Parks & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes - July 7th, 2025

 Parks & Rec Meeting Minutes
July 7, 2025 @ 7pm
This meeting was a hybrid meeting – held both via Zoom and in person at the Township building.

•  Call to Order
• Attendees: Helen Eckel-Wiener, Sam Wiener, Jane Kennedy, Anne Duzan, Brett Klukan, Liz Malone, and Katie Brauchle
• Staff Present: Abbey Swan and Jessica Markovich
• Public Comment
• ​Minutes approved – June 2, 2025
• Old business
  • Art in the Park Update
    • Jessica and Abbey updated the Board on the progress for the Adult Art in the Park sessions – they plan to post the event and tickets for it the next day, July 8th. Jessica sent the promotional materials to the instructors for approval and received it from one so far. The rate for the tickets will be either $15 for non-residents and $10 for residents, or $15 for all. Abbey and Jessica will look at the line items to determine the rate. Classes will be capped at 25 people so the instructors can give more individual attention. Helen asked if Parks and Recreation members signing up will take up space. Abbey advised that if they would like to come to the class they should sign up as there are only 25 spots. Helen said that she would hold off to see if it fills up first.
    • The Board also talked about the original Art in the Park events. Our 2nd Art in the Park went great! We have received great feedback from attendees so far. Two other municipalities have started their own Art in the Park programs as well after visiting ours.
  • Summer Series Final Planning – July 18th
    • The first Summer Series movie (as the first one was rescheduled), will be on Friday, July 18th! Jessica went over the craft that will be taking place before the movie (crafting your own fish), as well as a Finding Nemo scavenger hunt for a prize. The movie will start at 8:30 PM, with the crafts starting an hour prior at 7:30 PM. Jessica and Abbey will reach out to the golf course to confirm that if there is rain, we can use their pavilion for the movie as it is larger than ours. The Board decided that everyone who can make it will arrive at 5:30 PM to begin setting up for the event. The only snack that will be given out at the event is popcorn. It was discussed that popsicles could be purchased if it is very hot that day.
  • Clean-Up Crew Planning – July 12th
    • The first clean-up crew of the year will be on Saturday, July 12th to clean up Valley Run. Besides Parks and Recreation, a Boy Scout troop signed up, but they did not give an exact number of how many people would join. Liz confirmed that she would be there to help. If the weather calls for thunderstorms, or if the stream is unusually high, then the event will be cancelled. It was confirmed that volunteers would meet here at the Township municipal building. The group discussed which area of the stream would be best to work on, and it was decided that if there were enough volunteers, we would fan out in both east and west to cover the most ground. Liz mentioned a specific spot that was missed during Clean-Up Weekend near Barley Sheaf Road that could receive some attention. Everyone will meet at 9 AM at the Township building.
  • National Night Out Finalizing Plans
    • National Night Out is on Tuesday, August 5th from 6 – 8 PM in Caln Municipal Park. Jessica and Abbey will meet with the Police to go over the event again, assign any final tasks, and make sure that everything already set in place is good to go. There will be no fireworks at this year’s event, so Parks & Recreation will just have tables for Art in the Park to do at the event. Abbey mentioned that we will also bring the lawn games. Helen asked if we will be located in the parking lot again, but as the event has shifted, Parks & Recreation will no longer be in the parking lot but somewhere else in the park, which will be decided at the Wednesday meeting. Anne asked if Public Works will be present to show off their trucks, and Abbey answered that they won’t be doing that specifically at National Night Out, but they will be there to help block roads. Abbey told the Board that Ray was able to secure a JeffSTAT helicopter, so they will be landing in the field where the fireworks usually take place, promptly at 6PM (barring any emergencies). The band from Coatesville, the VFW, and Chico’s Vibe will then go on following the helicopter landing. Katie asked what time we should arrive, and Abbey answered as early as you can, but that we should be setting up by 5 PM. Abbey asked if the Board wanted to do or bring anything else, and they were fine with just the Art in the Park table.
•  New Business
  • Summer Series – Rescheduling June 14th’s event
