RECREATION & PARKS COMMISSION Feb. 27
LWVM observer – Bonnie Grenier
Members in attendance: Matt Martin, Karin Ernst, Linda Rice-Collins, Shelly Bedrossian, Rossanna Ferrante, Jaime Bloch, Peter James, Secretary Amanda Viecelli
Arts Festival at Crocker Park: Brian Wheeler – Essentially the event will be run the same as in prior years. There will be three shows a day on July 4, 5 and 6. Equipment will be removed from the park on Sunday. Two police officers will be on duty every night from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. or 10:30 p.m. Wheeler has had significant success working with neighbors to mitigate the noise problem during concerts. It was voted to approve the Festival of Arts concerts at Crocker Park with the appropriate permits submitted.
Dog park: Stephen Cooper explained that he and Rice-Collins spent 45 minutes with Ted Moore at the dog park to review the need for an easement to allow public access to the park which runs across Moore’s property. The conversation was very encouraging. Moore said he is fine with the group taking down trees to create better access to the park. The park is in rough shape but now that they have Moore’s approval to access the park, they can install a gate, do some fundraising and eventually regrade
and resurface the park.
Beach discussion: Rec. & Parks found out that they can raise the cost of a parking sticker without the approval of town meeting. Discussion centered around whether or not they would raise the fee, and if they did, by how much. Revenue from the stickers is shared with the town necessitating further discussion as to how the proceeds would be divided. There was a vote to postpone pending further discussion.
Parks update:
* New plastic benches and picnic tables are being ordered for the pavilion at Devereux Beach. The cost is $13,000.
* General clean-up/clearing of overgrowth will begin now that that weather is getting better. They are working on getting equipment ready for spring.
* The department is still one person short but at least one person has expressed interest in the position.
* There are still two boats at the Vine Street property. One seems to be abandoned. Peter will follow up with the owner of the other.
* Planting trees at Seaside Park is on Jon Fobert’s radar. The Hammond Nature Center and Gatchall’s Playground are other places where trees can be planted.
Recreation update:
* The new session began on February 26.
* Jaime Bloch has been working to get ready for summer programs. A large number of staff will be returning though the sailing program is still short staffed. Many other sailing programs are experiencing the same need for help with sailing programs.
* During the summer sessions there is a need to transport children from various clinics to other programs that run later in the day. Bloch will reach out to the School Department to put together a memorandum of understanding.
* The Sweetheart Dance will be April 5 at 6:30 p.m.; Mad Science: Up, Up and Away will be March 13 at 2 p.m.
