Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee

Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee March 2, 2015 Item Topic Lead Discussion / Conclusions 1. Call to Order Greg Andruskevich Call to Order: 7:03pm January minutes approved. Attendees: Pam Anderson, Greg Andruskevich, Dick Gillespie, Ed Moran, Peter Testa, Nick Caggiano, Nick Serpa, Brian Edwards, Dave Silva Guests: Sara Marchant: Director Community Development, JoAnne Del Greco: Elm St. Middle School, Brian Cullen: Millyard BPR Presentations/Public comment: JoAnne Del Greco: Elm St. Middle School. As part of an eighth grade research project with a book writing contest at the end we propose a Literacy Walk in Mine Falls Park. Scope, 12 posts with Plexiglas containers to hold pages from the winning book cemented in the ground spaced 500-700 feet apart (approximately a mile and a half). Construction of the posts would be completed by JoAnne’s husband with supervision by Elm St. shop teacher. All maintenance will be performed by JoAnne & her husband. Stories would be changed three times. Nick Serpa: Is the plan to make these permanent? JoAnne: Yes. Nick Caggiano: What location in the park did you have in mind? JoAnne: We are open to discuss what the committee feels would be best. Brian Edwards state the orange trail is less used than most and this may make them less susceptible to vandals. Dick Gillespie: What is the targeted age group of the stories? JoAnne: 8th grade reading level. Peter Testa & Dave Silva reiterated that MFP is a nature park & should be kept as such. The story posts may not blend well with the natural environment. Committee mentioned the following alternate locations: - Heritage Rail trail - Fields Grove Park - Possibly only at MFP entrances outside the park itself.  2014 Meetings: Jan 6, Feb 3, March 3, April 7 , May 5, June 3, No July meeting, Aug 4, Sept. 8, Oct.6, Nov. 3 , Dec 1, Jan. 5, 2015  WEB SITE: http://www.gonashua.com  2014 Trail Days April 19, May 17 , June 14, No July Trail Day, Aug. 16, Sept. 20, Oct.18, optional Committee Day Nov. 15  Page 1 of 12  Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee March 2, 2015 Item Topic Lead Discussion / Conclusions Brian Cullen: Millyard BPR. Wanted to inform the committee of a Bike/Pedal/Run Triathlon event proposed for May 3, 2015. Event scope: - Cap at 300 participants Bike: Beginning with a controlled parade start, bikers will be escorted through Nashua’s downtown Main Street heading north to Amherst and Broad Streets. Racers will follow Broad Street out of the City and into Hollis onto Depot Road to Route 111 easterly back into Nashua before a final turn to Conway Arena and Mill Pond. The bike leg is 15.1 miles. Paddle: At Conway Arena bikers transition to boats. The 2.5 mile course crosses the pond and runs the length of the canal to the take out at the Millyard. There will be volunteers here to assist boaters. Run: The run follows the unpaved canal tow path approximately 1.5 miles before circling back to Spine Road that leads back to the Millyard. Brian stated he would encourage as many participants as he could to join the committee at the April 25th trail day. Possibly 25-30 volunteers. A water stop for the run will be available, possibly at or near the soccer fields along spine road. This still hasn’t been finalized. Dave Silva expressed concern for cleanup down trail from the water stop. Brian: We will take care of all clean up after the event. Dick Gillespie has concerns regarding the boat take out area as this is a small area with a steep incline on the canal bank and deep water at the edge. Brian: We are considering acquiring a temporary floating platform to assist paddlers with egress Dick Gillespie also inquired about liability & first aid. Brian: The city would be listed as an additionally insured on their insurance policy and PrideStar EMS will be on hand for the duration of the event. Sara Marchant: Director Community Development. The Heritage Rail Trail to MFP connection project was awarded $500,000.00 grant for construction of a pedestrian/Bicycle bridge into MFP over the canal at Gate City Fence on Ledge St. Sara  2014 Meetings: Jan 6, Feb 3, March 3, April 7 , May 5, June 3, No July meeting, Aug 4, Sept. 8, Oct.6, Nov. 3 , Dec 1, Jan. 5, 2015  WEB SITE: http://www.gonashua.com  2014 Trail Days April 19, May 17 , June 14, No July Trail Day, Aug. 16, Sept. 20, Oct.18, optional Committee Day Nov. 15  Page 2 of 12  Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee March 2, 2015 Item Topic Lead Discussion / Conclusions Stressed this project is still in the early planning stages but the goal is to get RFP bidding rolling by this summer for possible early fall 2016 construction. They can also try to include a kayak launch platform and additional fencing into the proposal. Dick Gillespie asked the following: - What is the benefit to the park, is there any economic or tourist benefit? Sara: This