Parks & Recreation Commission

Parks & Recreation Commission Agenda Monday, June 1, 2026 at 5:00 PM Economic Development Center, Council Meeting Room 803 South Main Street, Culpeper Page 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 4.1 Minutes from April 27, 2026 3 4-27-2026 P&R minutes.pdf 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1 Request for a Turtle Sign at Yowell Meadow Park 6 Turtle Signs.pdf Clerk's note: The above attachment was updated on 5/29/2026 at 5:00pm Clerk's note: The below attachment was added on 5/27/2026 at 9:55am. Clerk's note: The below attachment was updated on 5/29/2026 at 5:00pm Citizen Comment 5-26-2026.pdf 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 8. REPORT OF THE COMMISSION 8.1 Chair Report 8.2 Commission Member Comments 9. REPORT OF TOWN STAFF 9.1 Major Event Applications Page 1 of 9  9.2 Comprehensive Plan Update for Parks & Recreation Section The Commission will discuss updating Chapter 9, Parks, Recreation & Open Space, of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. 10. OTHER BUSINESS 11. ADJOURNMENT Page 2 of 9  MINUTES Town of Culpeper Parks & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting – April 27, 2026 803 S. Main Street – Economic Development Center Call to Order Chair Ms. Steele called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m. Call of Roll Members Present: John Barrett Corrinn Compton David Duey Jon Russell Gwen Steele Staff Present: Sandy Puryear, Town Planner Kelli Carmichael, Planning and Zoning Assistant Others Present: Andrew Hardy, Director of Culpeper County Parks and Recreation Approval of Agenda Motion: By Mr. Barrett, to approve the agenda as presented Seconded: By Mr. Russell Vote: Approved 5-0 Approval of Minutes Motion: By Mr. Russell, to approve the minutes as presented Seconded: By Mr. Compton Vote: Approved 5-0 Comments & Correspondence from Citizens on Items Not on the Agenda Sarita Faught, 506 Blue Ridge Ave, invited the Commission to the ribbon cutting for the new trail at Little Fork Church this Sunday. New Business Major Event - Novum Baptist Church: Mr. Puryear presented an application to utilize Yowell Meadow Park Pavilion A for a special church picnic event on May 24, 2026. Ms. Puryear noted that speakers will be used for the event and that insurance has not yet been received. Discussion ensued regarding day time noise regulations. Ms. Steele noted that there is no way to regulate the noise other than to limit the number of speakers to one and have it pointed away from homes. Motion: By Ms. Compton, to approve the application as presented with the conditions that only one speaker be used and it be faced away from homes and that the applicant obtains insurance. Seconded: By Mr. Russell Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes April 27, 2026 Page 1 Page 3 of 9  Vote: Approved 5-0 Major Event – Ykea Zimmerman: Ms. Puryear presented an application to utilize Yowell Meadow Park Pavilion A for a community backpack giveway on July 25, 2026. Motion: By Mr. Barrett, to approve the application provided the applicant obtain insurance. Seconded: By Mr. Russell Vote: Approved 5-0 Mr. Duey left the meeting at 5:13 pm. Tour of the County/Town Pool: Mr. Hardy provided a tour of the pool facility to all meeting attendees. The ribbon cutting is planned for May 22nd. Unfinished Business None. Report of the Commission Chair Report: Ms. Steele noted that noted that she was unable to attend the most recent Culpeper County Parks and Recreation meeting. Ms. Steel inquired about the installation of the rental plaques on the ball fields at Yowell Meadow Park. Ms. Puryear noted that they have not yet been installed. Commission Member Comments: Ms. Compton asked if there is a Town policy on e-bikes at Yowell Meadow Park. Commission discussion ensued with Mr. Russell noting that Town Code states that gas-powered vehicles are prohibited. Ms. Compton inquired about the update to the signage for the mountain bike trail at Yowell Meadow Park. Ms. Puryear noted that the signage has not yet been updated. Report of Town Staff Major Events Guidebook/Best Practices: Ms. Puryear requested that the Commission provide comments at the next meeting which is scheduled to be held on June 1st. Comprehensive Plan Update for Parks & Recreation Section: Ms. Puryear requested that the Commission provide two ideas at the next meeting. Ms. Puryear informed the Commission that the Town will not be installing “no bus” signs at Rockwater Park as it is not supported by Town Code. Mr. Hardy offered to reach out to neighboring county Parks and Recreation departments to inform them of the vehicle access limitations at Rockwater Park and provide Staff’s contact information for any future trips. Ms. Puryear informed the Commission that Lifespring’s planned 5k route has changed and will now include areas outside of Yowell Meadow Park. All appropriate departments have agreed