Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee

Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee- Feb. 7, 2011 Minutes ATTENDEES: Peter Testa, Leo Parker, Joshua Segal, Ed Moran, Nick Caggiano, Scott Rogers, Sherm Sewell, Mike Dillon, Mark Soucy Guest: Alderman-at-Large Mark Cookson, Ward One Alderman Kathy Vitale TOPIC LEAD DISCUSSION / CONCLUSIONS 1. Approval of minutes Joshua - Meeting called to order by committee chairman Joshua Segal at 7 p.m. - Minutes of Jan. 3, 2011 approved unanimously with no changes.  2011 Meetings: Jan. 3, Feb. 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, July 11, Aug. 1, Sept. 12, Oct.3, Nov. 7 , Dec. 5 WEB SITE: http://www.gonashua.com  2011 Trail Days April 16, May 14 , June 18, Aug. 13, Sept. 24, Oct. 15, Possible Volunteer Day in November. Page 1 of 5  Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee- Feb. 7, 2011 Minutes ATTENDEES: Peter Testa, Leo Parker, Joshua Segal, Ed Moran, Nick Caggiano, Scott Rogers, Sherm Sewell, Mike Dillon, Mark Soucy Guest: Alderman-at-Large Mark Cookson, Ward One Alderman Kathy Vitale TOPIC LEAD DISCUSSION / CONCLUSIONS 2. West of the Falls Joshua - Joshua noted that in research of his book on the park discovered there is a West side of the park. Cheyenne Drive area. Ald. - Book will be published the first of April Cheyenne Drive- Inca - About the same time he found out about this side of the park quite by coincidence believed Greg was contacted by Ald. Cookson Cookson about diverting some people for a Trail Day there. - Never officially did anything but he and Greg took out about 70 pounds of cans and bottles and about 100 pounds of other trash out of the Inca "entrance" to this part of the park. - Discovered some of the most beautiful views of the falls are from that side of the park. - Ald. Cookson a resident of this section of the city and invited to give a sense of the neighborhood. and its relationship with this section of the park. - Ald. Cookson has resided in this neighborhood for 11 years, area known as the "Reservation" for all the Indian street names. Cookson termed the park a very nice aspect of the neighborhood with residents taking walks in the park to view the falls and enjoy the sunset. A very walk able area. Generations of families stay in the area. Many enjoy the park. - Only thing is the garbage attested to by Joshua and attributes this to students who walk along Cheyenne and make use of the park for their purposes. - Police have been made aware of the problem and stepped up patrols. Cruisers have driven to the entrance and officers walked into the area to relieve the situation. - Children regularly use the area in the summer and fall. - Not too large an area but good sized portion of the park and mainly used for walking. - This summer noticed motorized vehicles were using the area and City Hall addressed the problem by notifying the offenders that Mine Falls is not for use by motorized vehicles such as ATVs. No issue since. - Mike Dillon noted he was at the Gatehouse reading and noticed an individual on a motorized vehicle. - Sense of landowners they do not own land all the way to the river. Nick stated they have not been involved much with this parcel of the park only called in to address landowners concerns with erosion caused by the river on the riverbank. Homeowners concerned and called in to give advice contact DES. One other issue landowners removed park trees without permission. - Peter noted that segment of Cheyenne should be left for the neighbors. No one wants people trooping through their gardens, etc. Opening up this area would create headaches. Perhaps set up a deal like with the soccer people and provide bags, etc.., for clean-up and keep Inc-Cheyenne an informal entrance. Keep cars away. - Joshua noted two things show up in the master plan of the park: 1- a footbridge from the area of the power dam and a trail along the river side of Lincoln Park to the main park. - Formalizing this area Nick said it would be best be cautious in marketing this area. - Some dangerous areas that would need upgrades. - Joshua explained this part of the meeting was to get some reaction and input on the relationship between the park and neighborhood. - Scott noted that many on the committee were unaware this was actually part of the park. Joshua interjected it comprises about 10 percent of the park. The original inquiry dealt with if we could clean it up as part of a Trail Day. - Cookson noticed that when Trail Days were held no one ever came to this part of Mine Falls. - More information gathering for understanding this park. Good idea to have a clean-up with the neighborhood or volunteers from the committee. Keep it in house and keep it in the neighborhood. -History of park brought up. Joshua said the city kept the park quiet for 15 years. Peter said it was kept quiet for a select few but committee members pushed hard to open it up.  2011 Meetings: Jan. 3, Feb. 