location will bring access to the park to an otherwise disconnected section of the inner city. The location gives park visitors better access to downtown Nashua and a small store in the neighborhood. - Are Nashua Police aware of the project and is there any plan to increase patrols in the park? Sara: Community Development has had discussions with Nashua Police who had no comments one way or the other regarding patrols or the project itself. - How many estimated new visitors will this project add to the park, what kinds of impact studies have been completed? The Mayor has repeatedly expressed concern about MFP becoming over used. Sara: No analysis has been done on this. - How will motor vehicles be prevented from accessing the park? Sara: Bollards can be installed at each end of the bridge, maybe a locking gate could be installed. - Is there a stress level report for the area proposed? Sara: I will email the report out to the committee. Greg Andruskevich stated he is 100% in favor of the project and will attend all public hearings to support completion. Dave Silva expressed disappointment the MFPAC was not included or contact in the earlier stages of the project. Sara: I wasn’t aware this committee existed otherwise you would have been included. Nick Caggiano and Dave Silva both stated this will be an impact to the committee with more work to be done cleaning the additional trash and debris that will be introduced in an already heavily littered area.  2014 Meetings: Jan 6, Feb 3, March 3, April 7 , May 5, June 3, No July meeting, Aug 4, Sept. 8, Oct.6, Nov. 3 , Dec 1, Jan. 5, 2015  WEB SITE: http://www.gonashua.com  2014 Trail Days April 19, May 17 , June 14, No July Trail Day, Aug. 16, Sept. 20, Oct.18, optional Committee Day Nov. 15  Page 3 of 12  Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee March 2, 2015 Item Topic Lead Discussion / Conclusions 2. Park/Rec. Nick Caggiano Cell Tower Fund: Current balance: $284,062.05. The merger of two cell providers will result in an overall loss of $20,000-$25,000 this year. After the new tower is built, the capacity will increase and the loss will be recouped quickly. T-Shirts: Trail day t-shirts have been ordered as well as the Gatehouse coloring project shirts, light blue again this year. Canal clean up: On Hold due to a shortage of manpower in the Parks & Rec department. Nick will be consumed with managing the red trail raised platform project, as well as the need to rebuild a playground in the city. The Mayor is creating a water management position who will oversee all bodies of water within the city. There is a meeting on March 24, 2015 with the Nashua River Watershed commission regarding area water management and clean up. Red trail raised platform: This will go out to bid in March 2015. The plan is to award the project in April 2015 and break ground in May 2015. Committee sweatshirts: No one can recall this being discussed. Majority of committee would opt for a rain jacket of some sort. Greg will visit the vendors to see what is available. Picnic Tables: Too much snow to address at this time. Cove sign: One of the large signs telling about Oxbow Lake has gone missing. Dave Silva stated he saw it leaning on the post at one point. Nick is going to search the area after the snow melts to see if he can locate it before deciding to purchase a replacement. 3. Chairman’s Notes Greg Andruskevich Committee By-Law review: This is tabled until April meeting. Nick Caggiano stated we should set time aside to discuss them since there hasn’t been an update in some time. Oath of Office: We need to have this completed as soon as possible. By law the City Clerk needs this on file for every committee member. Mutt Mitt dispensers: Dave Silva volunteered to fill these going forward. 4. Old Business All N/A 5. New Business All N/A  2014 Meetings: Jan 6, Feb 3, March 3, April 7 , May 5, June 3, No July meeting, Aug 4, Sept. 8, Oct.6, Nov. 3 , Dec 1, Jan. 5, 2015  WEB SITE: http://www.gonashua.com  2014 Trail Days April 19, May 17 , June 14, No July Trail Day, Aug. 16, Sept. 20, Oct.18, optional Committee Day Nov. 15  Page 4 of 12  Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee March 2, 2015 Item Topic Lead Discussion / Conclusions 6. Other All N/A Adjournment Greg Andruskevich 8:45 pm JoAnne Del Greco presentation:  2014 Meetings: Jan 6, Feb 3, March 3, April 7 , May 5, June 3, No July meeting, Aug 4, Sept. 8, Oct.6, Nov. 3 , Dec 1, Jan. 5, 2015  WEB SITE: http://www.gonashua.com  2014 Trail Days April 19, May 17 , June 14, No July Trail Day, Aug. 16, Sept. 20, Oct.18, optional Committee Day Nov. 15  Page 5 of 12  Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee March 2, 2015 Item Topic Lead Discussion / Conclusions  2014 Meetings: Jan 6, Feb 3, March 3, April 7 , May 5, June 3, No July meeting, Aug 4, Sept. 8, Oct.6, Nov. 3 , Dec 1, Jan. 5, 2015  WEB SITE: http://www.gonashua.com  2014 Trail Days April 19, May 