Parks Commission

Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Agenda Tuesday, June 27, 2023 7:00 p.m. A. Call meeting to order: Attendance: B. Minutes of last meetings: May 30, 2023 C. Approval of Bills: Warrants dated June 9 and June 23, 2023 D. Public Input: Each speaker is asked to direct their comments to the Chair and keep their remarks to 5 minutes. E. Communications: 1. Letter from Jason Reed from the Chicopee Boys & Girls Club regarding the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Program. 2. Request from Brent Dillard to use Ike Alpert Park for Futsal from September 9th to November 4th. Program would run on Saturdays from 8am to 12pm. 3. Other Communications F. Maintenance Report: 1. Parks Labor Force: Current Park openings: (1) 9L – Heavy MEO/Laborer (1) 6L – Grounds Maintenance Craftsman (2) 5L – MEO/Laborer (4) Seasonal Temporary Laborers All other positions are filled. G. Recreation Report: 1. Adult Rec Programs: Tang Soo Do Korean Martial Arts, Tennis Lessons. 2. Adult Rec Leagues: Softball – Season on-going 3. Youth Rec Leagues: Youth Baseball and Softball – Season on-going. Gold Star Zoo Soccer – Complete. 4. Youth Rec Programs: Tang Soo Do Korean Martial Arts. Tennis Lessons. 5. Clinics: Boys Basketball – July 17-21. Girls Basketball – August 7-11. 413 ATC Baseball – July 24-27. Gold Star Soccer – July 31 – Aug 4. 6. Safety: CPR/AED/First Aid Class – June 24th. Lifeguard Re-Cert – TBA. 7. Trips: Boston Red Sox June 30 – July 2. New York Yankees – July 22nd 8. Events: Fireworks – June 24th. Summer Movie Nights – July 15th and August 12th. National Night Out – August 7th 9. Aldenville Summer Concerts: Beginning July 5th. 10. OPEE: Final preparations 11. Aquatics: Splash Pads open. Pools opening early July. 12. Recreation openings: Lifeguards, Assistant Rec Leaders. H. Old Business: 1. PARC Grant – Final Pool Start Up in July 2023 2. Bemis Pond Dam Removal – Construction on-going. 3. Pool Removal – Final site restoration. 4. Open Space and Recreation Plan Renewal –Parks and Planning reviewing final document. 5. CDBG Project – Lincoln Grove Inclusive Playground Project – Sign installation. 6. Post 9/11 and Service Dog Memorial Park – Work on-going. 7. Pool Improvements – Work on-going. Seam/weather issues. 8. Szot Master Plan – Finalizing contract. 9. Other Old Business I. New Business: 1. CDBG Project – Sarah Jane Park Splash Pad 2. Galaxy Football Incident Update 3. Park Gun Policy 4. Police Policy 5. Emergency Notification Procedures 6. Other New Business J. Park Rules Review: 1. Table of Contents K. Meeting adjourned: L. Next Meeting: _____________________________  CITY OF CHICOPEE Department of Public Work PARKS DIVISION 687 Front Street Chicopee, MA. RECREATION OFFICE 413-594-3481 413-594-3486 (fax.) _________________________________________________________________________________________ Benjamin Strepka Sean Carroll Superintendent Assistant Superintendent Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 30, 2023 A. Call meeting to order: Meeting called to order at 7:02pm by Comm Buxton. It was noted the meeting was being recorded. Attendance: Commissioners Buxton, Destapado, Ziemba, Bresnahan and Parks Superintendent Strepka B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion for approval of minutes for the April 26th, 2023 meeting made by Comm Destapado, Second by Comm Ziemba. Motion for approval of minutes for the May 3rd, 2023 meeting made by Comm Destapado, Second by Comm Buxton C. APPROVAL OF BILLS: Motion for approval of warrants dated May 19th, 2023 that were signed by Comm. Buxton made by Comm Ziemba, Second by Comm Destapado D. PUBLIC INPUT: NONE E. COMMUNICATIONS: 1. Request from Chicopee Braves for field use at Stefanik Field for football practice for their fall season beginning August 1st. Recommendation made by Comm Buxton for Superintendent Strepka to have discussion with School Dept. Director of Maintenance Chapdelaine as the Stefanik Field is on school property and not under the jurisdiction of the Parks & Rec Department. 