revenue to operate. Funding comes primarily from a combination of:
These resources help pay for field, equipment, and infrastructure maintenance; staffing; utilities; improvements; youth scholarships; and long-term operation of the facilities.
It depends on how you’re using the facility. The outdoor park is available to individuals for ordinary, unscheduled recreational use at no charge. Organized leagues, teams, businesses, events, and other groups reserving space pay a facility-use fee.
The indoor facility will have fees for individual use, memberships, programs, and reservations. These fees help cover the costs of operating and maintaining the facility—including staffing, utilities, insurance, cleaning, repairs, and keeping the space safe and available to our community.
User fees cover only a portion of The Nick’s overall operating costs. The remaining costs are supported through donations, grants, investment income, sponsorships, and other fundraising.
By balancing these sources of revenue, The Nick can maintain its facilities, pay staff, cover utilities and insurance, make repairs and improvements, and keep fees as affordable as possible for the community.
As a non-profit organization, The Nick is not funded by taxpayer dollars. We rely on the generosity of our dedicated supporters and users to operate and continually improve our facility.
Our most important and ongoing need is to cover our annual operating costs to continue providing this essential space to meet our community’s recreational needs.
Other needs include:
Yes. Donations to The Nick are tax deductible.
The expense of building a facility and the cost to operate the facility are two different things. Capital gifts make construction possible. Once the building opens, memberships, rentals, programs, sponsorships, donations, and other revenue help us keep the lights on, heat and cool the building, maintain appropriate insurance, staff and clean the facility, make repairs, and keep these spaces safe and available to our community.
Our goal is to balance financial sustainability with equitable access, charging what is necessary to responsibly operate the facility while providing scholarship assistance so cost does not unnecessarily prevent local children from participating.
For Youth Program Registrations & Sports Equipment:
Our Vanderheiden Youth Access Program ensures that every child who wishes to play a team sport or participate in a program at The Nick has the opportunity, regardless of financial resources. This program currently covers player registration fees for programs hosted at The Nick and may also assist with the cost of necessary sports equipment for qualifying families.
Over the years, we have granted hundreds of scholarships to children who may otherwise have been unable to participate. Scholarships are distributed to qualifying families on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to available funding.
For Adults:
Please inquire with us about possible sliding-scale rates or other available assistance.
There are many ways in which you can support The Nick and we love all the ways our community shows up for us.
Visit our Ways to Give page here for more detail.
Donating: You can donate to support day-to-day operations, or towards a capital project (ex. Building the new indoor facility)
In-Kind Donations: Donate items or professional services to show your support.
Gifts of Stock: Gifting securities has significant financial benefit for both The Nick and the donor.
Workplace Giving/Matching Gifts: Many employers match donations to charitable organizations for both employees and retirees.
Naming Opportunities: Make a donation to name an area of the park after a loved one.
Legacy Giving: Include The Nick in your will or list as a beneficiary.
Sign Program: Support The Nick while advertising your business or organization by purchasing a sign for display at The Nick.
Volunteering: Please inquire with us about volunteering opportunities.
The Nick’s outdoor park is approximately 32 acres.
The outdoor park is generally open to the public year-round from dawn to dusk, except when an area is closed for a private event, scheduled use, maintenance, safety issue, or other authorized purpose.
Our outdoor park offers the following:
No, the skate park is town-owned and maintained.
Yes! You can reserve the Pavilion (covered) or Anne Hunt Patio (semi-covered) as long as there are no scheduling conflicts. Fees from these reservations help support The Nick. Go here to see our rules and regulations, pricing, and to submit a request form.
Yes. Priority is given to users who have reserved or rented the space, but when a field is not scheduled, or roped off for maintenance purposes, it is generally available for casual community use.
Yes. Public restrooms are available seasonally, typically from April, after the last frost, through October, before the first frost. There is a porta-potty available year round, in the parking lot by the dog park.
Our outdoor professional synthetic track has six lanes and is 400 meters (¼ mile) long. Four laps equal one mile.
No, unless you are a participant of an organization running their program at The Nick. They will send you the waiver link, but it can also be accessed here.
