Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission

Bristol Tennessee Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Meeting May 10, 2018 6:00pm Present: Susie Chandler David Akard Mahlon Luttrell Sherry Willinger Lea Powers Curt Rutherford Ginny Senter Jason Booher Absent: Chris Connally Lance Tudor Bennett Cowan George Laoo Staff: Terry Napier April Norris I. Call to Order – The Parks and Recreation Commission meeting was called to order at 6:04 pm by Chairman, David Akard. II. Approval of March 8, 2018 Minutes – Jason Booher made a motion to approve the minutes. Susie Chandler seconds the motion. All in favor, motion passes. III. Old Business A. TN Department of Health Grant – The City of Bristol TN was not awarded the grant. B. Greenways & Trails – The trail that will more than likely be started first will be the Beaver Creek North from Rooster Front. Public Works, Parks and Recreation and Community Development have been asked to identify properties and easements that need to be obtained to be able to begin applying for grant funding this fiscal year. C. Youth Football 2019- Terry advised that throughout the Bristol TN City elementary schools only 39 kids were pre-registered for the program. With those numbers the money to start up the program was cut from the budget. D. Food City Park/Dog Park- The Boyd Foundation is hosting a Dog Park Dash grant that will give communities across the state of TN $25,000 to start or update a dog park and one community will receive $100,000. Terry advised that Parks and Recreation would be applying for the grant. Terry shared the drawings for the dog park. Lea Powers ask if there would be any programing done to encourage the community to bring their dogs to the park. Terry advised that would be a component should we win the $100,000. E. Purchase of Coyne Textile Building Completed- The purchase has been finalized and the city has the option to buy the remainder of the block. Terry shared concept drawing of the prosed plan for the space for Parks and Recreation. Lea Powers asked if the plan would allow for indoor concerts. Terry advised that is will seat approximately 500. The concept drawing will cost around 1 million to complete but grants could be obtained to help offset the cost. F. Nature Center Expansion Report- Terry shared photos of the current progress and the completed exhibits. Crews are currently working on the Geology Wall which funding is complete for. Still to come is the park after dark and an outdoor classroom both of which still need funding. Lowes has committed to sponsoring the building materials for the Lakeside Learning Lab renovations. Terry advised they are looking into options for solar panels/off grid systems.  G. Shelter B Improvements Complete- Terry shared pictures of the improvements with the commission. New concrete walkways and storm water drains have been installed. Three new benches have been placed, a sandbox was built and fresh mulch is still to come. Phase II of the project is set to begin in July which will connect the VFW shelter to the new ADA walkway. H. Splash Pad- Terry shared photos to show progress at the splash pad. A sidewalk was added that connects to the splash pad to make it ADA compliant. An additional 5ft of concrete was added to the pad to help with water runoff and mud. An additional parking lot in underway and it will have approximately 24 spaces. I. Steele Creek Park Land/Cabin Donation- Mr. James Lovett Jr. donated 52 acers to Steele Creek Park. This land is located Nature Center between Rock Farm Road and Wimberly Way and was settled in the 1770’s. It has a 600-square –foot cabin on the property. Terry advised that a grant from MTSU has been applied for to come study the cabin. I. New Business: A. Summer Staff hiring underway for Recreation & Maintenance- Terry advised that help is becoming harder and harder to find. Recreation positions are mostly staffed but the maintenance side is down, B. State Street Farmer’s Market- The Farmer’s Market is now open on Saturday’s and will begin Wednesday evening hours starting in July. C. Whitetop Creek Park- Activities are in full swing at Whitetop Creek Park with tournaments scheduled through October. Bristol Soccer Association is also using Whitetop Creek Park for practice and games. D. Ida Stone Jones Tennis Center- Steve Brooks has resigned effective the end of May. Parks and Recreation staff will pick up the NJTL program which is set to start June 4th. Other options are being looked at for a new Tennis Pro. Pickle Ball lines are set to be painted on two courts to accommodate the growing sport. E. Nature Center Summer camps start June 4th- Terry advised that with camps being held in the New Nature Center camps are already filling up. F. Train, boats and Splash pad open in May- Opening day for the train, boats and splash pad will be May 26th. G. Sounds of Summer Concerts – Will be held at the Downtown Center starting in June. This was formally known as the Full Moon Jam. Lea Powers asked about movies in Steele Creek Park. Terry advised that WXBQ hosted those movies several years ago. He explained that he is working on equipment to make it possible to have movies at Anderson Park, Downtown Center and Steele Creek Park. He advised that he has purchased a projector and screen, licensing for the movies are lined up and testing is set to take place within the week. H. Pool preparations underway – Haynesfield Pool will be opening on May 26th. Crews have been working for several weeks to prepare it for opening. I. Mowing, Mowing, Mowing- Mowing season is in full swing and at this time crews are mowing six days a week just to keep up. II. Board Comments: David Akard stated that the Coyne Textile building, Trails Greenways and new Steele Creek Park property are all exciting for the area. Terry advised that each project takes money. Lea Powers discussed different options for downtown growth and that Parks and  Recreation is a huge economic driver. Jason Booher advised that he would not be seeking re- appointment to the commission. He also stated that he feels like Vance Middle School is hindering the growth of the community. Lea Powers asked about the rubber bike lane barriers. Terry advised that unfortunately he has no control, he can only take it to other to accomplish the goal. Sherry Willinger advised that the Friends of Steele Creek Park were awarded a $1,000 grant from Children’s Speedway Charities. They will use the money again this year to support a Nature Camp week for kids attending he Boys and Girls Club. Susie Chandler advised that the handicapped parking sign at the Bark Park is bent and there are ruts in the trail at Charlie Robinette Park. Terry advised that he will look into both matters as they should have been repaired already. She also advised that someone has been smoking in Shelter G bathroom and she suggest that signs be placed. Terry advised that he will look into that. Curt Rutherford advised that he is hopeful for a football program in the future. Terry advised that he would continue to try. Ginny Senter advised that she was really excited about the potential dog park and movies in the park. III. Staff Comments: None IV. Next Meeting Date: July 12, 2018 V. Adjourn – The meeting was adjourned by Chairman, David Akard at 7:32pm. ________________________ Terry Napier, Director