2. Request from CHS Boys Soccer team for field use at Ike Alpert Park for their summer soccer season beginning June 11th. Motion to approve made by Comm Bresnahan, Second by Comm Ziemba 3. Request from Celtic United Soccer Club for field use at Ike Alpert for their summer soccer season beginning June 6th. Motion to approve use of Sarah Jane on Thursdays or Ike Alpert upon availability made by Comm Bresnahan, Second by Comm Ziemba 4. Request from the Springfield Thunderbirds to bring their Community Caravan to Szot Park in August for a 2-hour event. Motion to approve made by Comm Bresnahan, Second by Comm Destapado 5. Request from Sean Mackin to use Szot Park for the Chicopee Student-Athlete Summer Camp from July 5th to August 4th. Motion to approve contingent on field availability due to other scheduled activities made by Comm Destapado, Second by Comm Bresnahan 6. Request from Wanda Torres to bring a horse and carriage to Lincoln Grove for a photoshoot. Commission agreed to table this request and asked Superintendent Strepka to check with City Hall and Law Dept. as the request involves a horse and buggy ride on city streets. 7. Other Communications a. The Rumbleseat Mens Soccer Team submitted request for field usage this summer. Motion to approve made by Comm Bresnahan, Second by Comm Ziemba F. MAINTENANCE REPORT: 1. Parks Labor Force: Current Park openings: (1) 9L – Heavy MEO/Laborer (1) 6L – Grounds Maintenance Craftsman (2) 5L – MEO/Laborer (4) Seasonal Temporary Laborers. All other positions are filled. G. RECREATION REPORT: 1. Adult Rec Programs: Tang Soo Do Korean Martial Arts, Yoga for Everyone. Tennis Lessons. Tennis at Williams Park until high school season is over and Szot courts become available. 2. Adult Rec Leagues: Softball – Season on-going (1) team dropped out due to stacked roster.  3. Youth Rec Leagues: Youth Baseball and Softball – Season on-going. Gold Star Zoo Soccer – Ongoing. 4. Youth Rec Programs: Tang Soo Do Korean Martial Arts. Tennis Lessons. 5. Clinics: Boys Basketball – July 17-21. Girls Basketball – August 7-11. 413 ATC Baseball – July 24-27. Gold Star Soccer – July 31 – Aug 4. No softball clinic due to lack of coach. 6. Safety: CPR/AED/First Aid Class – June 24th. Lifeguard Re-Cert – TBA. 7. Trips: Boston Red Sox June 30 – July 2. New York Yankees – July 22nd 8. Events: Fireworks – June 24th. Summer Movie Nights – July 15th and August 12th. National Night Out – August 7th. 9. Aldenville Summer Concerts: Beginning July 5th. 10. OPEE: Online Registration on-going. Confirmed it will be held at Fairview. Sewer separation project will be delayed. 11. Aquatics: Splash Pads opening. All splash parks open except for Szot, Ashe and Garrity, which will all be opened soon. 12. Recreation openings: Umpires, OPEE positions, Lifeguards, Leader of Rec/Art, Assistant Rec Leaders. An offer has been made to an applicant to fill the Clerk position. Waiting response. H. OLD BUSINESS: 1. PARC Grant – Final Pool Start Up in June 2023. Startup to occur after painting. 2. Bemis Pond Dam Removal – Preparing contracts. Construction beginning. Pre-construction meeting scheduled for 5/31. Construction fencing will begin being installed in the coming days. 3. Pool Removal – Final site restoration. Fence to be put fence back in at Szot. 4. Open Space and Recreation Plan Renewal –Parks and Planning reviewing. Waiting final section submittal from PVPC to put whole plan together. 5. CDBG Project – Lincoln Grove Inclusive Playground Project – Sign installation. Sign installation is last task at Lincoln. CDBG now considering funding the replacement of Sarah Jane splash pad. 6. Post 9/11 and Service Dog Memorial Park – Work on-going. Dog park fencing is installed. 7. Pool Improvements – Work on-going. Sand blasting Ray Ashe to be completed first to prep surface before painting. While Ray Ashe is being painted, the Rivers pool will be sand blasted. 8. Szot Master Plan – Awarding contract. RDLA was chosen from the (4) firms that submitted proposals. Planning Dept. is working the final contract award and signoff. Multiple public input sessions will be scheduled. Comm Buxton asked for notification of when sessions are scheduled. 9. Other Old Business. i. Comm. Buxton asked for update on Community Garden. Superintendent Strepka noted things going well at both Lincoln and Rivers. Community garden mostly self-sufficient with occasional request for assistance or supplies. I. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Ranger/Site Monitor position. Superintendent Strepka revised ranger/site monitor job description and presented for Commission review. Motion to approve made by Comm Destapado, Second by Comm Ziemba. Next step is submittal to City Council for approval prior to posting. 