New Hampshire’s seasons are part of what makes this such a special place to live, but they can also limit opportunities to stay active, connected, and engaged year-round.
In 2019, The Nick surveyed thousands of local and seasonal residents, and access to indoor winter recreation emerged as a top community priority. The community responded in an extraordinary way, contributing more than $10.5 million to turn that need into a reality.
The result is more than an indoor recreational facility. It is a year-round community resource, a place for people of all ages to move, play, gather, and connect, regardless of the season or the weather.
We now estimate that we will open the doors to the new indoor facility on January 9, 2027.
$217,000
No, we’re just expanding how we fulfill it! The outdoor park has always been about providing space for recreation and community. The indoor facility allows us to serve that same mission, 12 months a year, reach more people, and open new opportunities for use.
Absolutely. The outdoor park remains an important part of The Nick and will continue operating alongside the indoor facility.
Our goal is to serve as many people as possible and provide opportunities for children, adults, seniors, families, athletes, schools, municipalities, nonprofits, leagues, businesses, and other community organizations. Unlike our outdoor park, however, the indoor facility has occupancy and scheduling limitations. Access will therefore depend on capacity, programming, reservations, and facility policies.
Initial public operating hours are expected to be approximately 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., subject to final staffing and operating plans.
The building is approximately 33,500 square feet.
The facility includes:
The facility was designed with long-term sustainability, durability, and flexibility in mind. Major investments include highly insulated building panels for energy efficiency; an elevated track that preserves the activity space below; extensive steel railings with a marine-grade finishes that maintain clear sightlines throughout the building; high-quality court and track surfaces; a flexible court layout designed for multiple sports and activities; and expansive windows that provide natural light, outdoor views, and visibility throughout the facility.
The indoor track has four lanes and is 1/10 of a mile long, so 10 laps equal one mile.
The multipurpose design allows the facility to accommodate a wide range of activities, including track, pickleball (3 courts), tennis (2 courts), basketball (two high-school-size courts and one half court), volleyball, and indoor field sports such as lacrosse, soccer, and field hockey.
Some activities have sport-specific guidelines to protect the facility and ensure safe shared use, such as requirements for softer or indoor-approved balls or restrictions on where certain play may occur.
The building is intentionally designed for much more than organized sports. Potential uses include walking and running, yoga, strength and stretching classes, dance, martial arts, gymnastics and tumbling, clinics, camps, meetings, training sessions, conferences, birthday parties, community gatherings, charity events, markets, expos, performances, and other recreational or community activities.
New activities are subject to The Nick’s insurance coverage before they can be considered for use in the facility.
No. The facility is not designed as a traditional fitness center with exercise machines or weight-training equipment.
The facility has two dedicated changing rooms and two large communal storage areas for shoes and bags. There are no locker rooms or showers.
The main playing area features a multipurpose sports flooring which was selected to accommodate a variety of activities, while the track uses a surface designed for walking and running. The first-floor multipurpose room features a cushioned athletic floor, providing a comfortable and versatile surface for everything from yoga and fitness classes to meetings, gatherings, and birthday parties.
No. The facility does not currently include turf, although additional surfaces or equipment could be considered in the future.
Only service animals are permitted inside the indoor facility.
Covered water bottles are permitted everywhere. Food and other beverages are permitted only in the vestibule and lobby areas.
Yes. They are available in the lobby and upstairs near the track.
Clean, dry, non-marking athletic shoes are required on the indoor courts, track, and multipurpose rooms. Shoes worn outdoors must be changed before entering the court or track area. Boots, cleats, spikes, and footwear that may damage or soil recreational surfaces are not permitted. Normal footwear may be worn in general public areas of the building.
The Nick does not provide childcare or general supervision of children using the facility, and parents/caregivers remain responsible except where a child has been formally checked into a supervised program.
Age 0-7: Must remain under direct supervision of a parent/caregiver. Caregivers should be in the same activity area and able to respond immediately.
Age 8-11: Parent/caregiver must remain inside the facility, but does not necessarily need to participate in the same activity. Child may independently use approved areas, subject to area-specific rules.
Age 12-15: May use designated recreational areas without a parent in the building, provided the youth has been properly checked in and follows facility rules.