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, July 11, Aug. 1, Sept. 12, Oct.3, Nov. 7 , Dec. 5 WEB SITE: http://www.gonashua.com  2011 Trail Days April 16, May 14 , June 18, Aug. 13, Sept. 24, Oct. 15, Possible Volunteer Day in November. Page 2 of 5  Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee- Feb. 7, 2011 Minutes ATTENDEES: Peter Testa, Leo Parker, Joshua Segal, Ed Moran, Nick Caggiano, Scott Rogers, Sherm Sewell, Mike Dillon, Mark Soucy Guest: Alderman-at-Large Mark Cookson, Ward One Alderman Kathy Vitale TOPIC LEAD DISCUSSION / CONCLUSIONS West of the Falls Continued All - Peter stated It would be fine to have a neighborhood group work with volunteers from the committee. -Ald. Vitale mentioned there are no established trails in this section but Joshua made note there are a lot of trails not on the park map. - Cookson said there was a trail that the ATVs eroded, it was a walking trail used by the residents. Definitely a trail in there. Looking for help to clean up that section of the park, but not specifically about a Trail Day. - Leo sought direction from the aldermen but Ald. Cookson said he felt uncomfortable as an alderman to give direction. - Alderman Cookson's input will be taken under advisement for consideration at a future meeting. - Nick sees Trail Days becoming too complex and time to get back to basics. - Great opportunity to help the neighborhood to clean the park or even do a Trail Day. 2. Park- Recreation Nick - Needless to say his department has been plowing every three days. -Signage: Looking for concrete mold company to build the molds to hold the signs at park entrances. - Boat ramp: Surveying for new lot lines being done now. - Look to go before the Planning Board in March and put out to bid in late March. - Sees construction beginning in late June with completion of the boat ramp by the end of August. - Boat ramp will be 75 feet upriver angled the right way, unlike the present one which was "punched" out in the '30s or '40s and kind of dangerous - T-shirt design explained to Nick by Peter formulated by meeting held in the summer. Shirt color is blue. Entire order will be placed with sizes placed. - Golf shirts for committee members will be Park-Rec green and ordered for committee members. Also new hats. - Gatehouse It will be open for Trail Days in May, June, August, September and October. - Gatehouse will be cleaned as an assignment for April, getting rid of cobwebs, etc. - Thought given to inviting Fairgrounds students to Gatehouse openings. - Suggested gathering place for Trail Days be moved to Stellos entrance. To be discussed. New YMCA will be opening May 21. - Snow shoeing done three times a week with 20 to 30 people showing up at Whipple Street entrance. - Sandwich Board is available to announce Gatehouse is open. 3. Old Business All -Walk through focus on Red Trail - Full of roots trail is awful. - Two problems with Red Trail only trail which is not flat. other issues a gabion and continued erosion. - Actually are three red trails. - Comprise a materials list for Nick  2011 Meetings: Jan. 3, Feb. 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, July 11, Aug. 1, Sept. 12, Oct.3, Nov. 7 , Dec. 5 WEB SITE: http://www.gonashua.com  2011 Trail Days April 16, May 14 , June 18, Aug. 13, Sept. 24, Oct. 15, Possible Volunteer Day in November. Page 3 of 5  Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee- Feb. 7, 2011 Minutes ATTENDEES: Peter Testa, Leo Parker, Joshua Segal, Ed Moran, Nick Caggiano, Scott Rogers, Sherm Sewell, Mike Dillon, Mark Soucy Guest: Alderman-at-Large Mark Cookson, Ward One Alderman Kathy Vitale TOPIC LEAD DISCUSSION / CONCLUSIONS 4. New Business All - Scott suggestions of using Industrial Revolution Debris to decorate the millyard entrance to the park. Use of granite posts and iron pieces to use an arch to highlight the entrance to the park. - Nick said it was a great idea and the materials should be gathered and stored. - The artifacts will be used by the city to design the arch. - Recovering the granite posts will be done by Scott and Park-Rec crews after the posts are checked during the April walk through. Good rainy day projects to inventory the items also. - PM McKay's contractor contacted to cease dumping snow over the fence and fence will be fixed as he has been contacted by John Barry. - Nick will be busy with numbers as he is in the budget season and he will be dealing with that.  2011 Meetings: Jan. 3, Feb. 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, July 11, Aug. 1, Sept. 12, Oct.3, Nov. 7 , Dec. 5 WEB SITE: http://www.gonashua.com  2011 Trail Days April 16, May 14 , June 18, Aug. 13, Sept. 24, Oct. 15, Possible Volunteer Day in November. Page 4 of 5  Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee- Feb. 7, 2011 Minutes ATTENDEES: Peter Testa, Leo Parker, Joshua Segal, Ed Moran, Nick Caggiano, Scott Rogers, Sherm Sewell, Mike Dillon, Mark Soucy Guest: Alderman-at-Large Mark Cookson, Ward One Alderman Kathy Vitale TOPIC LEAD DISCUSSION / CONCLUSIONS 6. Adjournment Meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m. -  2011 Meetings: Jan. 3, Feb. 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, July 11, Aug. 1, Sept. 12, Oct.3, Nov. 7 , Dec. 5 WEB SITE: http://www.gonashua.com  2011 Trail Days April 16, May 14 , June 18, Aug. 13, Sept. 24, Oct. 15, Possible Volunteer Day in November. Page 5 of 5