Parks & Recreation Minutes - March 2nd, 2026

 Parks & Rec Minutes
March 2, 2026 @ 7pm
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This meeting was held as a hybrid meeting - both via Microsoft Teams and in person at the township building.

• Call to Order
• Attendees: Anne Duzan, Sam Wiener, Jane Kennedy, Liz Malone, Helen Eckel-Wiener, and Katie Brauchle
• Staff Present: Jessica Markovich
• Public Comment
• Minutes Approved– February 2nd, 2026
• Old business Adult Art in the Park Art Events
  • Jessica asked the Board what art they would like to move forward with being the subject of each class. Jessica showed the Board a potential instructor from the Chester County Art Association for portrait sketching, as this was previously discussed. Katie asked what location these classes are held, and Jessica answered that it can be held wherever best fits the class and that the Board would like. The scheduled Adult Art in the Park dates are May 16th, August 29th, and November 14th. Anne mentioned that people at the previous photography class expressed interest in portrait photography and that the photographer, Drew, said he does do portrait photography. It was suggested that a photography class could be held in the meadow. Based on the flowers, it would be best to do it on August 29th for this class. Jessica also brought up how the group has talked about a general class using different mediums (pastels, charcoals, watercolors, etc.) Anne mentioned that we could do an adult component of our regular Art in the Park series, which surrounds Valley Run, and asked Liz if she would be interested in this. Liz said she has thought about doing a series of classes going through the layers of Valley Run for Adult Art in the Park, but that she wouldn’t be able to do so this year. Jessica found two potential instructors for a general art class. The one instructor teaches a class at Longwood Gardens for urban sketching. Anne said that this could be transferable to Caln Township, and that she had taken a class with a landscape architect at Longwood Gardens as well. Liz said we could still have this class follow Valley Run. Jessica will reach out to this instructor to see if they would be interested in leading a sketching class of Valley Run, as well as Drew for photography. Helen asked if we would use reference photos for this class. This instructor specifics that he does art based in life rather than reference, but if the class is in Municipal Park, attendees could use both.
  • Spring/Summer Bus Trip
    • A NYC bus trip is planned for December 5th. Jessica reached out to Krapf to inquire what dates are available for slring/summer. They are: May 2nd, May 16th, May 23rd, May 30th, and June 3rd. Jessica also inquired what the rates would be for Atlantic City or Washington D.C., and they are cheaper than NYC. Anne said that going to Atlantic City this time of year could be too busy and suggested going in the fall. Jessica will look into available fall dates. With this year being America’s 250th birthday, a trip to Washington D.C. can be tied into this.
      • A motion was made to arrange a bus trip to Washington D.C. on Saturday, May 30th. The motion passed 5-0.
  • PA Recreation and Park Society Membership
    • Jessica looked more into membership benefits, and determined that a majority of the benefits are related to educational workshops and networking opportunities. She recommended that a member of the Board still maintain a membership as they will also be notified of any legislative changes and communications. Members of the Board expressed that they still have been receiving communications from them even without the membership. Jessica said that there is supposed to be a member-specific newsletter. Helen said that she would volunteer for her to be signed up again.
      •  A motion was made for Jessica to set up a member for Helen wit the PA Recreation and Park Society. The motion passed 5-0.
  • F.I.S.H Event Collaboration
    • Fathers Standing in Hope, a local non-profit, approached the Township about a potential collaboration. They host a fishing rodeo every year in Coatesville to help teach children how to fish and provide time for families to spend time together, and they are now looking to expand into Caln Township. For a collaboration, F.I.S.H. is primarily looking for a financial contribution from Parks & Recreation to help fund supplies such as the fish, t-shirts, and lunches. Anne asked if they want to do the rodeo in Caln instead, or if they wanted to do another event entirely. Jessica said it could be either. Helen asked where they are planning on doing this, and if they stock the stream. Jessica said that they discussed Lloyd Park and that she believes the do stock their own fish as they said they purchase them, as well as bring their own kiddie pool with fish to help attendees learn. Liz asked where Valley Run meets Beaver Creek. Anne answered that she believes it does so behind Cohen & Sons. Helen asked if we had an idea of how much in financing they are interested in. Jessica responded with a couple thousand and showed their donation packet. F.I.S.H. would handle the planning of the event. Jessica said that they are asking for a financial contribution, but that an event would likely have to wait until next year as we would need to request it in the budget. Helen said it would be beneficial to have F.I.S.H. Come to a meeting to learn more about what they would need from Parks & Recreation and the logistics of the event. Katie asked if this would be a Parks & Rec event, and Jessica responded that we could put it on our list of events but that we would be sponsors as F.I.S.H. Would do most of the planning. Jessica will reach out to the organization to arrange them to come to a Parks & Rec meeting.
