Parks & Recreation

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING by teleconference by calling 1-301-715-8592 and entering Meeting ID number: 858 0812 4761 Passcode: 825421 or by visiting Join Zoom Meeting at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85808124761?pwd=azdXdElsK3JmakJoY0pGNmRpdVNCQT09 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Council Chamber, Smyrna Town Hall 27 S. Market Street Plaza, Smyrna, Delaware January 18, 2022 – 5:00 PM Agenda 1. Call to order - 5:02 p.m. by Chairwoman Tabi Gott In attendance – Chairwoman Tabi Gott, Vice-Chairman Gerald Brown, members Mike Pearson, Darryl Bowen, Frederick Schaber, and Larry Scott, staff liaison, Danielle Pope, and visitor Jeremy Rothwell, Town Senior Planner 2. Minutes – approved, 1st motion by Mike Pearson, 2nd motion by Darryl Bowen 3. Recognition of visitors – Jeremy Rothwell, the Town’s Senior Planner, to discuss #7 – Parks Master Plan 4. Discuss membership attendance expectations – will ask current members who haven’t attended 3 or more consecutive meetings to step away. Would like to get community involved people involved with the committee. The hope is that they will help bridge the gap between the committee and the community. 5. Discussion about 2022 – achievements – with working through COVID-19 guidelines there wasn’t much that could be done in 2020 and 2021. This year the committee chair is asking members to create a list of goals and challenges. Some events for this year already have a set date; like Smyrna at Night, First Fridays, aka Summer Concert Series, and the Police Department’s Christmas in Smyrna. Would like to get the committee more involved in these decisions. 6. Discussion on 2023 - goals/expectations – start Family Fun Days during non-event weekends throughout the Spring-Fall seasons. Would like to hear what the members have in mind via the goals and challenges list. 7. Discuss Parks Master Plan Steering Committee – Chairwoman Gott asked Jeremy to lead the discussion. The discussion will be in bullet point format for easier reading. a There will be 2 in-person meetings with the LKLA team, with initial kick off being held on Wednesday, January 26. There will be a luncheon at 12p and bus tour of the parks from 1p-3p. The other meetings will be held virtually. b There will be an updated community survey that LKLA is working on and will distribute. c The goal from start to finish is 6-8 months, but Jeremy believes it will be a longer process; more like 9-12 months. d Frederick asked what this Parks Master Plan will accomplish. Jeremy said that it will set out what amenities are at each park and what could be added, how empty spaces can be utilized.  e Chairwoman Gott asked if the Parks Master Plan will help with a 10-year growth process. Jeremy confirmed that yes, the idea is to include how the parks and current and potential amenities can be used and added as the town grows. f Darryl asked if the Parks Master Plan will help with utilizing what we already have, like converting one of the softball fields at George C. Wright Jr. Municipal Park into a soccer field. Jeremy said yes, LKLA will review what we have and what we could have based on what the community asks for and what other local park areas have. He reiterated that this Plan is to anticipate growth and community needs/wants. g Jeremy asked Chairwoman Gott is she had any questions about the Steering Committee or the expectations. She said that the Steering Committee will include P&R members, staff liaison Danielle, Town Planner Jeremy, a representative from the Smyrna School District, and Carol Binns. She suggested that someone from Public Works and someone in public safety should also be involved in the Steering Committee. Jeremy agreed and said that there is a plan to having monthly Parks Master Plan meetings, so there may be a need for separate P&R meetings vs Steering Committee meetings. Vice-chairman Brown suggested including Anthony Gruerio, who is the Town’s Safey and Emergency Management Coordinator. Chairwoman Gott was thinking more of a representative from the Police Department, Firehouse, or Ambulance 64, as they are out in the community and would have a better understanding of what would and wouldn’t work from a community emergency viewpoint. Vice-chairman Brown said that he wants to make sure we have the right people on the Steering Committee for the amenities we’d like to see in the community. h Jeremy said he will send everyone a map of Town owned properties and nearby Kent County own properties to show what we have vs. what is outside of town limits. Areas like, the Smyrna Swim Club, Big Oak Park, and Garrison Lake Golf Club. Frederick asked if we can include those in the Parks Master Plan. Jeremy said we can’t since we do not have jurisdiction over County owned properties. What can be done though, is the Town purchase different properties where certain amenities can be included. 8. Other committee business a Darryl mentioned that at November’s meeting Vice-chairman Brown said he was going to attend a meeting where he was going to ask if P&R could use JBM’s facilities; like the gym. Vice-chairman Brown said that JBM declined for now because of COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines. Chairwoman Gott said she received a call from the School District also about this and that until the District has the staff and cleaning supplies, all schools would be off limits to outside groups. b There was discussion about involving all local groups; Boys & Girls Club, PAL programs, Little Leagues, Little Lass, Pop Warner, etc. It would be nice to get a representative from each of them to be part of the P&R Committee. c These programs and leagues are not town run; i.e. PAL. This is an issue because they use Town own facilities for their practices and games, which stop the Committee from having events at these locations on certain days. Chairwoman Gott said that PAL is State run through the Police Departments, so there isn’t much our Committee can do in this case. Vice-chairman Brown stated that it isn’t a good look on the Committee that we are not a part of nor do not know what programs and events are being held in our community. If they are separate entities than they should not come to the Town for things like funding requests. d Chairwoman Gott understands the frustration and she wanted to build programs and offer experiences that kids would otherwise miss because their families can’t afford to pay leagues or clubs. e Larry said that he’s been trying to reach out to the Boys & Girls Clubs about his own basketball group, but that they denied him because of COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines. He also said  he didn’t know about PAL and agrees that there are issues with leagues and clubs not making their programs aware to the whole community. Chairwoman Gott said that Smyrna’s Boys & Girls Clubs decisions are made through the main office in Wilmington, so that may be one of the issues Larry is having. Also, State affiliated program students are given the information first and then it filters out to other students and kids. f Mike offered the Smyrna Boys & Girls Clubs Director’s name and number for Larry. Her name is Shelia, office number is 302-659-5610, cell is 302-547-0581. Larry said he thinks he’s spoken with her already but will reach out. g Frederick endorses the Committee getting together with the local leagues and clubs. h Next meeting will be Tuesday, February 15, 5 p.m. 9. Adjournment – 5:58 p.m., 1st motion by Mike Pearson, 2nd motion by Frederick Schaber Posted 01/11/22 at 4:30 PM (#1) NOTE: This agenda as listed may not be considered in sequence. This agenda is subject to change to include additional items, including Executive Sessions, and/or deletion of items, including Executive Sessions that arise at time of meeting.