Parks and Recreation Commission

Inger Hiller, Chair Brian Glotzbach, Vice Chair Parks and Recreation Commission Sarah Grider Meeting Minutes Shawn L'Esperance Madeline Self Michael Smith Wednesday, May 19, 2021 5:00 PM Virtual Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission NOTE: THIS MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THREE OR MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY ALSO ATTEND THIS MEETING, DURING WHICH THE ITEMS LISTED HEREIN WILL BE DISCUSSED. This meeting will be held in a fully-virtual format. JOIN ONLINE MEETING https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/u1dTCOYzqmsPDWJTEbk5a? domain=crgov.webex.com JOIN BY PHONE +1-720-650-7664 Meeting number (access code): 187 584 7520 Meeting password: 2pkG8eNDig7 TIMES SHOWN ARE APPROXIMATE AND MAY BE ADJUSTED DUE TO CHANGES TO THE AGENDA. CALL TO ORDER Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Inger Hiller called the virtual meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Council Liaison Caryn Johnson was present, as were Town staff including Jeff Brauer, Brian Peterson, Bob Maloney, Dan Wahl, Jennifer Reinhardt, Barbara Spagnuolo, Matt Gohl and Maia Aman. Present 10 - Commissioner Madeline Self, Commissioner Madeline Self, Vice Chair Brian Glotzbach, Commissioner Michael Smith, Commissioner Michael Smith, Chair Inger Hiller, Chair Inger Hiller, Commissioner Shawn L'Esperance, Commissioner Sarah Grider, and Commissioner Sarah Grider ADDITIONS/DELETIONS/MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA None. PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THIS TIME, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AND STAFF ON ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA. COMMENTS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO NO MORE THAN FOUR (4) MINUTES. None. MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes May 19, 2021 PRAC Approval of the Minutes of April 21, 2021 2021-009 It was motioned by Michael Smith and seconded by Shawn L’Esperance to approve the minutes of the April 21, 2021 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. Brian Glotzbach was not present during the approval of the minutes. Yes: 6 - Commissioner Self, Commissioner Smith, Chair Hiller, Chair Hiller, Commissioner L'Esperance, and Commissioner Grider Not Present: 1 - Vice Chair Glotzbach AGENDA ITEMS PRAC Special Events Update 2021-010 Special Events Supervisor Jennifer Reinhardt provided Parks and Recreation Commission members and staff with an update on upcoming special events. The Special Events Division oversees Town-managed events throughout the year, oversees the special event permitting process and coordinates logistics between all Castle Rock special events. In 2021, the division will feature: - Special events launched in May with the Farmers Market, offered at Festival Park on Sundays, as well as the Scavenge the Rock program organized through the Historic Preservation Board. - The Summer Concert Series featuring 38 Special, Parmalee, the Beach Boys, Sublime with Rome and Super Diamond. Staff are excited to announce that season lawn passes sold out within two weeks and anticipate selling out on almost all of the concerts. - New to this summer will be drive-in movies at the Event Pad at Philip S. Miller Park on select Fridays and Saturdays June through August. - First Fridays at Festival Park will be offered June through September. This family-friendly and free series will feature an Elvis impersonator, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, along with a No Doubt cover band. Shawn L’Esperance complimented Jennifer on the high quality of events organized through the Town. RECESS TO TOWN OF CASTLE ROCK NOXIOUS WEED ADVISORY BOARD MEETING RECONVENE TO ADVERTISED AGENDA ITEMS OF PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION PRAC East Plum Creek Disc Golf Course Proposal 2021-011 Park Planning and Construction Manager Brian Peterson provided an update on an inquiry received from Throw Colorado. Recently, this regional disc golf club with local representation, approached the Town with a request for a new disc golf course in Castle Rock. Staff has had several discussions with the group related to potential locations. One promising location could be the unused upland portions of the East Plum Creek Open Space Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes May 19, 2021 property. Access to the course would occur from a planned trailhead at the end of Caprice Drive. Castle Rock's existing course was developed on a future high school site in Castlewood Ranch north of Matney Park. This course is not ideal given its lack of trees, general topography and other features that create challenges and make play less than ideal. Throw Colorado plans to put together a draft proposal, which will be reviewed by staff and the Parks and Recreation Commission, as well as processed publicly. The new course would likely be funded through the Conservation Trust Fund, and Throw Colorado would potentially construct and maintain the course. Michael Smith noted that he likes the idea of adding additional activities in unused space along the trail. Shawn L’Esperance asked where the demand for disc golf tends to trend within community surveys. Brian explained that staff had considered including disc golf within the Plum Creek area park renovation design process, but the plans conflicted with the desires expressed by nearby community members. This location may offer a more suitable area. Shawn also asked