Marblehead League of Women Voters Observer Corps
Observer Corps Reports are provided by volunteers from the Marblehead League of Women Voters. To learn more about the League and its activities, see my.lwv.org/massachusetts/marblehead.
BOARD: Recreation and Parks Commission
DATE: Sept. 19
LOCATION: Jacobi Community Center Conference Room
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Matt Martin. Present: Commissioners Karin Ernst, Linda Rice-Collins and Rossanna Ferrante, along with Recreation Director Jaime Bloch. Absent: Superintendent Peter James and Commissioner Shelly Bedrossian.
Appearances
- Rick Smyers re-presented the plans for Phase II of the bike park. He has plans for two wooden bridges to be built by the Recreation and Parks Department after approval by the Conservation Commission. Abutting neighbors had been invited, but no one came.
- Ken Klaiman presented his personal pickleball survey. He would like to have more open play time.
- Lisa Spinale presented her concerns for the Marblehead pickleball group, which included more weekend hours at Vets, lights on more at Seaside, repairs to the courts, permanent lines on Court 5, porta-potties, a storage shed and an AED.
- Karin, Shelly, Jaime and Peter have formed a committee to discuss all the issues surrounding pickleball, hopefully to satisfy players and neighbors.
- The dog park was locked by an unknown source and is being looked into.
- Ferrante met with Town Planner Becky Cutting about the plans for Fountain Park, including the new steps and shoe factory. After the cost for the architect plans is established and approved, donations for memorial steps will be solicited.
Recreation
- Bloch reported that fall programs are more subscribed than last year, with especially high demand for ages 2 1/2 to 3 1/2. She is successfully working with the schools for cooperative programming. She plans for an additional tee-ball league on Sunday nights.
- Oct. 14 will be the Scarecrow Stroll. Commission members are encouraged to make scarecrows for the event. Kits are available at the office, if anyone is interested. There will be trick-or-treating at the stroll, and a $5 fee. Other upcoming events include pumpkin decorating, gingerbread houses and elves-in-training.
- She questioned Hobbs House reserving six parking places just for the house, excluding those going to the playground.
Correspondence
- The commission approved a request for a wedding at Crocker Park on June 9, 2024, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., for 30 guests.
Any further news on who locked the dog park? (Probably a cat, but this is only a suspicion),