Age 16+: Generally independent facility access, although some activities could still have specific age restrictions.
Visitors are responsible for their own belongings. We do not offer lockers at this time; please keep valuables with you or locked in your car. Shoes and bags can be stored in the communal cubbies, but The Nick is not liable for theft.
Yes, there will be fees to use the indoor facility. Operating a year-round facility comes with significant costs, including staffing, utilities, insurance, cleaning, and maintenance. Local and non-local rates will help offset these expenses while allowing us to prioritize affordability for the community The Nick was created to serve.
Local rates are available to individuals whose primary residence is in: Wolfeboro, Tuftonboro, Alton, New Durham, Brookfield, Wakefield, Effingham, or Ossipee.
Individuals will book track time, reserve courts, meeting rooms, and the multipurpose rooms in advance through an online system for activities such as walking, shooting hoops, playing pickleball, or hosting a group gathering or party. These reservation-based uses will involve a fee that supports operational needs while prioritizing community access and will require users to sign a waiver form.
Programmatic/recurring use must be requested before the proposed start date of the program, event, or activity in accordance with the guidelines below. This gives staff time to evaluate space availability, staffing needs, and other requirements. In all of these cases, a formal contract/rental agreement is required.
Seasonal Organized Sports Programs (leagues, teams, camps, clinics, practices, training sessions, instructional programs)
Submission Deadline: 3 months prior to the first date of practice
Insurance Requirements: Certificate of Insurance (COI)
Competitions & Sporting Events (e.g., tournaments, meets, matches, championships)
Submission Deadline: 2 months prior to the first date of practice
Insurance Requirements: Certificate of Insurance (COI)
General Facility Rentals (e.g., birthday parties, meetings, community gatherings, social groups)
Submission Deadline: 2 months prior to the first date of practice
Insurance Requirements: Homeowners/Renter’s Insurance
Large-Scale Events (e.g., weddings, concerts, festivals, craft fairs, fundraisers or similar)
Submission Deadline: 6 months prior to the first date of practice
Insurance Requirements: Special Event Insurance
No. There will be multiple ways to use the facility. Memberships may be one option, along with drop-in opportunities, programs, leagues, rentals, reservations, and other forms of participation.
Yes. Day-use options are planned in addition to walking memberships.
Membership terms and options will be clearly explained before anyone signs up.
Yes. We plan to offer online registration, account management, waivers, and payment.
Yes. Appropriate waivers and agreements will be required for facility and program participation and, where possible, incorporated into the online registration process.
We hope so. Our goal is to preserve opportunities for general community use while balancing programs, leagues, reservations, rentals, and other scheduled activities. Open or drop-in recreation will be available where scheduling allows. Because this is a shared indoor facility with finite capacity, public availability may vary by day and season.
Yes. The indoor track is intended to provide opportunities for walking and running in addition to organized sports and programs.
Yes. The facility is intended to serve people across generations.
Yes. Court rentals include court space and applicable nets only. Rackets, paddles, balls and other sports equipment are not included.
Yes.
Appropriate staff will receive emergency-response training.
Yes! We have ensured our new indoor facility will be wheelchair accessible, including entrance ramps and a full elevator to the suspended track in our design. Additionally, the building will be placed close to the parking lot, which we hope to pave if enough funding is secured, creating even more convenient access for all.
Staff will follow established emergency and incident-response procedures. Serious emergencies will be referred immediately to emergency medical services.
The Nick expects indoor use to generally fall into several categories:
Requirements and pricing may differ because each type of use places different demands on the facility, staff, scheduling, and operations.
Yes. Programmatic and organized uses will be subject to The Nick’s facility-use process and require a facility-use request, certificate of insurance, rental contract, and applicable fee. Recurring reservations are available depending on demand, availability, and scheduling policies.
We do not run programs ourselves, but independent instructors, coaches, trainers, organizations, camps, clinics, and similar users may apply to use The Nick. Eligibility will be determined based on The Nick’s insurance requirements and facility use prioritization schedule. Because these activities involve organized or commercial use, they require staff approval and may be subject to different rental rates, contracts, and insurance requirements.
