4. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PARAB)

PARAB Board Meeting Wednesday July 14, 2021 ─ Attendees Community House Sara Brinson/ Bridgett Perry/ Patti Dukes/ Ryan Ford/ Malica Evans / Josh Rudy Katy Keller, Parks Planner; Travis Scott, Public Works Agenda New Business 1. Approval of June 2021 Meeting Minutes 2. Introduction 3. Public input 4. New Park Business: a. Knight Farm Community Park Grand Opening b. Lewis Freeman Park Plan 5. Parks Report: a. Park Tours Review and Assignments b. System Feedback 6. Questions and Comments Notes ● Call to order: 7:04pm ● Sara B. moved to approve June PARAB minutes, Josh second; Patti indicated there was an edit and will remove Sara B. from the Attendees list of the June meeting. Minutes approved with this edit. ● Knight Farm Community Park: Katy suggested theme of “Back to School Bash” and for Sarah C. to confirm with Knight family if they are available for the ribbon cutting  2 ceremony on Aug 21 or Aug 28 from 10am to 11am; suggestion by Malica to invite Thales as a table presenter, Josh suggested Chatham Park as table presenter, Ryan suggested Builders as table presenter. Katy suggested historical information from Knight Farm be shown, if Sarah C. can confirm if family has photos of the farm or family on the land and any information they want to present. Katy reminded there are only 40 parking spaces at the park and on street parking is typically limited. Also, COVID precautions needed to be taken with social distancing and small gatherings. Guest list for presenting (Mayor, PBO Business Association, etc.) to be determined. Police assistance for parking was not recommended, due to cost of hiring off-duty employee. Patti offered to produce directional signage for lamination with the Park logo and COVID infographic to be posted at the covered pavilion. Popsicle treats were suggested, and sidewalk chalk for the entertainment. ● Lewis Freeman Park: Josh mentioned that he spoke with Stephanie Bass and Karen Hall who had led the planting of the creekbed restoration at the site. It was recommended that mowing not occur within 15 feet of the streambed, where there had been native plants used for erosion control. Town mowers were not abiding by this, and none of the vegetation remains. He recommends not reengineering the creek. Katy requests that we provide graphical samples of what we recommend for the park elements that will begin the first stage of park development. PARAB members requested to put images into the Sharepoint file; Katy will do product research from this information. Signage and boardwalk with overlook were elements members agreed as a start. ● Park Updates: Katy toured Parks with Travis and made an inventory list of Park Details elements needing maintenance and any next steps/suggestions and shared the review results with PARAB members. A later tour of Robeson Creek Greenway will occur with Travis to learn more about the contracting elements of the upcoming maintenance. Katy praised the great work Travis has accomplished in his limited availability to the Parks department. Sara B. expressed concern of the seesaw removal from Mary Holmes and asked if it could be replaced with a similar product. Katy mentioned there will be budget issues with replacing it soon, but will research what is available that provides the up/down movement with a bit of edginess. Patti requested the Park Facebook page be updated with a picture of the departing seesaw as an update for Park users. Katy indicated Cassie is not the Facebook page editor, and it was suggested Bett Foley may have the access; Katy will confirm.  3 ● Park Assignments: Katy will create a Microsoft TEAMS folder and provided a S.W.O.T. Analysis sheet for each team member. Assignments were given to members to review the Park and complete the S.W.O.T. analysis information, posting results in the TEAMS folder. PARAB Members can visit unassigned parks and also make S.W.O.T. analysis. Assignments made were: ○ Kiwanis Park: Sara B. Knight Farm Community Park: Malica ○ Lewis Freeman Park: Josh Mary Holmes Park: Patti ○ McClenahan St Park: Bridgett Page Vernon Park: Sara ○ Rock Ridge Park: Ryan Town Lake Park: Josh ○ Community House: Patti Robeson Creek Greenway: Patti ● August meeting: Katy advised Community House would be the meeting location ● Meeting adjourned: 8:40pm, Bridgett motioned to adjourn, Sara B. second