2. Summer Construction Projects – Order fencing and installation at various parks, new doors at Rivers comfort station, Szot Tennis crack filling and painting of pickleball lines. 3. Final Budget Transfers- Move budget from labor to materials. Superintendent Strepka requested approval on budget transfer for new blower and mower ($18K) and for materials for summer projects ($6.5K). Motion to approve made by Comm Bresnahan, Second by Comm Ziemba. Pending City Council approval. 4. Other New Business i. Comm Ziemba received request for fixing light bulbs at Szot scoreboard. ii. Comm Bresnahan requested moving meeting start time to 7pm as bill signing is no longer done at start of meeting. Motion to approve made by Comm Destapado, second by Comm Bresnahan. Approved J. PARKS RULES REVIEW: 1. Table of Contents – Comm Bresnahan volunteered to draft a table of contents for review at next meeting. K. MEETING ADJOURNED: Motion made to adjourn meeting at 8:08m made by Comm. Ziemba. Second by Comm. Destapado. L. NEXT COMMISSION MEETING: June 27th 2023, 7pm___________ Documents presented at May 30th, 2023 Commission meeting: a. Parks Commission Meeting Minutes from meeting on April 26th & May 3rd, 2023. b. Parks Department Summary of Monthly Bills dated May 19th. c. Email (dated 5/6/23) from Tim Klett of the Chicopee Braves requesting field use at Stefanik Field for football practice. d. Email (dated 5/2/23) from Paul Langevin of the CHS Boys Soccer team requesting field use at Ike Alpert Park for their summer soccer season. e. Email (dated 5/3/23) from Rob Galazka of the Celtic United Soccer Club requesting field use at Ike Alpert for their summer soccer season. f. Email (dated 5/17/23) from Keith Allen of the Springfield Thunderbirds requesting to bring their Community Caravan to Szot Park in August. g. Email (dated 5/19/23) from Sean Mackin, CHS Director to Athletics requesting to use Szot Park for the Chicopee Student-Athlete Summer Camp. h. Chicopee Parks and Rec Job Description for Ranger/Site Monitor Position. Minutes Submitted by: _______________________________ __________ Thomas Bresnahan Date Commission Secretary  C06092023 DPW PARKS $ 8,012.22 Amazon Office Supplies $ 123.77 Office Supplies B.E. Crowley Plumbing Parts $ 41.01 Repair to Building Braman Chemical Roast Service at Front St Office $ 73.97 Special Services Anthony Carleton Hoisting License Renewal $ 61.41 Registration Fees Chicopee Concrete Concrete for Flagpoles $ 407.00 Gravel, Loam, Rock, Sand Chicopee Water Dept Water $ 854.96 Water Chicopee WPC Sewer $ 1,317.73 Sewer User Fees Robert Dion Travel - Chainsaw Safety Class $ 33.01 Travel Holyoke Lock Lock Repairs $ 358.99 Repair to Building Home Depot Traffic Striping Paint $ 147.92 Paint & Supplies Tow Hooks $ 32.10 Paint & Supplies Graffiti Remover $ 16.92 Paint & Supplies Sawblades, Screws $ 86.32 Small Tools Tow Hitch Parts $ 88.96 Small Tools Lumber $ 239.76 Misc. Dept. Supplies Concrete Patch. WD-40 $ 47.94 Misc. Dept. Supplies Lumber $ 58.76 Misc. Dept. Supplies Two-Cycle Oil $ 143.52 Misc. Dept. Supplies Outlet Parts for Szot Pavilion $ 72.96 Misc. Dept. Supplies Lightbulbs, Knee Pads $ 44.48 Misc. Dept. Supplies Hydro Pro Irrigiation Irrigation Parts $ 116.00 Misc. Dept. Supplies Stephen Kloc IV Boot Allowance $ 148.88 Clothing Lavallee Group Hoisting 1C Cont. Ed. - Pajak, Dion $ 63.92 Education Training New England Uniform Weekly Uniform Service $ 361.46 Clothing Ondrick Natural Earth Mulch $ 333.00 Gravel, Loam, Rock, Sand Sherwin Williams Paint for Dugouts $ 192.86 Paint & Supplies Springfield Auto & Truck Spray In Bedliner, Floorliners $ 2,456.61 SPECIAL Purchase Crew Cab Pick-Up United Site Services Portapotties $ 88.00 Portable Toilets DPW PARKS $ 3,112.31 CELD Electricity $ 3,112.31 Light & Power REVOLVING $ 2,708.00 Jeffrey Bulissa Tang Soo Do May $ 348.00 Revolving Paul Fein Tennis Instructor $ 120.00 Revolving James Mercer Lifeguard Training Instructor $ 1,680.00 Revolving Patricia Strizak CPR/First Aid/AED Class - April 15 $ 560.00 Revolving RECREATION $ 2,561.37 Various Umpires Certified Umpires $ 478.00 Sports League Officials Boys & Girls Club Juvenille Delinquency - May $ 2,083.37 SPECIAL Juvenille Delinquency Prevention RECREATION $ 361.22 Home Depot Office Cleaning Supplies, Vaccuum $ 337.27 Office Supplies Home Depot Cleaning Supplies, Broom $ 23.95 Office Supplies PARKS SPECIAL Community Garden $ 205.96 Home Depot Community Garden Supplies $ 205.96 SPECIAL Community Garden Benjamin T. Strepka From: Sean Carroll Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2023 9:16 AM To: Benjamin T. Strepka Subject: FW: Fall 2023 From: Brent Dillard <bdillard@goldstarsoccer.com> Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2023 10:55 AM To: Sean Carroll <scarroll@chicopeema.gov> Subject: Fall 2023 CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of Chicopee. