Park & Recreation Board

Park and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes Tuesday, December 3, 2024 – 7:00 p.m. Present: Gary Harris, James Lannon, Doreen McVaugh, Molly Crotty, Matt Reece, Bob Huether, and Recreation and Special Events Coordinator Caitlin Hernandez. Council members Robert Kinney and Dennis Livrone were also in attendance. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. The minutes from the November 4, 2024 meeting were approved as submitted. James shared an additional Skate Park follow-up. Ultimately, the Borough and the Park and Recreation Board believe the organizers will be able to use the facility better in Doylestown Township. James shared how and why the Borough came to this conclusion, including the lack of neighbors at Central Park and the existing passive programming in the proposed location. The Borough wants to support this endeavor and will continue to offer as much support as possible, including facilitating introductions and contributing financially. Caitlin proposed a new Concert Series to be hosted in Broad Commons. Borough resident Joe Montone met with Dave Burger, John Davis, and Caitlin to discuss a new organization called Stage United. Mr. Montone hosts several events in the area and is interested in putting on concerts at Broad Commons. He is looking for additional spaces to gather outdoors to bring the community together. His goal is to be very Borough-centric. He is looking for more original bands rather than cover bands. The Borough will pay Joe a fee, and he will take on the burden of finding bands, sound equipment, lighting, etc. Fundraising is an option to offset his fees and costs. At this point, no formal action is to be taken by the Park and Rec Board. Joe will need to create a contract that can be presented to the ERC along with the slide deck provided to the Park and Recreation board. Caitlin shared a proposal from the DAA to have Temporary Fencing Advertisements. Caitlin shared a mock-up of the proposed signs, which will be hung from April through October on the fences at Neis Park. James made a motion to permit the signage at the park with the specifications provided by the DAA. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously by the Board. Caitlin gave the Bike/Hike Report. We applied for a 2025 TASA grant to design Phase 1 of the Green Street/Pebble Hill Road project. Depending on funding, construction will begin in 2026. Caitlin also gave the Recreation Director’s Report. Holiday décor is being added to Broad Commons, and the Christmas tree for the plaza will arrive soon. Wood St Park bocce courts are still moving along. Drainage will be addressed this week, and then the surface material will be the next thing to decide on. Layout and scale need to be worked out, too. Caitlin shared the Soccer Shots program updates, including their participant numbers. She also updated the Scenic Strolls and First Saturday Chess programs. Caitlin wants to discuss new programming options for the Park and Recreation department in the new year. James gave the Comprehensive Plan Update. We expect to have the next draft soon. We are approaching the end of the process and hope to hand the draft off to the Council in January 2025. One recommendation specific to this Board is for the parking lot behind and adjacent to Starbucks and Class Harlan, called Dommel Way. The Comprehensive Plan proposes creating permanent outdoor seating space in this area. Old/New Business None There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 7:41 pm. Respectively Submitted by Erika Fellman Parks and Recreation Minutes Secretary