to the change. Mr. Russell noted that early morning runners are running in Yowell Meadow Park and utilizing headlamps as needed. He inquired about adding lighting to the trail during early morning hours to Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes April 27, 2026 Page 2 Page 4 of 9 provide better safety for these runners. Commission discussion ensued regarding potentially installing lighting that will only be on for a certain interval before dawn. Ms. Puryear will inquire about this and update the Commission. Other Business None. Adjournment - The meeting adjourned at 6:03 pm. _________________________________ ___________________ Chair Date Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes April 27, 2026 Page 3 Page 5 of 9 Sandra Puryear From: Andrew Hopewell Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 3:49 PM To: cecile scott Cc: Shelly Plaster; Anthony Schoch; Sandra Puryear; Jim Hoy Subject: RE: YMP and turtles Good afternoon Cecile, I have asked Sandy Puryear, our planner who works with the Park & Rec Commission, to add your request to their to their next meeting agenda for discussion. You are welcome to follow up with her if there is any additional information you wish to share. Sincerely, Andrew Andrew W. Hopewell, AICP, CZA Director of Planning & Community Development Zoning Administrator Town of Culpeper Phone: (540) 829-8260 Email: ahopewell@culpeperva.gov 400 South Main Street, Suite 301 Culpeper, VA 22701 www.culpeperva.gov This email is not intended to be and shall not be deemed to be an official order, requirement, decision or determination made by the Zoning Administrator and as such may not be appealed. In keeping with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), emails and all attachments may be released to others upon request for inspection and copying without prior notification. From: cecile scott < Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 3:32 PM To: Jim Hoy <jhoy@culpeperva.gov> Cc: Andrew Hopewell <AHopewell@culpeperva.gov>; Shelly Plaster <SPlaster@culpeperva.gov>; Anthony Schoch <ASchoch@culpeperva.gov> Subject: Re: YMP and turtles 1 Page 6 of 9 [WARNING]: This message originated outside of the Town of Culpeper mail system -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Thanks! On Wed, Apr 15, 2026 at 2:31 PM Jim Hoy <jhoy@culpeperva.gov> wrote: Good afternoon Cecile, thank you for sharing this idea. I have copied the Town Planning Director, Andrew Hopewell, on your email for consideration for discussion with the Town’s Parks and Recreation Commission. Jim Jim Hoy, P.E. Director of Public Services Town of Culpeper 400 S. Main Street Culpeper, VA 22701 Direct: (540) 825-0285 Email: jhoy@culpeperva.gov www.culpeperva.gov From: cecile scott Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 2:07 PM To: Jim Hoy <jhoy@culpeperva.gov> Subject: YMP and turtles 2 Page 7 of 9 [WARNING]: This message originated outside of the Town of Culpeper mail system -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Mr Jim Hoy Director of Public Services Town of Culpeper Sir, We regularly walk Yowell Meadow Park. Since the weather has turned warm, we see turtles every time we cross the central bridge (the one closest to the restrooms and the children play area). We have seen at least one turtle, and sometimes as many 3, 4, 10.. swimming along the muddy bottom of the stream. Whenever we point out the turtles to others, be they small children, seniors like us, or even teenagers, they are delighted to see turtles moving through the water. I am writing to suggest some signage so that more people would be aware of, and enjoy, this unique Culpeper treasure. Maybe something as simple as “Turtle Bridge”, or “turtles often can be seen in waters under this bridge.” What do you think? Is this something the Town might do? Cecile Scott Jim Hoy 3 Page 8 of 9 Sandra Puryear From: SARITA FAUGHT Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 5:09 PM To: Sandra Puryear Subject: Parks and Rec Agenda [WARNING]: This message originated outside of the Town of Culpeper mail system -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Hello Sandy, I read the citizen inquiry/request regarding signage alerting visitors to the presence of turtles. My question is will it benefit the turtles to draw attention to them or result in people catching and removing them - putting the turtles’ lives in danger? I recently saw a presentation by the Wildlife Center located in Waynesboro that explained if you remove a turtle from its habitat it will not survive in the wild, even if you put it in a similar habitat. Perhaps a better approach would be to have signage in the park suggesting visitors take time to observe all the wildlife in the park in their natural habitats, where they must remain without human interference. Please share as you see fit with the citizen and/or the committee. Sarita Sent from my iPhone 1 Page 9 of 9