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, and Jane Kennedy
Staff Present: Abbey Swan
The Parks and Recreation July 6, 2026, agenda was posted on the Township website and at the township building on July 3rd, 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 – Dawn Coughlan thanked the group for supporting the OCHS event on June 21.
4. Minutes approved – June 1, 2026
1. A motion was entertained to approve the June 1st, 2026. Moved by Ms. Duzan and seconded by Mr. Wiener, the motion passed unanimously.
5. Old business
1. Volleyball Court Reservations Update
1. Ms. Swan relayed the volleyball rental schedule for Lloyd Park:
1. July 14, 16, 21, and 23 (T, TH) from 6-9 PM Bishop Shanahan
2. July 7-August 26, Mondays and Wednesdays 6-8 pm – Driven Dragons
2. Summer Series Planning – July 18th and August 15th
1. National Treasure – board members will arrive around 6:00 on July 18th. Ms. Swan is finishing up the scavenger hunt planning. Mr. Wiener confirmed that using smaller popcorn bags worked well in the popcorn maker. Texas Roadhouse will be on hand with give-aways and their armadillo mascot.
2. Ms. Swan will be away for the August 15th meeting but JoEllen McBride will be on-hand to help and bring everything over. Ms. Swan will keep working on an activity to do beforehand. We will try to integrate the “wish wall” at the events.
3. Art in the Park: Urban Sketching Recap, Drew on Aug 29/30
Ms. Duzan and Ms. Malone reported on the event – all of the attendees enjoyed it and would like to have the instructor (Daniel Rodriguez) back for future classes. It was our first event hosted in Lloyd Park. Attendees learned about the event through Facebook and the newsletter. The group watched Daniel’s Instagram video about the event.
4. Spackman-Davis Farm Picnic Recap (collecting feedback)
Ms. Swan asked for feedback from the group about the picnic event. Mr. Wiener said the parking lot was much improved by Public Works, but that having two people helping up there was still helpful. Ms. Duzan and Ms. Eckel-Wiener enjoyed seeing the progress made in the farmhouse and the exhibits on display inside. The group agreed that the event could use more activities for kids and teens. Ms. Malone showed some of the art contest entries that we were received at the event.
5. Clean Up Crew Reminder – July 12th
Ms. Swan will promote the clean up event further – the Clean Up Crew will be focusing on Valley Run between Municipal Drive and Bondsville Road.
6. New Business
1. 2027 Budget Request
Ms. Swan asked everyone to bring budget ideas to the August meeting. The group discussed future spending on Kings Highway Park, investing in an updated Parks and Open Space Plan and/or a Municipal Park overhaul plan. Ms. Duzan mentioned bat boxes and chimney swift towers. Commissioner Kennedy brought up improvements to Dawkins Park and suggested investigating a parking easement to enable us to rent out those pavilions. Ms. Duzan suggested funding for a “science in the park” program. Some of her ideas include activities for both kids and adults: winter twig ID, electricity, flooding, and other things of interest to the wider community. Commissioner Kennedy discussed her idea for a mural featuring township places and history for the back of the meeting room.
2. Caln Community Day – September 12th
The group plans to do their usual popular duck pond and art in the park tables at Community Day.
3. Reading Phillies Bus Rental Interest – August 14
1. Commissioner Kennedy suggested that we rent a bus for Downingtown Day at the Reading Phillies since we always get free tickets to distribute. Krapf quoted us $1045 per bus or $21.77 per person. The group agreed that the price was a bit steep. Ms. Swan will reach back out to Krapf to see if we can make the trip free or inexpensive for our residents.
4. Park Equipment Updates
1. Ms. Swan ordered replacement grill and trash can liners. Public Works installed benches made from a downed tree in the meadow. She will schedule tree maintenance and order playground borders for municipal park.
2. The township’s safety committee has been conducting park inspections to identify things that need to be addressed.
3. Ms. Duzan and Ms. Malone
7. Additional business:
1. Ms. Duzan and Ms. Malone discussed the idea of creating a labyrinth in the meadow park. The labyrinth would be made out of stepping stones which could be decorated for Art in the Park and could be kept mowed. Ms. Duzan suggested making it in the shape of a seed. Ms. Swan mentioned that the western edge of the property is quite wet.
2. Art in the Park is this coming Wednesday and Ms. Malone could use some helpers for the art show and free-style painting tables. She made 20 kits for the project of the week – bee hotels.