• New Business
  • Art in the Park Dates
    • Liz presented the dates and projects for Art in the Park:
      • June 3rd – Stream Life in Clay
      • June 20th – Spackman-Davis Farm Picnic
      • July 8th – Bee Hotels
      • July 22nd – Suncatchers
      • August 4th – National Night Out
      •  August 19th – Birds of Prey
    •  Liz discussed how each art project will be centered around a different layer of Valley Run stream. Liz expressed that she is interested in pulling sustainability aspects into the projects. Anne offered to ask the EAC if they would be interested in coming to an event to help implement this, and Liz said yes. Liz also mentioned that they will be creating a mural of the layers of the stream over the course of the sessions. For Spackman-Davis Farm Picnic, Abbey and Jessica talked with a company that creates custom paint by number pieces about doing one of the Spackman-Davis Farm. For an 8”x10” unstretched canvas with 24 colors, it will be $25 per canvas. Jessica proposed the idea of having these as an add on that attendees can purchase when getting their ticket to the event. Liz said it was a good idea but also suggested that we can make our own on heavyweight paper – it wouldn’t be a paint by number, but rather one that people can just color or paint in. Helen expressed that she really likes the one of the Hexagonal Schoolhouse that Liz made, and Liz said that she could make a new one of Spackman-Davis Farm. Helen said this was a great idea and more budget friendly. Anne said she likes the idea of the paint by number but also expressed concern over the price, offering the suggestion that we could sell them for $10 rather than $25. If we do the paint by number, Liz suggested reducing it from 8”x 10” to 5” x 7”.
    •  Jane asked if we are receiving any grant money that could help fund the art projects. Jessica explained that the Township received a grant from the Chester County Community Foundation and that we will be seeking sponsors for the event. She asked what other activities there will be, and Liz explained that there will be a Spackman-Davis painting contest and coloring sheets that farm stickers can be added to.
  • Jane mentioned that she will be meeting with someone to discuss the potential idea of adding a mural to the back wall of the meeting room containing images of historical sites, and she asked Parks & Recreation if they have any ideas. Jessica suggested incorporating nature scenes. The Board agreed with nature and historical images. Liz mentioned that it would be nice to have a timeline of the Township somewhere in the Township on display, potentially in a park. She expressed that having something like this is great to help give people a sense of history and place, an identity to connect to within their hometown. She said that after being on Parks & Recreation and learning more about Caln’s history, she feels she has a hometown more than she ever has before.
  • Clean Up Weekend Planning – March 28th and 29th
    • Clean Up Weekend will take place at the end of this month. Jessica reported that it hasn’t been advertised yet, as we are waiting to hear back from Midway Grill to confirm if they will be sponsoring the event again this year. This year, there will only be three clean ups each day. The schedule is:
      • Saturday:
        •  9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: G.O. Carlson Blvd to Municipal Park
        •  10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Acme Shopping Center
        • 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Lincoln Highway East
      • Sunday: 
        • 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Barley Sheaf and Lincoln Highway West
        • 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: North Caln Road
        • 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Park & Ride
    •  We are hoping to have more volunteers sign up as each clean-up was shortened from 3 hours long to 2 hours. Jessica reported that she and Abbey will go through the budget to see if we can purchase grabbers, and that she had just applied for free supplies with PennDOT. Jessica showed the Board the sign-up sheet so they can sign up for what shifts that they are able to do.