if parking is available at this location. Brian explained that while parking is not presently available, there are plans to add trailhead parking nearby in the future. Shawn also asked who the target market typically is for disc golf. Brian explained that younger kids to teenagers and adults play disc golf. Shawn noted that she likes the idea of expanding opportunities for activities for teenagers in the area and that it provides an affordable sport. Chair Inger Hiller asked what types of outreach would be completed to gather public feedback and also asked if the Matney course would be removed. Brian noted that staff would like issue a Town-wide survey and that pros and cons to removing the Matney course could be exposed. Brian further explained that the course at Matney doesn’t have much draw and the new course may provide a cost-effective solution to improve the department’s services. Overall, the department will rely on community input to help guide decisions. Madeline Smith expressed approval of the idea of and likes that it combines open space with affordability and an efficient use of existing space. Madeline also noted that disc golf is very popular in the Denver area. Sarah Grider asked if there have ever been other plans for the area identified in addition to disc golf, and staff were not aware of plans. PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT COMMENTS Staff provided Commission members with the following updates: · The annual board and commission recruitment interviews went well, and Town Council reappointed Sarah Grider and Michael Smith to serve additional terms. The Commission will also welcome new member Rebecca Dunn in June. · The department is planning to return to in-person Commission meetings next month at the Millhouse at Philip S. Miller Park; meetings will still be held on the third Wednesday of the month at 5 p.m. · Town Council unanimously approved a construction contract with White Construction Group for the Cobblestone Ranch neighborhood park. Town Council found Phase 1 to be consistent with the Master Plan and the feedback received from the community. Everyone is looking forward to very successful project with construction commencing in June. · With the expiration of the mask mandate, recreation facilities are experiencing an Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes May 19, 2021 increase in attendance as more and more people are getting comfortable and looking forwarded to expanded services. · Summer camp registration is up significantly when compared year-over-year. 2020 hosted over 1,500 campers. 2021 registrations are already up to 2,244 with over $100,000 in revenue over 2020. Staff are actively working to add more openings for additional registrations since many programs are sold out. · New LED lighting was installed at the Miller Activity Complex. Brian Peterson worked with an electrician to upgrade to more efficient and higher quality lighting, which will also reduce future maintenance. · Park Operations and Maintenance have completed spring fertilizer applications and activated irrigation systems. Staff are also working to finalize seasonal recruitment for the busy summer season. · Staff would like to engage the Commission in a discussion regarding the future of parks and recreation services post pandemic; staff plan to place this on the June agenda. · Climb4Change is scheduled for this Saturday, a race up the Challenge Hill to support Adaptive Recreation programming. · The outdoor pools will open on May 29 and the splash pad is running at Philip S. Miller Park; Festival Park's will open soon after some minor repair work is completed. THANK YOU TO BRIAN GLOTZBACH Staff and members of the Commission thanked Brian Glotzbach for his continued dedication and service over the course of three consecutive terms. Brian has served as the Vice Chair for five years and guided the Department through a myriad of very successful accomplishments, including the development of Philip S. Miller Park and its adventure playground, soft-surface trails, design and implementation of splash pads. As well as the re-imagining of Festival Park; honoring Deputy Zack S. Parrish III and the police community with a memorial and development of a neighborhood park; the design of the Cobblestone Ranch Park Master Plan and Phase 1; the southern extension of the East Plum Creek Trail; a $2 million grant award from Great Outdoors Colorado for the Colorado Front Range Trail in Castle Rock; and the development of Legacy Trail at Gateway Mesa Open Space. COMMISSION COMMENTS Brian Glotzbach noted that he has seen several really positive comments about the full reopening of the Recreation Center. Brian also noted that the zipline at Deputy Zack S. Parrish III Memorial Park looked a little low. Bob Maloney thanked him for the comment and will check back to ensure it is functioning properly. Michael Smith asked if the bathrooms at Founders had opened for the season yet and Bob explained that the water was just turned on May 10 due to restrictions so the bathrooms were very recently opened. Shawn L’Esperance thanked staff for all of their pivoting during the pandemic to continue to offer their very important services to the community; everyone did a tremendous job. Michael Smith echoed this comment and noted staff were very creative in offering innovation options in a time when residents needed them the most. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:13 p.m. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes May 19, 2021