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Sean, I wanted to see if I would be able to run a youth futsal league for U5-U8 players this fall at Ike Alpert park. We would use the boarded rink and have the basketball court as an overflow for extra games. This would be for 8 weeks starting September 9th – November 4th. We would run it from 8am – 12pm. Thank you, Brent Dillard M.Ed., AT.C. Gold Star Soccer & Futsal 52 Hendrick Street Chicopee, MA 01020 USC Adv. National Diploma USYF Level 1 & 2 Futsal www.goldstarsoccer.com www.wmfutsal.com 1  HAMPDEN CHARTER Hampden Charter School of Science-East 20 Johnson Road Chicopee, MA 01022 SCHOOL OF SCIENCE- Phone. (413) 593-9090 Fax. (413) 294 2648 EAST info@hampdencharter.org www.hampdencharter.org To: Benjamin Strepka, Acting Superintendent-City of Chicopee, DPW Parks Division From: Patrick Graham, Athletic Director-Hampden Charter School of Science-East Date: May 31, 2023 Subject: Request for use of Bowie Park School Field of Dreams for practices and games for boy’s and girl’s varsity soccer during the Fall 2023 season. Dear Benjamin, This letter is to request permission for the use of Bowie Park Field of Dreams by the Hampden Charter School of Science-East. The intended purpose is for our high school boys’ and girls’ soccer teams to be able to practice and play games for their varsity seasons. This request mirrors the permit we’ve been granted the last few years. We are requesting use of the Bowie School Field on Monday-Friday beginning Thursday, August 24th, 2023 and ending Friday, November 3rd, 2023 Our request is to use the field from 2:30 PM - 5:30 PM on the requested days. As we understand the city has prior commitments to the field, our time slot can be adjusted if need be. In the past we have worked well to communicate and be off of the field for the city teams coming on to practice after us. The Bowie Field is the only field that works for our daily practice request as we are located directly across the street and our students can easily access it without motor vehicle transportation. As we have the past few years, Hampden Charter will provide two regulation soccer goals to the field for both our use as well as the city teams using the field. We assume all responsibility for our equipment at the field. Also, last year we were able to use Bowie School Field to host our boys’ and girls’ varsity soccer games and we are requesting to be able to use the park again to host our 18 varsity high school soccer games. With games starting at 4:00 PM and going until 6:00 PM. Just checking for options if Rivers Park will be available for games this season as well. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Sincerely, Patrick Graham Hampden Charter School of Science-East Athletic Director Benjamin T. Strepka From: tyrell nichols <dpgeneral360@yahoo.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2023 11:40 AM To: Benjamin T. Strepka Subject: Basketball tournament in memory of my father You don't often get email from dpgeneral360@yahoo.com. Learn why this is important CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of Chicopee. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Hello my name is Johnathan Nichols I am a floor sander by trade but my passion is in sports, last year I had my first event “Nichols summer classic” in memory of my father Tom Nichols. It was a two day tournament, with 9 teams 9 players per team. It was a great success, but looking to move it here to accommodate all the kids we had. I wanted to have a bounce house as well as a DJ. Same format as last year. I will be responsible for clean up and leaving the park as I found it. All I would need from you guys is permission to use the courts and a small area of the field for the bounce house. I’m guessing about 200 people per day. The days would go from 8am-5pm each day. I appreciate your time and consideration for this Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone 1