  • Easter Egg Hunt Planning – April 4th
    • Katie mentioned that for this year’s hunt, it would be a good idea to go into it with a clear idea of what everybody will be doing that day, as there was some confusion last year. She also noted that two people should be working the Parks & Recreation table, as it is hard to manage both kids coming up to collect prizes and retrieve eggs if they missed a hunt. She also suggested that it could be beneficial to advertise time limits for the egg hunts since they go so fast, and with the event being advertised from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, it might give the idea that there will be egg hunts going for that whole time. Katie suggested having the hunts advertised to go at specific times and for only a specific amount of time (1:00 PM to 1:05 PM, 1:10 PM to 1:15 PM, etc.) The Board agreed that this would be a good idea. Anne asked if we will be doing anything else. Jessica explained that we will have our lawn games again and a guessing jar, but that we can add anything else. Jane suggested having a potato sack race and coloring sheets.
    •  Jessica brought up the discussion of adding a sensory-friendly hunt again to the Board, and they agreed that it would be nice to do. Jessica found that the Coatesville YMCA hosts a sensory-friendly hunt and will reach out to them to ask questions and gain insight into how we can host one. Some things related to a sensory-friendly hunt that Jessica has seen are having registration for it, hosting it at a separate time than other hunts, having toys in eggs, and different types of eggs. Jane suggested having it at another location like Lloyd Park. Katie expressed that if we do have it at another location, it would likely have to be another day. Jessica said that if we do have it on the same day and in the same place, we should have at least an hour separation between events so we can set up for the next hunts.
    •  To stuff Easter eggs, it was decided that any available Parks & Recreation members and Township staff will meet on Monday, April 16th at 6:30 PM to do so.
    • Liz mentioned that last year, attendees came in from the back of the park, so it would be good to have volunteers stand in the back to make sure that no one sneaks in. In addition to this, we will need 2 volunteers at the Parks & Recreation table.
    •  Texas Roadhouse and Sports Clips both reached out to the Township about donating eggs and food for the event. Texas Roadhouse offered to bring their armadillo mascot, as well as free kids’ meals and appetizers for attendees. Helen asked if they meant actual food, or if they would bring vouchers. Jessica answered that she believes it would be actual food. The group expressed concern with having free food at the event, as there will be many kids running around, and it could get hectic, as well as timing for setting up the event. Jane mentioned the idea of putting coupons in eggs instead, and Jessica said that this is what Sports Clips offered to donate. The group agreed that this would be wonderful. For Texas Roadhouse, Anne suggested that giving out free food could be better for our Summer Series events. It was decided that Jessica will reach out to Texas Roadhouse to clarify what they are planning to do and to see if they would be interested in participating in another way if they want to offer free food, as well as if they would be interested in coming to Summer Series events.
    • The group will tentatively meet at 11 AM that day, but with the sensory-friendly hunt this time may change.
  • Park Presentation from Anne
    • Anne presented to the board her concept for a potential new park in the Township. “Schoolhouse Park” would be located at the Municipal Building, behind the Hexagonal Schoolhouse. Anne explained that this area can be inaccessible due to uneven ground and this area being in the flood plains, leading to the area really only being utilized once a year. To make this area more accessible to residents, Anne has worked on a plan over several months to develop a plan for a passive recreation park. This park would include features such as walking trails, passive recreational activities like chess, gazebos, and a lowland wet meadow. Anne mentioned that art could be installed, such as the timeline Liz had suggested earlier. Liz mentioned that there could potentially be a signboard that could feature rotating exhibits. Sam agreed that walking in this area could be treacherous, so making it more accessible could be great. The Board agreed that making a park would make the area more accessible for residents. Sam asked how much a park like this would cost, and Anne explained that if this is approved and an engineer can come in, then an accurate cost estimate could be given. She did mention that the Township Manager has discussed the potential of applying for grants. Liz mentioned that this could be done in phases. Anne is looking to receive support from Parks & Recreation for when this is presented to the Board of Commissioners. ▪ A motion was made to approve Parks & Recreation supporting a proposal of this park being presented to the Board of Commissioners. The motion passed 5-0.
• Adjournment

 
Respectfully submitted,
 
Jessica Markovich
Recording Secretary