Parks Commission

Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Agenda Wednesday, August 14, 2024 5:30 p.m. A. Call meeting to order: 7:06 Attendance: Nancy, Hugo, Maureen, Ashley, Ben B. Minutes of the last meeting: Commissioner Fenton approved the minutes, and Commissioner Destapado seconded C. Approval of Bills: Warrants dated June 28th, July 12th, July 19th, July 26th, August 2nd, August 9th, and August 16th. - Commissioner Fenton approved the minutes, and Commissioner Destapado seconded D. Public Input: Each speaker is asked to direct their comments to the Chair and keep their remarks to 5 minutes. No public comments E. Communications: 1. Letter from Jason Reed from the Chicopee Boys & Girls Club regarding the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Program. a. Commissioner Fenton motioned to approve it but with the stipulation that someone from the mayor's office & Jason to come in and give us more information regarding the terms of this. Commissioner Ziemba seconded the motion. 2. Request from the CHS Football Booster Club to hang sponsor banners at Szot Park for the fall season. a. Commissioner Fenton motioned that sponsorships can only be hung up during game time and must be removed immediately following the game, pending the email (8/14) response from Sean Mackin regarding MIAA rules. Commissioner Ziemba seconded the motion. 3. Request from Patrick Graham from Hampden Charter School for field use at Bowie Field for boys’ and girls’ soccer games for the fall season. Commissioner Fenton motioned, and Commissioner Ziemba seconded. 4. Request from Paul Langevin from AJAC for field use at Williams, Ray Ash, Litwin, and Bellamy for youth soccer during the fall season. Commissioner Fenton motioned, and Commissioner Ziemba seconded. - Commissioner Destapado abstained. 5. Request from Joel Duron Coca for field use for adult soccer on Sundays starting in September. Commissioner Fenton motioned, and Commissioner Destapado seconded with the stipulation that they fill out all the necessary paperwork. 6. Request from Caitlin Bigda for field use to hold a kickball tournament on October 5th. They require 2 fields and would like to invite 2-3 food trucks. Commissioner Fenton motioned, and Commissioner Destapado seconded, pending the availability of fields and getting certified food trucks 7. Request from the Chicopee Public Library to hold two Bookmobile stops with story walks on September 28th and October 19th from 9:30 am to 11:00 am. Commissioner Fenton motioned, and Commissioner Ziemba seconded. 8. Request from Bobby Lockett to hold a youth field day at Williams Park on August 31st. Commissioner Destapado motioned, and Commissioner Ziemba seconded. 9. Thriller 5K - October 26th, 11:00 am a. Commissioner Destapado motioned, and Commissioner Fenton seconded. 10. Request from Chicopee High Band Director to utilize upper Szot - a. Motion to approve subject to receipt of the football schedule to inform band of availability. Commissioner Ziemba made a motion, and Commissioner Destapado motioned F. Maintenance Report: 1. Parks Labor Force: Current Park openings: (4) 5L – MEO/Laborer (1) 4L – Laborer. All other positions are filled. - In the process of being filled G. Recreation Report: 1. Adult Rec Programs: Tang Soo Do Korean Martial Arts. a. Women’s Outdoor Bootcamp. Community Garden Yoga Event. - moving to fall - low numbers 2. Adult Rec Leagues: Softball – Complete. 3. Youth Rec Leagues: Baseball/Softball – Games on-going. Gold Star Zoo – Complete. 4. Youth Rec Programs: Tang Soo Do Korean Martial Arts. 5. Sport Explorers – Canceled. -low enrollment 6. Boys Basketball Clinic – July 22-26. About 30 boys 7. Girls Basketball Clinic – July 29-Aug 2. About 12 girls a. We want to see a survey sent out to all suburban parents about the season 8. Youth Soccer Starting - Week of 8/19 - Coaches meeting and code of conduct. 9. OPEE: Complete. - we would love to see a survey to hear feedback about what we are doing well and what we can improve on. 10. Concerts: Aldenville Summer Concerts – Tuesdays through August 27th 11. Events: NNO – August 7th, - Damage to the field after due to all the vendors driving and ruining the field, despite being told not to drive on the field. Meeting with w/the Mayor's office because the field needs to be fixed. 12. Dominoes Tournament – August 17th, Movie Night – August 24th, Back to School Event – August 25th, Fitness Fest – September 14th, Lorraine’s Event – October 5th, Kane’s Krusade 5K – October 19th, Spooktacular – October 24th (They have not sent in their request) 13. Aquatics: Swim Lessons – Complete. - Want to keep offering lessons in fall and winter as well. 14. Trips: Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles – August 16-18 15. Community Garden: All plots sold. Yoga Event – TBA 16. Recreation openings: Soccer Referees. - Likely filled H. Old Business: 1. Bemis Pond Dam Removal – Construction ongoing. Planning for Phase II. 2. Pool Improvements – Complete. 3. Szot Master Plan – Planning Community Input and Phase I design. September 4. CDBG Project – Sarah Jane Splash Pad – Pool removal plans. 5. Pool Removal – Szot Clean-Up Area 6. Szot Tennis Court Repairs – Complete. 7. State Funds for Youth Sports Senator Arriaga - allocated $50,000 for youth sports - not enough to cover every single kid who plays youth sports for us. 8. Other Old Business 9. Fireworks - safety - wrap up meeting with police, fire, and DPW regarding safety and presence within the park. We are hiring them to protect the people within the park not to just direct traffic. The police also need to be moving around in the park and not standing in a group of 4. 10. Ants at the dog park - will be sprayed. I. New Business: 1. NRPA Virtual Conference – October 8-10 2. Parks Update - Eric LaPointe will be joining us soon - hopefully by October 3. Another broken bottle glass was thrown into Rivers Pool. - not reopening it for the rest of summer. 4. Ray Ash will be open for another few weeks 5. New gang mower allowed to be purchased 6. adult pick up being posted on Facebook - 8/13 & 8/15 @ Bowie 6:00 pm - a rep from the parks dept will go on the 15th to explain the permit process to explain the park rental process (Ben or Sean) 7. Other New Business J. Meeting adjourned: 8:43 - Commissioner Destapado motioned, and Commissioner Fenton seconded. K. Next Meeting: ________9/25/2024_________