Parks Commission

Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Agenda Tuesday, October 22, 2024 7:00 p.m. A. Call meeting to order: Commissioner Buxton called the meeting to order at 7:02 Attendance: Ben, Nancy, Hugo, Maureen, Ashley, Eric. B. Minutes of last meeting: September 25, 2024, Approved Commissioner Fenton, 2nd Commissioner Destapado C. Approval of Bills: Warrants dated October 11th - Approved Commissioner Fenton, 2nd Commissioner Destapado D. Public Input: Each speaker is asked to direct their comments to the Chair and keep their remarks to 5 minutes. No public input E. Communications: 1. Request from First Central Bible Church to hold their annual Thanksgiving morning bonfire at Szot Park on November 28th. Motion - Commissioner Ziemba - 2nd Commissioner Eric Lapointe 2. Request from the Chicopee Pride Committee to hold the annual Pride Day event on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at Szot Park. Motion - Commissioner Ziemba - 2nd Commissioner Fenton 3. Request from Kane’s Krusade to hold their annual Pawsome 5K event on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at Szot Park. Motion -Commissioner Destapado - 2nd Commissioner Lapointe 4. St. Stans field day at Szot Tuesday 5/13/2025 - Motion Commissioner Fenton, 2nd Commissioner Destapado F. Maintenance Report: 1. Parks Labor Force: Current Park openings: (4) 5L – MEO/Laborer. All other positions are filled. G. Recreation Report: 1. Adult Rec Programs: Tang Soo Do Korean Martial Arts. 2. Adult Rec Leagues: Volleyball – Games begin October 21st. Men’s Basketball – Meeting TBA. 3. Youth Rec Leagues: Soccer – Games ending November 3rd. Gold Star Zoo – Ends November 2nd. Suburban Basketball – Practices begin October 23rd. Youth Basketball – Practices begin December 2nd. 3- Suburban Tryout update - The parks dept did a good job filling out paperwork, keeping parents out of the gym, and organizing everything. Pros and cons of switching to the new system. Looking at different ways to let kids know they were cut and reaching out to parents. Girls side - why did we cut so many girls and not make 2 teams? The program is losing numbers, it's very concerning. Fees for next year - The girls' side is one fee and they do everything, parks only pay for uniforms. The boys’ side has to pay multiple invoices. 4. Youth Rec Programs: Tang Soo Do Korean Martial Arts. 5. Events: Kane’s Krusade 5K – October 19th, Spooktacular – October 24th. Wreaths Across America – December 14th Fairview Cemetery 6. Aquatics: Winter Open Swim / Swim Lessons – Dates TBA - Waiting for school dept - At Comp 7. Safety: Babysitting Class – December 6th. CPR/First Aid/AED - TBA 8. Trips: Boston Celtics vs Minnesota Timberwolves – November 24th 9. Community Garden: Rivers Clean Up – November 2nd 10. Recreation openings: Basketball Referees and Scorekeepers. Lifeguards. Going next week to talk about the Gym Supervisor posting. H. Old Business: 1. Bemis Pond Dam Removal – Construction ongoing. Planning for Phase II. 2. Szot Master Plan – Planning Community Input and Phase I design. Will have some information at spooktacular. 3. CDBG Project – Sarah Jane Splash Pad – Pool removal plans. 4. Pool Removal – Szot Clean-Up Area 5. NRPA Virtual Conference 6. Other Old Business I. New Business: 1. Event Permitting Process - Having an individual meeting with the Mayor and Parks Commission - & Lawyer to determine the formalized process of getting event permits within the parks. Within Legal, Fire, Police, license commission 12-2-2024 @ 6:00 PM At Park and Rec Office 2. PARC Grant – Sarah Jane Park = $500,000! Soccer, baseball, and softball diamonds. Spectator bleachers. Accessible playground. Motion - Commissioner Ziemba - 2nd Commissioner Fenton 3. Williams Park Upgrades Donation/Investment by Sam Shumsky. Cracks sealed on the tennis court and converted so it can be a tennis and pickleball court. 4. Playground Assessments - The School Committee wanted the Parks Committee to maintain the school playgrounds on top of the park's playgrounds. The Mayor said no. However, we need to do assessments on the playgrounds and safety surveying and inspections monthly or as needed. A job should be made in the future for someone to inspect and repair the playgrounds. 5. Other New Business ​ Nancy - Lorraine's feedback - 2 park employees were just sitting at a picnic table the entire time-, didn't clean up the restroom as well as it could have been, or a bunch of cigarette butts were on the walkway. ​ Bowie - Hamden Charter uses it for soccer J. Meeting adjourned: 8:31 Motion to adjourn Commissioner Buxton- 2nd Commissioner Fenton. K. Next Meeting: 11/26/2024 @ 6:00