PARKS & RECREATION BOARD
CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2009
REGULAR MEETING
7:00 P.M.
1. ROLL CALL. Mr. Pawlowski called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm. Present were Mr. Pawlowski, Mr. Boetcher, and Ms. Sanders. Ms Green and Ms. Hammond were absent. Also present were Parks and Recreation Director Steve Carr, and Recreation Coordinator Don Ross.
Mr. Carr explained that Ms. Green had asked to be excused to watch her son participate in the regional track meet.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM April 28 REGULAR MEETING.
3. COMMUNITY COMMENTS. Mr. Pawlowski reported that he had attended the community pool with his family during the previous weekend. He noted that everything went well.
4. REPORTS
PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR’S REPORT Mr. Carr reported that the Summer Program Guide had been distributed to area residents in a Times-Sun tab (insert) on May 6. Summer registration began May 11 for City residents, and May 13 for non-residents.
The Community Pool opened on May 23. The pool manager is Jim Mee, a schoolteacher. The assistant manager is Zach Nowicki. The head lifeguard is Katie Chontos.
Installation of the brick border and sod around the perimeter of the Victory Park playground has been completed. Signage has arrived, and will soon be set. Park benches, seeding, and the removal of the dirt hill will be completed in the near future.
Mr. Carr mentioned that an organizational meeting for the new community gardens was held on May 14. Currently, there are 16 assigned plots to 13 different families.
The Parks Department co-sponsored the Pickerington Kidz Festival on May 17, with PickeringtonKidz.com. The event drew 47 vendors, and an attendance estimated by the police department at 4,000.
Both the Fairfield Federal Friday Flicks, slated to debut June 5, and the Giant Eagle Summer Concert Series, which will open June 7, are ready for the summer of 2009.
The Summer Playground sessions, which will involve 150 area youngsters, will begin on June 15. Plans to expand the program to a second site were shelved due to budget cuts.
Mr. Pawlowski complimented the city staff, City Council, and the Violet Township Trustees for reviving the July 4 celebration. He questioned whether a similar situation might occur in 2010, and whether the Park Board could do anything to forestall a possible cancellation of that event. Mrs. Sanders remarked that by virtue of the recent City Council vote, it appears as if Council would want it to continue. Mr. Boetcher added that it has become a local tradition of note, and that it would be missed, if it were terminated. Mr. Carr said that the total budget for the event is over $27,000, and that if the township is willing to contribute again, he will try to put half of the total amount on the budget for next year. Mr. Pawlowski stated that the Board’s purpose is to recommend to Council, and he thought it would be appropriate to recommend to Council that the celebration should continue.
Mr. Carr explained that Paul Jay, the architect who is helping develop the frisbee golf course, will meet with the city’s contracted mowers to begin to define fairways, etc. He mentioned that he is hopeful that the course will open this summer. Some of the equipment—benches, signage, trash cans, and kiosks—might be afforded with a sponsorship program. Mrs. Sanders said that that would be an appropriate recruiting involvement for the Board, and that she would be willing to head up the effort.
A. COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORT. Mrs. Sanders said that she had nothing to report.
5.
BOARD DISCUSSION ITEMS
A.
REVIEW AND DISCUSSION REGARDING SCHEDULING WORK
SESSION . Mr. Pawlowski
repeated his comment from the April
meeting that
the Board should wait until
the empty Board seat is filled to pursue work session
details.
6.
OTHER
BUSINESS. Mr. Pawlowski
reported on several positive factors from the evolving community gardens:
interaction with the food pantry, the use of nice areas which have always been
pasture land, and the continuing educational sessions which will occur
throughout the summer. He mentioned that there will be weed pressure, and
challenges with wildlife and water, but that the project has gotten off to a
good start.
7. ADJOURNMENT. Mr. Boetcher moved to adjourn. Seconded by Mrs. Sanders.
Mrs. Sanders, Mr. Pawlowski, Ms. Boetcher, all aye.
Motion passed 3-0.
Mr. Pawlowski adjourned the meeting at 7:53 pm.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED BY
_____________________________________
Donald R. Ross, Recreation Coordinator
ATTEST: _____________________________________
Stephen A. Carr, Director