Board of Park Commissioners

CITY OF FITCHBURG James McGrath (Chairman) Mary Whitney (Vice-Chair) Dave Brooks Board of Mary Cringan Park Commissioners Colby O’Brien James Bunnell Director of Parks & Recreation P: (978) 829 1815 718 Main Street Fitchburg, Massachusetts 01420 Ama Baker F: (978) 345 9687 Recreation Assistant Board of Park Commissioners Meeting FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Date: Tuesday May 7, 2024 Jul 25 2024 3:10 pm Location: West Conference Room, Fitchburg City Hall, 718 Main Street Call to Order: The Tuesday May 7,2024 meeting was called to order by Commissionor Jim McGrath at 5:31 pm. Commissioner Members Present: Commissioner Jim McGrath, Mary Whitney and Mary Cringan Also Present: Parks & Recreation Director James Bunnell,Recreation Assistant Ama Baker, Maribel Crus for Latin Heritage festival and Kevin Pan from Community Church Absent: Commissioners Dave Brooks, Colby O’Brien and DPW Commisioner Nick Erickson Public Comment: Prior Meeting Minutes: A motion was made by Mary Whitney to approve the minutes for April 7th meeting and seconded by Mary Cringan. Approved 3-0 ____________________________________________________________________________________ New Business: • James Bunnell spoke on befalf for Pastor Annie to request Riverfront Park on Saturday June 22, 2024 for a Juneteenth Event. The park will be used from 10 am -4 pm. Motion to approve the event by Mary Crinigan and seconded by Mary Whitney. Approved 3-0 • Kevin presented an event on behalf of Crossroads Community Church to potentially held at Coolidge Park for Community Outreach. • This will take place from July 17th-July 27th. • The event will be held from July 21st –July 26th but they would like to have their tents sent up in advance. • They will give out free back packs and free food while also having live entertainment. • They will have a 190 x 100 foot tent • They will provide own lighting and generator • Will have security • Make sure dig safe and mark irrigation • Currently working on Public Assembly Permit, Police and Park Permit. • Music until 10 pm o 6-9 or 5-9 time frame proposed Motion for approval based on music from 5-9 pm by Mary Cringan and Seconded by Mary Whitney Approved 3-0. • Maribel Cruz presented for the Latin Heritage Festitval to be held at Riverfront Park on September 21,2024.  • This event will be honoring the people in the community with a Latin background • All community members are welcome • They will have food truck, vendors and live music • Riverfront would be ideal with parking • Will take care of all necessary permits • 10 am -6 pm (12pm -4 pm event time) Motion to approve this event by Mary Cringan and seconded by Mary Whitney. Approved 3-0 Department Reports: Friends of Coggshall Report: • Very nice day with the Highlands 3rd floor memory unit • Displayed 32-40 pictures of every season of Coggshall as memorabilia • Ribbon cutting with juice as wine • Went to Coggshall to feed ducks o No ducks were there • Deb went over history of Coggshall • Will do again in June and have a tea party in the Stonehouse • Newsletter was sent; should be last paper newsletter o All social media from here A motion was made by Mary Whitney to approve the report and seconded by Jim McGrath. Motion Approved 3-0 _____________________________________________________________________________________ Riverfront & Trails: • Tabled A motion was made by Mary Cringan to approve the report and seconded by Jim McGrath. Motion approved 3-0. Community Development Report: • Tabled A motion to approve the report was made by Mary Whitney and seconded by Jim McGrath to approve the report. Motion approved 3-0. Parks Maintenace Report James Bunnell reported: • Growing Places Farmer’s Market will be held on the 2nd Saturday of the month in June, July, August and September from 10-2pm at the Upper Common • Driving on walking path at Coolidge o Street hockey to close gate when games & practices are being held • Historical Commission want to update Monument o Looking to explore grants to fund o Joint letter from BOPC and Histrorical Comission to give to Mayor for potential funding o Found mold for iron poles for fence • Chief Martineau looked at proposed park rules o Smoking will be hard to enforce however, if it stops a couple people from smoking in the park it is a win Motion to put no smoking on signes by Mary Cringran and seconded by Mary Whitney. Approved 3-0 • New Vue survery results for Lowe Park o Some options fun but no sustainable o Extra basketball court, 2 pickleball courts and walking trail would be great for the location • Streets started brook restoration at Parkhill o Cut brush back • Baseball infield was redone o New batters box, pitchers mound, benches and bleachers all updated o PH baseball field was the first to get mowed this season o Youth baseball and softball have merged together this year o We redid the new infield for them • Stonehouse floors and walls downstairs were repainted o Wrap around porch floor also repainted • Closing time signs changed yesterday • Ice cream trucks need permits to go into parks o Guidelines needed for parks with concessions because they will essentially be competeing • Stone dust has been spread at Coggshall to help fill water holes near challenger ball field • Challenger field (league) Saturday 6/11 – 6/15 • Parkhill bathhouse was not winterized properly and we have to rehad 4 toilets o Frank the plumbing inspector has beenvery helpful o Bird problem with the bathhouse; needs screens o Cleaned and repainted inside and outside of bathhouse o Backflows, have 14 and 8 of them failed o Brought in irrigation company to fix repairs versus a plumber  Issues keep reoccurring every year • Slide for Coolidge o Never ordered; department was told it was o Ordered and will take 4-6 weeks to arrive • Street guys will help with walking path at Coolidge • 3 parks workers on site for training in irrigation • Mowing has started o Welcome to Fitchburg signs o Upper common o Parkhill baseball field • Juan worked on pool • Splash pad controller at Parkhill was looked at o Needs to be replaced • Hot water tank and eye wash station were quoted for installation and repair • Diaper changing stations in all park restooms • Coggshall Fountain needs a new connection or a new fountain A motion was made by Mary Whitney and seconded by Mary Cringan to approve the report. Approved 3- 0 Recreation Report James Bunnell Reported: • Department is accepting applications for Coggshall Park Caretaker position o So far 7 applicants o Workers will have guidelines and check list • Juan is the acting foreman o Department currently has 3 workers • Awarded Mass Recreation grant of $5,000 o Using this for Junior Park Ranger program o Reached out to Monty for printing program activity books  $3.90 per print • Applied for a Coaches Challenge grant o Can cover how to properly coach kids  Biddy league coaches • Applied for Attorney General grant • Applied for the United Way grant for our Summer Program o Same grant as last year o Will cover costs of field trips for all campers and workers • DCR Greening the Gateway grant o Remove the ashtrees from Coolidge • Department is looking to change unused baseball field into walking path • Applied for Archery Grant • Applied for the Mass Cultural Grant for $2500 for Concerts on the Common • Summer Program will be posted once we hear back from United Way o Summer positions have started the interviewing process o We have 9 returners from last year  Including lifeguards, summer playground leaders etc. • Batting cages installed at Coolidge • Youth Football o Have to fix irrigation due to all the rain o Need mower • Amy Green and Lions Club will help with the painting and updates to the Gazebo at the Upper Common New Business • Budget update o Mayor asked all departments to adjust their departmental budget by 3-5% o Discussion of what we tried to do and proposed changes to the budget Old Business • Updated Park Rules and Regulations o Covered in Parks Reports • MVP Grant Update o Applied for grant o Should hear back in beginning of June A motion by Mary Cringanwas made to approve this report. Seconded by Mary Whitney. Approved 3-0 ____________________________________________________________________________ Motion to adjourn the meeting by Mary Whitney seconded by Mary Cringan. Approved 3-0 The meeting adjourned at 7:01 pm.