Tonight’s meeting will be a hybrid meeting – both via Microsoft Teams and in person at the township building.
1. Call to Order
2. Attendees: Helen Eckel-Wiener, Kathryn Brauchle, Liz Malone, Sam Wiener, Anne Duzan
Staff Present: Abbey Swan
The Parks and Recreation August 3, 2026, agenda was posted on the Township website and at the township building on July 30, 2026. Agendas were made available to the public at the meeting. The 2026 Parks and Recreation meeting schedule was published in the Daily Local News on December 18, 2025.
3. Public Comment – None
4. Minutes approved – July 6, 2026
1. A motion was entertained to approve the July 6, 2026. Moved by Ms. Duzan and seconded by Mr. Wiener, the motion passed unanimously.
5. Old business
1. Summer Series Recap – July 24th – National Treasure Movie Night
1. Weather was perfect, attendance was light (an older movie and a change of date might be to blame). All agreed the treasure hunt was difficult but fun. The Texas Roadhouse staff were very helpful. Alsie’s Ice Cream staff were very nice.
2. Summer Series Planning – August 15 – Newsies
1. Ms. Swan will be away, but Ms. McBride will be on hand to help. They are putting together a craft for attendees to make block printing designs out of foam like a newspaper. The board will arrive at 6:30 for set up.
3. July 12th Clean Up Crew Recap
1. Not much trash was found at our July clean up, but we had a good group of volunteers. Ms. Swan will work on additional Clean Up Crew rewards (after 15 clean ups).
4. Art in the Park: Portrait Photography, August 29
1. We’ve only gotten 4 sign ups for the class so far, but will keep promoting it. Ms. Swan brought flyers for everyone to pass out.
5. 2027 Budget Request
1. A discussion was held about the 2027 budget requests. For event spending, the group proposed a similar amount to 2026, but with an increase in holiday spending and a slight decrease in Summer Series spending, based on our 2026 projected expenses.
2. Regarding parks – discussion led to generally the same as 2026 with a few small increases, especially in Lloyd Park where the gazebo needs to be replaced along with expenses related to the trail construction project. The group also discussed updating the township’s 1996 Open Space Preservation and Parks Plan – which would be a capital item.
Mrs. Eckel-Wiener entertained a motion to accept the events and parks budget requests as discussed. Motioned by Ms. Duzan, seconded by Mr. Wiener. Motion passed unanimously.
6. National Night Out –
1. National Night out will take place on August 4 from 6-8 pm. The group agreed to do bubble and art tables. Ms. Swan described a scavenger hunt which will encourage attendees to visit all of the different aspects of the event. Parks and Rec will plan to arrive between 4 and 5pm.
6. New Business
1. Recycling plant visit –
1. Ms. Swan relayed that the staff are scheduling a visit to our local recycling plant and wanted to see if Parks and Rec members are interested in attending. Ms. McBride will schedule the visit for a weekday in the fall.
2. Parks inspections results and resident concern –
1. Ms. Swan relayed that the staff safety committee has been conducting visits to all of the township properties to look for issues that need to be resolved. Additionally, some of the Dawkins Park neighbors attended the most recent BoC meeting to express concerns about some items in that park. Mrs. Eckel Wiener expressed concern over water pooling that she and Mr. Wiener witnessed at Dawkins. Most of the park signs, especially the one in Dawkins need to be replaced or fixed. They also noted that there are no rules posted in Dawkins, which makes enforcement more difficult. Ms. Swan updated the group on some of the concerns that had already been addressed since the meeting. There was also a long discussion about events being held in Dawkins Park, which is not rented out due to a lack of parking and proximity to neighboring homes. Commissioner Kennedy described large parties which have been taking place in the park. The PD intends to increase foot and bike patrols in that area.
7. Additional business:
1. Mrs. Eckel-Wiener made sure that the board all received an invitation to an upcoming “Getting out in the Greenway” event that Brandywine Conservancy is hosting. Two of the stops on the tour will be Kings Highway Park and Lloyd Park. Members should RSVP through the link in the website.
2. Ms. Duzan relayed information about a community garden project that the EAC is considering.
3. Ms. Swan checked with the group about switching the date of our Halloween Party to better work with Shannon Cooper’s dance schedule. All agreed that holding the event on the afternoon of Halloween, which would allow more participation from Shannon Cooper’s dancers, would be preferable to sticking with the previous weekend.