8. Adjournment
1. Call to Order
2. Attendees: Helen Eckel-Wiener, Kathryn Brauchle, Liz Malone, Sam Wiener, Anne Duzan, and Jane Kennedy
Staff Present: Abbey Swan
The Parks and Recreation July 6, 2026, agenda was posted on the Township website and at the township building on July 3rd, 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 – Dawn Coughlan thanked the group for supporting the OCHS event on June 21.
4. Minutes approved – June 1, 2026
1. A motion was entertained to approve the June 1st, 2026. Moved by Ms. Duzan and seconded by Mr. Wiener, the motion passed unanimously.
5. Old business
1. Volleyball Court Reservations Update
1. Ms. Swan relayed the volleyball rental schedule for Lloyd Park:
1. July 14, 16, 21, and 23 (T, TH) from 6-9 PM Bishop Shanahan
2. July 7-August 26, Mondays and Wednesdays 6-8 pm – Driven Dragons
2. Summer Series Planning – July 18th and August 15th
1. National Treasure – board members will arrive around 6:00 on July 18th. Ms. Swan is finishing up the scavenger hunt planning. Mr. Wiener confirmed that using smaller popcorn bags worked well in the popcorn maker. Texas Roadhouse will be on hand with give-aways and their armadillo mascot.
2. Ms. Swan will be away for the August 15th meeting but JoEllen McBride will be on-hand to help and bring everything over. Ms. Swan will keep working on an activity to do beforehand. We will try to integrate the “wish wall” at the events.
3. Art in the Park: Urban Sketching Recap, Drew on Aug 29/30
Ms. Duzan and Ms. Malone reported on the event – all of the attendees enjoyed it and would like to have the instructor (Daniel Rodriguez) back for future classes. It was our first event hosted in Lloyd Park. Attendees learned about the event through Facebook and the newsletter. The group watched Daniel’s Instagram video about the event.
4. Spackman-Davis Farm Picnic Recap (collecting feedback)
Ms. Swan asked for feedback from the group about the picnic event. Mr. Wiener said the parking lot was much improved by Public Works, but that having two people helping up there was still helpful. Ms. Duzan and Ms. Eckel-Wiener enjoyed seeing the progress made in the farmhouse and the exhibits on display inside. The group agreed that the event could use more activities for kids and teens. Ms. Malone showed some of the art contest entries that we were received at the event.
5. Clean Up Crew Reminder – July 12th
Ms. Swan will promote the clean up event further – the Clean Up Crew will be focusing on Valley Run between Municipal Drive and Bondsville Road.
6. New Business
1. 2027 Budget Request
Ms. Swan asked everyone to bring budget ideas to the August meeting. The group discussed future spending on Kings Highway Park, investing in an updated Parks and Open Space Plan and/or a Municipal Park overhaul plan. Ms. Duzan mentioned bat boxes and chimney swift towers. Commissioner Kennedy brought up improvements to Dawkins Park and suggested investigating a parking easement to enable us to rent out those pavilions. Ms. Duzan suggested funding for a “science in the park” program. Some of her ideas include activities for both kids and adults: winter twig ID, electricity, flooding, and other things of interest to the wider community. Commissioner Kennedy discussed her idea for a mural featuring township places and history for the back of the meeting room.
2. Caln Community Day – September 12th
The group plans to do their usual popular duck pond and art in the park tables at Community Day.
3. Reading Phillies Bus Rental Interest – August 14
1. Commissioner Kennedy suggested that we rent a bus for Downingtown Day at the Reading Phillies since we always get free tickets to distribute. Krapf quoted us $1045 per bus or $21.77 per person. The group agreed that the price was a bit steep. Ms. Swan will reach back out to Krapf to see if we can make the trip free or inexpensive for our residents.
4. Park Equipment Updates
1. Ms. Swan ordered replacement grill and trash can liners. Public Works installed benches made from a downed tree in the meadow. She will schedule tree maintenance and order playground borders for municipal park.
2. The township’s safety committee has been conducting park inspections to identify things that need to be addressed.
3. Ms. Duzan and Ms. Malone
7. Additional business:
1. Ms. Duzan and Ms. Malone discussed the idea of creating a labyrinth in the meadow park. The labyrinth would be made out of stepping stones which could be decorated for Art in the Park and could be kept mowed. Ms. Duzan suggested making it in the shape of a seed. Ms. Swan mentioned that the western edge of the property is quite wet.
2. Art in the Park is this coming Wednesday and Ms. Malone could use some helpers for the art show and free-style painting tables. She made 20 kits for the project of the week – bee hotels.
8. Adjournment
