MINUTES

RECREATION AND PARKS BOARD:                           LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP

REGULAR MEETING:                                                      FEBRUARY 27, 2019

 The following were in ATTENDANCE:

 

BOARD MEMBERS:                                                          TOWNSHIP PERSONNEL:

Greg Mahon, Chairman                                                          Wendy Hayden, Township Representative

Susan Parry, Vice Chairman                                                   Tina Thomas, Recording Secretary

Richard Grove, Secretary                                          

Robert Pelles                                                                          

Scott Duncanson

Charles Angelo                                                          

 

 

Mr. Mahon called the February 27, 2019 Regular Meeting of the Recreation and Parks Board to order at 7:00 pm.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mr. DUNCANSON moved to approve the minutes from the January 23, 2019 meeting.  Mr. GROVE seconded the motion.  Motion carried 6-0.

PUBLIC COMMENT:  HIGHLAND PARK

No one from the public is present to comment. Mrs. Hayden reported that general park maintenance is continuing as weather allows, along with tree trimming and debris cleanup.

LIASON REPORT – COMMISSIONER HOLTZMAN

Commissioner Holtzman is absent so there is no liaison report.

RECREATION AND PARKS STAFF REPORT

Mrs. Hayden provided the following Parks Operation Staff update: 

• Swing set chains are being replaced at all parks, as weather allows.
• Underbrush and dead trees were cut back at the Beacon Hill radar site.
• Four new picnic tables were received and are being put together and stained.

ACTIVITIES REPORT

Mrs. Hayden provided the following Activities update: 

• Nineteen garden plot applications were mailed to last year’s participating gardeners at Yellow Breeches Park. They are due back by March 31. So far 17 have already been returned. There are 20 total plots, 19 of which are workable.

• The scheduling of athletic fields at Wass, Pete’s and LACP has been completed. One new organization, Keystone FC Soccer Club, will be utilizing the LACP Upper and Lower soccer fields from April through late Fall.  This will bring in some additional revenue, at $30.00 per field, per day. These fields have not been rented in 8 years. This will bring in approximately $5,000 which goes into the general fund.

• At the Commissioners meeting last month, several residents of Windsor Park voiced their disapproval of the budgeted park improvements to the Township’s property in Windsor Park.  The project has been tabled until a survey can be sent out to the residents in that area.    

• Assistant Township Manager, Erin Trone, reported at the Department Head meeting that she is working on setting up the kick-off meeting with DCNR for the Fun Fort renovation project. More information concerning the project should be coming soon.

OLD BUSINESS

• Hershey will soon be shipping the candy to supply the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Residents of The Woods will be stuffing the eggs. Volunteers are to meet at the Barn at 8:30am on April 13, 2019. Each area will be provided with a megaphone for their announcements.
• Parry gave an update on progress with the upcoming Gardener’s Gathering on April 27^th. Despite leaving a message for the master gardener coordinator, she has not heard anything back. Mrs. Hayden suggested we come up with a Plan B. In the past the event has started at 10 am and continued until noon or 1 pm, with the plant swap at noon. The person who does the rain barrel presentation is already committed for this year, but she has us on the list for next year. Mrs. Hayden spoke about contact she has had with new residents at Arcona. She suggested that since they have very small patios and yards it might be nice to do a small space vegetable gardening or container gardening class. Ms. Parry said the master gardener did that in the past. Mrs. Hayden will also try to reach the master gardener and possibly reach out to Greg Black. Mrs. Davis is willing to do another presentation on MS4 since the fee will be getting collected by then. Ms. Parry also suggested the Central PA Garden Club which runs the garden at Ames True Temper. They could possibly speak on vegetable garden basics. Mr. Grove spoke about the Appalachian Trail store in Boiling Springs having someone who might be willing to speak on foraging. He will check into that. The event can be advertised in the Township newsletter and using social media.

NEW BUSINESS 

Mr. Angelo provided an update on the Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee. There has only been one meeting due to inclement weather causing the second meeting in February to be cancelled. He stated that the committee covered where money has been spent in the past for pedestrian and bike paths. They learned about studies that were done in the past and the results from the most recent resident survey. Mr. Angelo stated that the committee is made up of a diverse group of people including runners, bikers, as well as members of the police force and school district. Dan Flint and Erin Trone lead the committee. It is up to the committee to decide what to do and how to allocate the money. Mr. Angelo said that the committee meets monthly on the third Wednesday of the month and should go for a year. Ms. Parry requested that paths be made with permeable materials. Mr. Mahon suggested using the Parks and Recreation meeting as a public forum for one of the Ped/Bike Committee meetings.

ADJOURN 

The Regular Meeting of the Recreation and Parks Board adjourned at 7:37 pm.

Next meeting is Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 7:00 pm.