Parks & Recreation

Page 1 Parks & Rec 4/17/2024 meeting minutes MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING by teleconference by calling 301-715-8592 and entering Meeting ID number: 889 1080 2672 Passcode: 592383 or by visiting Join Zoom Meeting at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88910802672?pwd=bbgkXalTMvCm8x0tVmfIaTopxqNmRG.1 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Smyrna Town Hall Committee Conference Room 27 S. Market Street Plaza, Smyrna, DE April 17, 2024 – 6:00 PM Agenda - minutes in-person committee members – Tabi Gott, Mike Pearson, Evie Zerefos in-person guests – Carol Binns, Riva, Debbie, Gerald Brown zoom committee members – Arlene Collier-Mankin zoom guests – Marian Knowles, Ms. Danyel missing committee member – Corrine Upshur 1. Call to Order – 6pm 2. Minutes from 3/20/2024 meeting – Arlene, Mike 3. Updates from Committee Members – Evie – calendar notes Arlene – discussed Carry the Load. Mike – discussed boy scouts Tabi – discussed various things 4. Old business a. George C. Wright Jr. Park bathroom update i. Opening and ribbon cutting 5. Special Olympics – Councilmember Gerald Brown – Would like to use GCW Jr. Park sometime in August for an event for the Special Olympics. There’s a disconnect between what the School District has and what Kent County has. He would like to get word out about what the Special Olympics is and does. GCW Jr. Park is a centralized location for Delaware. He has spoken to Mike Pearson about having the boy scouts involved. There was a Ride the Tide motorcycle event this past Sunday and children loved seeing the motorcycles. He is looking for support so he can take suggestions to the Special Olympics board.  Page 2 Parks & Rec 4/17/2024 meeting minutes Riva spoke up and said that she thinks people who are helping and/or involved would probably like to see the community engaged. He spoke about going to Easter Seals once a month to a family dance. There’s a network of people who do things for each other. He sees the need for the children and the different activities they do and can do. Tabi would like to make a motion to have the Special Olympics use the GCW Jr. Park. Talk was brought up about the 3-2-1 program and it being locally founded. Mike motioned first. Evie seconded the motion. To allow the Kent Wild Cats to use the park for their activities. Riva asked the ages. Gerald corrected and said young adults, but that the oldest are in their fifties. 6. Re-enactment at Belmont Hall – Carol Binns October 12th, the event will have a musical group, food trucks, storytelling, Thomas Collins. The re-enactors will camp overnight like they did last year and re-enact some stuff throughout the day. Last year wasn’t widely advertised and there were still a few hundred people, so she’s hoping for higher numbers this year and better advertising. Tabi asked if the committee can help assist? Carol said advertising. Tabi asked if there will be any kids’ activities, and if so they could advertise through the schools. Carol talked about the different musicians and their instruments; like drums, the didgeridoo. Riva mentioned that some similar events have candle making. Carol said that a guy who makes utensils will be there. 7. Carry the Load – Arlene Mankin One more meeting, April 30. Event is May 3rd. RSVPs will be sent out at a later date. Menu is finalized, working on getting raffle tickets sold, along with some other stuff. Debbie asked where to get tickets. Arlene said it’s an American Flag and tickets are $5, raffling off on Sunday April 28th. Tabi added that she’s working with Corrine on encouraging people who are on the routes to be out. Arlene went over the mission of Carry the Load; which is to remember what Memorial Day is about. Started in 2011 by 2 Marines as a Memorial march/walk and it begins in Texas. She talked about how the local VFW became involved in 2022. Mike talked about the scouts Tabi c/o Corrine talked about the Juneteenth Celebration that will be at the George C. Wright Jr. Park from 2p-6p on June 22.  Page 3 Parks & Rec 4/17/2024 meeting minutes Tabi talked about the Smyrna at Night meeting that was held at the Police Dept earlier today. There’s a lot going on. She talked about the Relay for Life event that happened at the Opera House this passed Sunday; it went really well. May 22nd will be the Red Sand Project Day, and red sand will be sent to the schools. It is to raise awareness of human trafficking and how the community can make a difference. Kate from the Police Dept. will be taking care of most of the details. Tabi will be meeting with Dr. Susan Brown, the SSD Superintendent, about the time for the event on May 22nd. The Memorial Day parade will be on May 25th. Memorial Day recognition will be held at the GCW Memorial Park. Arlene mentioned that the Legion and VFW will be having something the morning of May 25th at Lake Como, before the parade. Tabi is working with Jason McNatt, PW Director, on a date for a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new bathrooms at George C. Wright Jr. Park. The next phase will be the ADA compliant playground. 8. Smyrna at Night subcommittee – Councilwoman/chair Tabi Gott 9. Other committee business – Evie asked Danielle if she could add a reminder about calendar updates when she sends out the previous meeting minutes. Tabi would like to have copies of the event calendar for tomorrow’s event. She asked Danielle if she could send the calendar to Amanda Sparks and Tabi will have Amanda print it. Evie said she’ll send the most up to date calendar later this evening. Bon Arye is having a craft fair in July as well as a July 4th community parade Danyel said she is drafting an end of school/summer kick-off event and she’ll bring more details later on. 10. Adjournment – 6:51p motion to end, Arlene, Mike, Posted 4/10/2024 at 4:30 PM (#1)  Page 4 Parks & Rec 4/17/2024 meeting minutes 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.