Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes - February 5, 2024

Parks & Rec Minutes
February 5, 2024 @ 7pm
Tonight’s meeting will be a hybrid meeting – both via Zoom and in person at the Township building.
Call to Order
Board Members Present: Helen Eckel-Wiener, Anne Duzan, Liz Malone, Sam Wiener, Brett Klukan, and Isabel Clark.
Staff Members Present: Abbey Swan
Professionals Present: NA
Public: Mark Evans, Caln Historical Commission
The Parks and Recreation February 5, 2024 agenda was posted on the Township website and at the township building on February 2, 2024. Agendas were made available to the public at the meeting.
The 2024 Parks and Recreation meeting schedule was published in the Daily Local News on December 27, 2024.
Public Comment – NA
Reorganization – Helen was reelected as the chair, Isabel as vice chair and Abbey as recording secretary.
Minutes approved – November 6, 2024
Old business

• Tree lighting recap – another successful event! We had some minor difficulty with the fancy switch turning the lights on, but the new wiring for the tree worked well. We had a good turnout. Smores were a hit and the new Santa tent/backdrop worked really well. Tom Parr was unable to attend at the last minute, but Lindsay Beecher had been invited to attend because of a CCATO award she received and she lit the tree for us.
• Holiday Decorating contest recap – going out as a group worked well. The group agreed to add a new category next year – “best use of small space.” We handed out a few “sign up next year” handouts to exceptional homes as we drove around. Next year we should discuss awarding a “best street” or neighborhood award as well. Tom Parr suggested adding businesses – we’ve invited them before but have struggled to get any to sign up.
• PRPS – our membership has been submitted so each Parks and Reck board will start receiving emails from them. Helen suggested looking into networking with some of our neighboring Parks and Rec groups.

 

• Project updates – the Board is working with Gilmore to replace the farmhouse roof at Spackman. It will likely be going out to bid soon. Once the roof is replaced, work can begin inside.

 
New Business

• 2024 Events and Dates:
  • The following schedule was agreed upon for the year:

Easter Egg Hunt March 30
April 6/7 Clean Up Weekend
Clean Up Crew – May 18
Clean Up Crew – June 8
Summer Series – June 21
Spackman Picnic Event – Jun 29
Summer Series – July 19
Summer Series – Aug 6 NNO
Community Day – September 7th
Clean Up Crew – Sept 14
Clean Up Crew – October 12 AM
Meadow Seeding – October 12 PM
Halloween Party Sat. Oct. 26
Clean Up Crew – November 2
December 8th – Tree Lighting
NYC Bus Trip – December 14
 
We also discussed hosting the following Pop-Up Events:
Various art/painting events
Invasive Removal
Native Plant ID/Swap
Stream Ecology Education Event
Sports games – soccer, frisbee, tennis etc.

• New Business
  • Invasive removal planning: Abbey is working on an invasive plan for township properties. Anne and Helen expressed interest in helping.
  • Municipal Park Playground Border – Abbey is working to get this ordered.
  • Dawkins Park Pavilion Roofs – Public works is getting quotes to replace the two pavilions in Dawkins Park
  • Clean Up Crew Prizes: The group decided to order stickers for all attendees. After three clean ups, participants will receive a magnet. After six clean ups, they’ll get a hat with the logo. Abbey will order some nifty nabbers to use for clean ups.
  • Mark Evans presented an updated plan for the June 29th Spackman farm picnic event.
• Adjournment