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: 840 4993 3388 Passcode: 535045 or by visiting Join Zoom Meeting at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84049933388?pwd=Dl3vuSeyFlgGFFdOrmnd7Mo3QbvCUY.1 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Smyrna Town Hall Committee Conference Room 27 S. Market Street Plaza, Smyrna, DE February 21, 2024 – 6:00 PM Agenda In-person: Tabi Gott, Mike Pearson, Aimee & Jesse with Ambulance 64, Carol Binns, Evie Zerefos Zoom: Ashley & Mark with Homestead Gardens, Ms. Danyel, Arlene Collier-Mankin, Samsung, iPad, Charon Dagley 1. Call to order – 6p 2. Minutes – MP, AC, unanimously approved 3. Updates from Committee members – TG: Friday, meeting w/ Susan Brown (Smyrna School District) about Red Sand Project and the Art Trailer. Would like to have the Art Trailer moved from Middle School to Route 13 and then eventually to the High School. Tomorrow: meeting at Fire House, SSD Referendum, Historical Society. 3/17 St. P parade. 5/3 – carry the load, end of May 4th of July Circus. 6/15 S@N, 6/22 – Juneteenth, Memorial Day recognition and parade, July 4th parade, Oct. Ambulance 64 block party, 12/1 – caroling on the square, 12/4 – veteran’s day ceremony, 12/7 – Pearl Harbor Day ceremony at Lake Como. Would like to do something different with the activities and dates and have a singular calendar that gets updated after each meeting. Posted on the Tidbits, Facebook, Website, in the lobby in Town Hall. Event name, date, and link about its information. Would like to advertise for anyone who wants to join. Asked if anyone would be interested in keeping the calendar updated? Arlene asked if a Google sheet could be created and so people could be updated. Mike – had a busy week of scouting events with more coming up. Saturday is a second session ceremony with 500-600 scouts from several different groups. Each Monday they have a Boy Scouts meeting at Asbury Church and he would like to have that added to the events calendar.  Evie – agrees with Carol. They are both part of the SDRA and it would be nice to partner and collaborate so they could get exposure. Arlene – first meeting with Carry the Load happened, they have several committees/vendors ready. It was started in 2011 by 2 Navy Seals who felt that the reason behind Memorial Day was being lost. They filled their packs and started walking in parks. The Seals have been walking through Smyrna quietly for several years. Next meeting is March 6 at the VFW post. 4. Discussion on events in Smyrna (within the community – visitors) Aimee – Ambulance 64, (with Jessie). They are a non-profit organization and they have fundraisers. This is their 100th year, they were dedicated in Nov. 1924. 18 vets joined a parade with a float of what they’d like their vehicle to look like and won $5. They are the first in the world to not be associated with a Fire House. They are having a parade on Saturday 9/14 and a block party afterwards (12p-4p). It is free to the public. April 13th is their shrimp fest fundraiser, with a take-out options. Probably $45/person. In June, (6/8), they are partnering with Clayton to have ‘adult-night’ out. 3/9 is I Love Smyrna School District Day. Ashley – Homestead Gardens, offering their location as a meeting place. Hosts fundraising events. They are big in the community and do donations and event designs. They can do ‘round up’ on the registers for donations. They are usually working on events 3 months in advance. Happy to help in anyway they can. Charon – Art teacher with SSD. The students presented their program to the School Board. The kids had an art community event and about 600 students and parents attended; face painting, water ice, scholarship opportunities, etc. They are having another potential event, (planar), where students create something and those creations are put up for auction. Shooting for May 9th. Students will have sculptures up for I Love Smyrna School District Day, (small business theme). Hashtag saying for the art trailer for the next meeting Arlene told Charon how great the 3-D poppies were that her students created and presented for the VFW Ashely said that she would like to connect with Charon Tabi and Mike sat down with Danyel and talked about the things the Town has, that we can continue to expand on and doesn’t necessarily require money. I.e. SPD taught kids how to fish, taught kids golfing. Opportunities that will open up with the current library moves to the new library and that space becomes available. Danyel – would love to start getting events started for the older teens, (13-18). She’s new to the area and appreciates Tabi and Mike talking with her.  5. Discussion – assistance with individual sponsor committee for Smyrna at Night June 15th. While looking at the big $5, $10k sponsor, we want to give people/businesses the option to donate $50, $100, or whatever they choose. 6. Discussion – Veteran’s Day Celebration will be December 4, 2024 To honor hometown heroes. Have a guest speaker, food, etc. 7. Discussion on Caroling on the Square 2024 Dec. 4; signing, lighting of a tree, lighting of inspirational words, food truck, etc. 8. Updates on documents provided by Danielle Parks and Rec ordinances – would like to meeting with the PW Director. There are things that align with PW and SPD and she wants to get their thoughts before changing and moving forward. 9. Other committee business Arlene asked for the next meeting date; March 20th, 6 p.m. 10. Adjournment – 7:04 p.m. Posted on 02/14/2024 at 4:30 p.m. 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.