17 , June 14, No July Trail Day, Aug. 16, Sept. 20, Oct.18, optional Committee Day Nov. 15  Page 6 of 12  Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee March 2, 2015 Item Topic Lead Discussion / Conclusions Brian Cullen Millyard Bike/Pedal/Run course details: Course Overview  2014 Meetings: Jan 6, Feb 3, March 3, April 7 , May 5, June 3, No July meeting, Aug 4, Sept. 8, Oct.6, Nov. 3 , Dec 1, Jan. 5, 2015  WEB SITE: http://www.gonashua.com  2014 Trail Days April 19, May 17 , June 14, No July Trail Day, Aug. 16, Sept. 20, Oct.18, optional Committee Day Nov. 15  Page 7 of 12  Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee March 2, 2015 Item Topic Lead Discussion / Conclusions The course starts in Nashua’s Millyard by the W.H. Bagshaw building, where participants will start the bike portion of the event. The ride goes through Hollis and returns to Nashua’s Mill Pond by Conway Arena for Transition 1. Boaters go into the water there and head east along the canal to the Millyard, where they switch to the run at Transition 2. The run is entirely in Mine Falls Park, tracing the canal you just paddled down back towards Mill Pond before turning back on Spine Road – a rather overstated dirt track back to the start. Course Maps Unlike the usual clover-leaf triathlon setup, the BPR is comprised of three point-to-point sections that bring you full circle back to the start/finish line. Thus, this is going to take some thinking! Boats must be in place at the first Transition Zone no later than 8:30 for an individual racer and 9:15 for a team. Bike: Beginning with a controlled parade start, bikers will be escorted through Nashua’s downtown Main Street heading north to Amherst and Broad Streets. After crossing the Everitt Turnpike on Broad Street the clock starts. Racers will follow Broad Street out of the City and into bucolic Hollis, where after passing several major farms the course turns left through the heart of the village on Depot Road on long downhill to Route 111. Turning left, the course procedes easterly back into Nashua before a final turn to Conway Arena and Mill Pond. All in, the bike is 15.1 miles, including a 12.5 mile competitive ride. The bike portion of the race is on paved roads.  2014 Meetings: Jan 6, Feb 3, March 3, April 7 , May 5, June 3, No July meeting, Aug 4, Sept. 8, Oct.6, Nov. 3 , Dec 1, Jan. 5, 2015  WEB SITE: http://www.gonashua.com  2014 Trail Days April 19, May 17 , June 14, No July Trail Day, Aug. 16, Sept. 20, Oct.18, optional Committee Day Nov. 15  Page 8 of 12  Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee March 2, 2015 Item Topic Lead Discussion / Conclusions  2014 Meetings: Jan 6, Feb 3, March 3, April 7 , May 5, June 3, No July meeting, Aug 4, Sept. 8, Oct.6, Nov. 3 , Dec 1, Jan. 5, 2015  WEB SITE: http://www.gonashua.com  2014 Trail Days April 19, May 17 , June 14, No July Trail Day, Aug. 16, Sept. 20, Oct.18, optional Committee Day Nov. 15  Page 9 of 12  Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee March 2, 2015 Item Topic Lead Discussion / Conclusions Paddle: At Conway Arena bikers transition to boats, leaving their bikes in our secure lot, grabbing their boat, and hitting the water for the paddle portion of the race. The flat water, 2.5 mile course crosses the pond and runs the length of the canal to the take out back at the Millyard. There, you can leave your boat to our handlers and start the run!  2014 Meetings: Jan 6, Feb 3, March 3, April 7 , May 5, June 3, No July meeting, Aug 4, Sept. 8, Oct.6, Nov. 3 , Dec 1, Jan. 5, 2015  WEB SITE: http://www.gonashua.com  2014 Trail Days April 19, May 17 , June 14, No July Trail Day, Aug. 16, Sept. 20, Oct.18, optional Committee Day Nov. 15  Page 10 of 12  Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee March 2, 2015 Item Topic Lead Discussion / Conclusions Run: Turning back along the canal, the run follows the unpaved canal tow path approximately 1.5 miles before circling back to a wider, dirt path (Spine Road on the park map) that leads back to the Millyard. The relatively flat run finishes with a sharply pitched incline to the finish for a full 5K. The run portion of the race is on dirt/gravel paths.  2014 Meetings: Jan 6, Feb 3, March 3, April 7 , May 5, June 3, No July meeting, Aug 4, Sept. 8, Oct.6, Nov. 3 , Dec 1, Jan. 5, 2015  WEB SITE: http://www.gonashua.com  2014 Trail Days April 19, May 17 , June 14, No July Trail Day, Aug. 16, Sept. 20, Oct.18, optional Committee Day Nov. 15  Page 11 of 12  Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee March 2, 2015 Item Topic Lead Discussion / Conclusions Sara Marchant, Community Development:  2014 Meetings: Jan 6, Feb 3, March 3, April 7 , May 5, June 3, No July meeting, Aug 4, Sept. 8, Oct.6, Nov. 3 , Dec 1, Jan. 5, 2015  WEB SITE: http://www.gonashua.com  2014 Trail Days April 19, May 17 , June 14, No July Trail Day, Aug. 16, Sept. 20, Oct.18, optional Committee Day Nov. 15  Page 12 of 12