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, June 4, 2024 Jul 25 2024 3:10 pm Location: West Conference Room, Fitchburg City Hall, 718 Main Street Call to Order: The Tuesday, June 4, 2024 meeting was called to order by Commissioner Jim McGrath at 5:35 pm. Commissioner Members Present: Commissioners Mary Whitney, Mary Cringan, Dave Brooks, Colby O’Brien Also Present: Parks & Recreation Director James Bunnell, DPW Commissioner Nick Erickson, Recreation Assistant Ama Baker, Sally Powers of Wachusett Pride, Derek Craig of Fitchburg Creative Cities Absent: Public Comment: Prior Meeting Minutes: A motion was made by Mary Cringan to approve the minutes and seconded by Mary Whitney. Approved 4-0 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Department Reports: Friends of Coggshall Report: • Met last week • Produced the last paper copy of the newsletter • The membership drive is going on now o Join for $10 o Money goes to benefitting the park; purchased a new fountain • Highlands are having a tea party at the Stonehouse on June 5th o Want to feed ducks • Friends of Coggshall voted for a new water fountain and electrician o Being paid for by the Friends of Coggshall • Looked into Solar Panels o Would damage the lake and Stonehouse • Clean-up day TBD (Research Results) o Would be starting from the far end and working toward Stonehouse o Parks will deliver mulch for them to spread o Members/employees from Research Results are flown in from all over for their retreat.  Trying to coordinate a good day for the clean-up • DPW would like to make permanent improvements to Coggshall o TBD when they can start o Would like to upsize colvert  The current one washes out into Mt. Elam  o Clear the dam of all vegetation  The mechanical gate needs to exercise opening every year • Built into the emergency plan • EOEEA dam removal program o Final designs (Fuss & O’Neil) • Concerts on August 18th o Needs workers to put up tents and to work that day o Jay’s Italian Ice will be a vendor o Police details are all set  Bringing ATV vehicle • Mike O’Hara new Coggshall Park Caretaker o Started today and already off to a great start o Invest in tools bought by the Parks Department o Long time North Medford Trail Running Club Member  275 members  2 runs a year; 1 summer and 1 winter • Bathrooms are backed up o Problem with the water line into the park o A small water line goes through Challenger Field  Need a mini excavator  Ask Frank from plumbing to check it out. Colby O’Brien made a motion to accept the report seconded by Dave Brooks. Approved 5-0 _____________________________________________________________________________________ Riverfront & Trails: • A motion was made by Colby O’Brien to table the report and seconded by Mary Cringan. Approved 5-0. Community Development Report: • A motion was made by Colby O’Brien to table the report and seconded by Mary Whitney. Approved 5-0. Parks Maintenace Report James Bunnell reported: • There have been two Parks workers working for the past 3 weeks o Borrowed 1 worker from the Streets Department • The pool has been updated o Repaired cracks  New product to seal cracks o Waiting on paint • Trying to keep up with mowing o Parkhill is ¾ done • Coolidge Slide o Issues with previous order; reordered an estimated 4-6 weeks delivery date  It came in 5 weeks   Got installed the same day it was received • 3 Parks need irrigation o Upper Common, Baseball field at Coolidge, and Baseball Field at Parkhill • 3 Islands Adopted o Bay State Brawlers o Craig Ledger and his family adopted the Boulder o Dave Brooks mulches Monument and Riverfront Park • 42 Snapping turtle eggs were found in the mulch at Riverfront Park o Caused a delay • Research Results has adopted Coggshall • The Parks Department received their new trailer with attachments o Guys are very excited • The new fountain for Coggshall has arrived • The Control Panel for the Splash Park is on its way • Trees have been planted at Coolidge o Parkhill is next to be planted • Seasonal help for Temporary laborers has been hired o 1 star on 6/6 o Other starts on 6/19 o The third starts the last week of June • Playground chips have been delivered o 200 yards @ $22/yard o Currently at the old wastewater plant • Frank the City Plumbing Inspector has helped the department tremendously o Ordered and installed the toilets at Parkhill, water tank, and eye wash station at the pool house • The streets department has been helping with trees and restoring the brook at Parkhill A motion was made by Mary Cringan and seconded by Dave Brooks to approve the report. Motion approved 5-0. Recreation Report James Bunnell Reported: • Summer Playground registration is open o Working with Fitchburg Public Schools  Helping homeless kids o They are sending 10-20 kids to each location • Received a Grant from United Way of $38,000 was awarded to the department o Helps pay for field trips, photography courses, and supplies o Field Trips the programs will be going on are:  Braveharts game, ecotourism, Southwick Zoo, etc. • Skate Camp Registration is open • Introducing Dance Nights o Cultural Council grant from Boston  Free Dance Date Night o Will be the last two Mondays of July and the first two Mondays of August at Riverfront Park  • The Junior Park Ranger program has started o Grant covered the printing of the 500 books, shirts, and stamps o The recreation department will pay for hats and patches o Have to register online; also have it in Spanish • DPW Day is June 12th from 2-5 pm at Coolidge Park • Lifeguards are all set to start o Have 3 instructors certified to teach swimming lessons • Playground leaders are all hired • Added Playground Coordinator o Now have one to manage each site • Fitchburg Youth Baseball President is resigning in October • Fitchburg Youth Soccer had their trailer delivered to Moran Field • Street Hockey had new lights installed o Looking to adjust scoreboards A motion by Mary Whitney was made to approve this report. Seconded by Dave Brooks. Approved 5-0 ____________________________________________________________________________ New Business: Sally Powers is asking for the Wachusett Pride Event to be approved at Riverfront Park. • The event will be held June 15th from 12 pm – 4 pm. • Food vendors will attend • Looking for the community to come together • Important for youth who feel lost • Expecting 50-75 attendees o Will have two police details o One at each end of the park • The Public Assembly permit is in the approval process • Trash will be picked up by “Bin There Dump That” Colby O’Brien made a motion to approve the Pride Event on June 15th seconded by Mary Whitney. Approved 4-0 Derek Craig is asking to use Riverfront Park to host his annual Rhythm and Rock Concert. • August 31st , Rental request time of 11 am -12 am includes set up and break down Colby O’Brien made a motion to approve the Rhythm and Rocke event on August 31st which was seconded by Dave Brooks. Approved 5-0 Old Business: Motion to adjourn the meeting by Mary Whitney seconded by Mary Cringan. Approved 3-0 The meeting adjourned at 7:18 pm.