    • With the bad weather, the Summer Series Movie Night for Wonka had to be cancelled. The Board bounced a couple of dates around (July 26th, August 2nd, August 8th, August 9th, August 22nd, August 23rd). The group looked also at a few dates in September but based on past performance for Summer Series events in September, the group decided to keep it in Summer. Friday, August 8th was when most were available, and there were no other events that day (besides National Night Out happening that week). Jane asked if there is a place that we could partner with so we don’t have to keep cancelling and scheduling events if it rains. Abbey and Jessica mentioned that Breathe Church and the Lutheran Church would most likely have space and be receptive to hosting the event. Abbey said that we would look into it but that we would check with the golf course first as their pavilion is currently our rain date location and it would still then technically be in a park. Abbey also mentioned looking into the gym at the elementary school, and Jessica mentioned the banquet hall at the fire station. Anne mentioned that if we do have the event at the fire station, we could open up donations to the fire company from the public.
  • Meadow Park Ribbon Cutting – July 10th
    • Right before the Board of Commissioners meeting at 6:30 PM, there will be a small ribbon cutting taking place at the new Meadow Park as it will be officially open for visitors. There will be light refreshments available. Abbey opened up that anyone on the Parks & Recreation Board is welcome to say anything as a part of the ceremony. Helen asked if there was any press coverage, and Abbey mentioned that we will take photos and potentially write something to send out after the event to cover it.
  • Community Day Updates
    • As of now, we have 8 sponsors confirmed, and some have expressed interest but have not submitted their forms. Helen asked if the sponsors will have tables at the event like vendors, and Abbey and Jessica explained that if they would like to, they will have the space to do so, but many have said that they will just be a sponsor. It was opened up to any businesses in Caln Township who just started since the last Community Day a free vendor space. There are also 4 confirmed food vendors as of now. Fireworks, the magician, portable toilets, Bubbletopia, and face painting have all been confirmed, and Abbey and Jessica are looking into inflatables. Anne asked if there will also be mini golf, and Abbey answered that it depends on our budget but that we would like to. Also depending on the budget, Abbey mentioned that she is also interested in booking the salsa band that performed at a previous Summer Series event, Jimmy Jorge and the Latin Express, for Community Day as well. For performances, Shannon Cooper’s Dance Academy and Russell’s Dance & Baton Studio will be at the event again, and Lupo’s Taekwando are interested in a demonstration this year as well. Jane asked if we will have any characters this year, and that is something that Abbey will be booking them very soon through Birthday Buddies. Brett asked if Birthday Buddies will be at National Night Out, and Abbey and Jessica answered that it was discussed but that if they are we will make sure it is different characters for each event.
    • Helen asked if Parks & Recreation is interested in doing the duck pond again, and everyone agreed. The Art Show will also be taking place again, and Liz has started to collect art for it. Brett asked if Public Works could fill up sandbags or if they have extra ones for the tents as it was windy last year, and Anne asked if Public Works could set up the pool. Abbey said that we can ask about both. It is likely that we will stay in the pollinator and rain garden. Abbey brought up the Citizen Science box that we could bring to also have at the event if they wanted, or we can save it for its own event. The Board agreed it could be nice to just have it there.
  • Environmental Advisory Council Liaison
    • Anne spoke about the newly formed Environmental Advisory Council. Anne is the chair of the new Council, and as Parks & Recreation has done a lot of environmental activities already, it is likely that there will be a lot of communication between the two groups. The EAC will also have a liaison with other Township boards and commissions to help advise on matters with sustainability and the environment in mind. The EAC liaison to the Parks & Recreation Board is Jo Ellen McBride. She will be on the August meeting agenda if she is able to attend, and will bring the list of items from the Sustainability Task Force Report that pertain to Parks & Rec.

• Anne brought up the idea of having another Adult Art in the Park for crafts, but making it center around bringing a craft that you have been working on but have postponed. The event could be named something similar to UFO for unfinished objects, and attendees will have the opportunity to complete these projects in a community setting. Anne would host events like this at her home, and Abbey and Jessica will investigate if any other places host events like this.
• Helen asked if any of the groups who reserved the sand volleyball courts had reached out, and Jessica said that she will be reaching out to them this week to see how things are going. With this, Anne mentioned that there was a big shrub in the corner of the sand courts, so Anne was curious if this would be the responsibility of the Township or if it is up to the groups that reserved the courts. Abbey said that the Township is planning on taking care of it hopefully soon.
• Adjournment