Absolutely. The facility is inclusive to all ages.
No. A standard individual reservation does not authorize paid instruction, coaching, classes, clinics, camps, training sessions, or other commercial activities. These activities must be reviewed and approved separately by The Nick.
No. No single sport or organization defines The Nick. Our goal is to balance a broad range of recreational and community needs.
Yes. The schedule will balance organized use with opportunities for individuals and the general community.
Scheduling is subject to The Nick’s Usage Prioritization Policy. The purpose of that policy is to balance programs and leagues, general community access, individual rentals, organizational use, and recurring users.
This depends on what the court activity is, and whether the track is being rented by an organization at that time. If there is a large event the track may be used for additional spectating space. For most activities though, we expect the track to remain open.
Staff review, approval, and a formal rental agreement are generally required for:
There may be. Additional charges may apply when a rental requires extra cleaning, staffing, security, equipment, setup, breakdown, extended building hours, or other special accommodations.
Potentially, yes. The entire open court area may be available for field sports, larger programs, clinics, events, and other approved activities.
These rentals require advance staff review. Pricing and requirements may depend on the type and duration of the activity, number of participants, staffing, setup, equipment, and other accommodations.
Requests involving use of most or all of the indoor facility may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Availability, pricing, and requirements will depend on the nature of the proposed use, scheduling, staffing, facility operations, and other relevant considerations. All such requests require advance staff review and approval.
Local rates are available to individuals whose primary residence is in: Wolfeboro, Tuftonboro, Alton, New Durham, Brookfield, Wakefield, Effingham, or Ossipee. The following rates are subject to change at any time.
Tennis Court
Local Rate: $60
Non-Local Rate: $70
Details: 50 min • Singles/doubles • Up to 6 players
Pickleball Court
Local Rate: $25
Non-Local Rate: $35
Details: 50 min • Up to 6 players
Basketball-Full Court
Local Rate: $90
Non-Local Rate: $100
Details: 50 min • Private court rental
Basketball – Half Court
Local Rate: $60
Non-Local Rate: $70
Details: Private half-court rental
Pickleball Open Play
Local Rate: $8/person
Non-Local Rate: $10/person
Details: 50 min • Scheduled open-play times
Reservations begin promptly at the top of the hour and end 10 minutes before the following hour to allow for transition between users.
Court rentals include court space and applicable nets only. Rackets, paddles, balls and other sports equipment are not included.
Adult Annual Membership
Local Rate: $250/year
Non-Local Rate: $350/year
Details: Individual
Youth Annual Membership
Local Rate: $200/year
Non-Local Rate: $250/year
Details: Individual
Month-to-Month Membership
Local Rate: $40/month
Non-Local Rate: $50/month
Details: Individual
Day Pass
Local Rate: $3/day
Non-Local Rate: $5/day
Details: Individual
Private Full-Track Rental
Local Rate: $75/hour
Non-Local Rate: $100/hour
Details: Exclusive use • 2 hr. minimum
Track memberships are available for purchase online and require acceptance/signature of a track membership agreement.
Any group using the track for organized running, athletic training, team practices, clinics, or similar activities must reserve the entire four-lane track. For safety, other lanes cannot remain open to the public while athletes are participating in organized running or training.
2nd Floor Multipurpose Room
Resembles a conference room featuring a carpeted floor suitable for meetings and no-mess classes, events, or gatherings.
Standard Rate: $30/hour
Nonprofit Rate: $20/hour
Capacity: Up to 12 people
Details: 2-hour minimum
1st Floor Multipurpose Room
Features a cushioned easy-to-clean athletic floor, providing a comfortable and versatile surface for everything from yoga and fitness classes to gatherings and birthday parties.
Standard Rate: $50/hour
Nonprofit Rate: $30/hour
Capacity: Up to 30 people
Details: 2-hour minimum
Tables, chairs, technology, equipment, special setup or breakdown, additional cleaning, staffing, or other requested accommodations or services may result in additional charges determined at the time of booking.
Standard room reservations for small gatherings and meetings that fall within the normal use and capacity of the room may be made online. Room rentals that extend beyond this scope require staff review and approval.