8. Adjournment
1. Call to Order
2. Attendees: Helen Eckel-Wiener, Kathryn Brauchle, Liz Malone, Sam Wiener, Anne Duzan
Staff Present: Abbey Swan
The Parks and Recreation August 3, 2026, agenda was posted on the Township website and at the township building on July 30, 2026. Agendas were made available to the public at the meeting. The 2026 Parks and Recreation meeting schedule was published in the Daily Local News on December 18, 2025.
3. Public Comment – None
4. Minutes approved – July 6, 2026
1. A motion was entertained to approve the July 6, 2026. Moved by Ms. Duzan and seconded by Mr. Wiener, the motion passed unanimously.
5. Old business
1. Summer Series Recap – July 24th – National Treasure Movie Night
1. Weather was perfect, attendance was light (an older movie and a change of date might be to blame). All agreed the treasure hunt was difficult but fun. The Texas Roadhouse staff were very helpful. Alsie’s Ice Cream staff were very nice.
2. Summer Series Planning – August 15 – Newsies
1. Ms. Swan will be away, but Ms. McBride will be on hand to help. They are putting together a craft for attendees to make block printing designs out of foam like a newspaper. The board will arrive at 6:30 for set up.
3. July 12th Clean Up Crew Recap
1. Not much trash was found at our July clean up, but we had a good group of volunteers. Ms. Swan will work on additional Clean Up Crew rewards (after 15 clean ups).
4. Art in the Park: Portrait Photography, August 29
1. We’ve only gotten 4 sign ups for the class so far, but will keep promoting it. Ms. Swan brought flyers for everyone to pass out.
5. 2027 Budget Request
1. A discussion was held about the 2027 budget requests. For event spending, the group proposed a similar amount to 2026, but with an increase in holiday spending and a slight decrease in Summer Series spending, based on our 2026 projected expenses.
2. Regarding parks – discussion led to generally the same as 2026 with a few small increases, especially in Lloyd Park where the gazebo needs to be replaced along with expenses related to the trail construction project. The group also discussed updating the township’s 1996 Open Space Preservation and Parks Plan – which would be a capital item.
Mrs. Eckel-Wiener entertained a motion to accept the events and parks budget requests as discussed. Motioned by Ms. Duzan, seconded by Mr. Wiener. Motion passed unanimously.
6. National Night Out –
1. National Night out will take place on August 4 from 6-8 pm. The group agreed to do bubble and art tables. Ms. Swan described a scavenger hunt which will encourage attendees to visit all of the different aspects of the event. Parks and Rec will plan to arrive between 4 and 5pm.
6. New Business
1. Recycling plant visit –
1. Ms. Swan relayed that the staff are scheduling a visit to our local recycling plant and wanted to see if Parks and Rec members are interested in attending. Ms. McBride will schedule the visit for a weekday in the fall.
2. Parks inspections results and resident concern –
1. Ms. Swan relayed that the staff safety committee has been conducting visits to all of the township properties to look for issues that need to be resolved. Additionally, some of the Dawkins Park neighbors attended the most recent BoC meeting to express concerns about some items in that park. Mrs. Eckel Wiener expressed concern over water pooling that she and Mr. Wiener witnessed at Dawkins. Most of the park signs, especially the one in Dawkins need to be replaced or fixed. They also noted that there are no rules posted in Dawkins, which makes enforcement more difficult. Ms. Swan updated the group on some of the concerns that had already been addressed since the meeting. There was also a long discussion about events being held in Dawkins Park, which is not rented out due to a lack of parking and proximity to neighboring homes. Commissioner Kennedy described large parties which have been taking place in the park. The PD intends to increase foot and bike patrols in that area.
7. Additional business:
1. Mrs. Eckel-Wiener made sure that the board all received an invitation to an upcoming “Getting out in the Greenway” event that Brandywine Conservancy is hosting. Two of the stops on the tour will be Kings Highway Park and Lloyd Park. Members should RSVP through the link in the website.
2. Ms. Duzan relayed information about a community garden project that the EAC is considering.
3. Ms. Swan checked with the group about switching the date of our Halloween Party to better work with Shannon Cooper’s dance schedule. All agreed that holding the event on the afternoon of Halloween, which would allow more participation from Shannon Cooper’s dancers, would be preferable to sticking with the previous weekend.
8. Adjournment
