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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRecreation Comm 08/11/1997Recreation Commission Minutes E c_` cF i t r;, D August 11, 1997 d° Members Present: Commission Members Betty O'Connor, Dict= D�iiioti6arO PA jTaary Members Excused: Ron Reeves, Commission Chairman, and Bob Pierce ;=L(] CC 111 ;Ja..r eC!JsE l TS Lorilee Fish, Director of Parks&Recreation John Dobosz, Assistant to the Parks & Recreation Director Skating Park: Lorilee introduces Mr. D'Ambra to the Commission. Mr. D'Ambra wanted to discuss where the children of Mansfield could go and just skateboard or in-line skate. They are not interested in competing. He thought maybe there could be an area at Plymouth Street where they could go, something with square footage. The liability is a big factor. but states the kids are out there, and it is a sport that they are interested in. The liability is a "hump'' that should be overcome. Maybe a waiver could be signed :stating the town is not responsible for any injuries incurred. Lorilee ex. - plains she would prefer something made from concrete and the cost would be between '$10,000 and $30,000. Lorilee went to a meeting last week and stated that there is a possibility of the town receiving a donation of some land on Branch Street (Compo Chemical). Dick was inquiring about the Maple Street property and Lorilee said that was conversation land and will talk to Dick Lewis about it. Lorilee stated the only other place would be the old Hutchinson Property which backs into Memorial Park from route 106, but slip is very nervous about sending anyone down route '106 on a skateboard. She said School Street is dangerous also near the Plymouth Street property. jMr. D'Ambra stated most of the kids live near Main Street. Lorilee said that Memorial Park is not large enough. Lorilee will check with the school deparhnent regarding using their parking lot for this activity. Concrete Specialists will be calling Lorilee tomorrow with some in- formation regarding this. She also mentioned that the YMCA in West Mansfield may be looking into a skating park ,also with supervision. Lorilee asked the youths who were present at the meeting to take pictures of the facilities he thinks would be feasible for a skating park. 'Lorilee asked if the boys could come in to the office on Thursday, august 21, 1997 a little after 1:00 pin they could all go over what information they have gathered. Lorilee and Mr. D'Ambra suggested using an already paved area for the in-line skating; park. Mr. D'Ambra then suggested using an already existing parking lot, however, just using the parameter. Lorilee suggested taking $2000 of the pool money" and applying that to the skate park. Correspondence Dick asks about the Plymouth Street Fundraising Committee Update Letter. His concern is that we are responsible for Plymouth Street and he doesn't feel that we have a big hand in any of it. Lorilee said that there hasn't been anything objectionable in regards to anything that has been done to Plymouth Street, and that Ed Tartufo does conte in frequently and updates us on what is hap- pening out there. Lorilee stated that Ed Tartufo raises funds privately.Lorilee told the Commis- sion that he has the help of a committee and has our help. The funds raised goes into the Ply- mouth Street Gift account. Capital Improvement funds have been spent on Plymouth Street (approximately $200,000.) Ed Tartufo and Dan Clifford have been developing it. They have only received $25,000 from the town this year. 'Part of that went for the fencing in of the play- ground area. Lorilee explained that a Master Plan has been done quite a while ago and it keeps changing be- cause of the availability of hinds and what can be done now and what we need done now to com- plete a field. Dick is concerned about who makes the decisions regarding Plymouth Street. Dave asks Lorilee to give him a quick update on Players Choice Plymouth Street Tournament. Lorilee said that they held a youth tournament in June and they were charged for the use of the facility ($50/day) and they paid for everything else they needed. When we approved neat year for them for doing a youth tournament and adult tournament and one week of a youth clinic, they are aware, through a memo from Lorilee, that the fees for usage may be raised. We will be doing that in December or January. They are done using the fields for the year. Lorilee stated they canceled the last youth clinic. There is one more clinic next week which is the Mansfield Youth Soccer Clinic. Alan Weintraub, camp director, has resigned. Lorilee plans to advertise in the fall for the Camp Director position. A charter meeting will be held on September 8, 1997 at 7:00 pm with the charter committee. No Park Commissioners are mentioned in the Charter. The Recreation Commission is mentioned, and the Parks and Recreation Director is also mentioned. Lorilee strongly feels there should be something in there stating who the Park Commissioners are or change it to Parks and Recreation Commission. The Board of Selectmen are presently considered as the Park Commissioners. Noreen Katz, who plays tennis called and asked Lorilee if she could have a list of tennis players with varying abilities that they could use as a "pool' for tennis partners. ` We tried this 4 years ago to start an adult tennis league. People never called to cancel, they never called in the scores, and they wanted this over the summer, but never happened. Lorilee thought we could try something next spring. The Olid Villa Liquor Building As Teen Center: The Commission discussed this location as a teen center for tine youths of Mansfield. Lorilee doesn't think a facility like this can be run without supervision, certainly not with only volunteers. Idea was brought up by "Woody" Widrow. Rails to Trails Bike .A -Thou: The Rails to Trails Bike-a-thon raised $771.00. Thev did it in 3 days instead of 4. Commission Secretary: MOTION: Dick motions to hire a secretary who will be present at the meetings, who will get the minutes to the members before the meetings, and type up the agendas Betty sec- onds the motion. ALL IN FAVOR. NEW BUSINESS: Plymouth Street: Toddler Town: Working on it since last October. A committee met with Lorilee who were will- ing to do fund-raisers to raise money to buy some preschool playground equipment. They raised $9,000; through fund-raisers. DPW put the equipment in. The Ribbon Cutting will be Wednes- day, September 3, 1997 at Plymouth Street. There will be little ice cream cups for the kids. Shepards Florist will be donating 100 balloons. Dave brought up the safety issues at Plymouth Street. Lorilee will get ideas from Ed Tartufo regarding the temtis courts. Lorilee said he was talking about putting a place in there for in-line skating. Dave asked if the tree removal was exceeded by 75 feet to begin with. Lorilee stated that origi- nally the tennis courts should have been next to the road. She explained that she doesn't know what Ed Tartufo had in mind for the front acreage. Lorilee stated to the Commission that every- thing is in the Master Plan. MOTION: BETTY MOTIONS TO ADJOURN. DICK SECONDS THE MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR. Respectfully submitted by: Dia Troy, Copiwission Secretary Date Be O' nnor, Commission Clerk Data �s R