MINUTES

RECREATION AND PARKS BOARD:                           LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP

 REGULAR MEETING:                                                      MARCH 24, 2021

 The following were in ATTENDANCE:

 BOARD MEMBERS:                                                          TOWNSHIP PERSONNEL:

Greg Mahon                                                                            Thomas Vernau, Jr., Township Manager

Susan Parry                                                                             Tom Stambaugh, Public Works Superintendent

Richard Grove                                                                        Tina Thomas, Recording Secretary

Robert Pelles                                                                           Heather Douden, Adm Asst/Event Planner

Scot Duncanson

Allison Hanna                                                

 

Mr. Mahon called the March 24, 2021 Zoom Meeting of the Recreation and Parks Board to order at 7:03 pm. The meeting was hosted by Township Manager Tom Vernau. Mr. Vernau introduced Heather Douden, the new Public Works Administrative Assistant and Event Planner to the Board. Park and Recreation board members introduced themselves and Ms. Douden said that she is looking forward to working with their events and the people of Lower Allen Township.  Jim Kaiser was absent with excuse.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mr. GROVE moved to approve the minutes from the February 24, 2021 meeting.  Mr. PELLES seconded the motion.  Motion carried 6-0.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

Highland Estates

Mr. Stambaugh said that normal spring maintenance is going on along with mulching and wood carpet being placed underneath the play equipment.

 

LIASON REPORT – COMMISSIONER HOLTZMAN

Commissioner Holtzman is absent from the meeting. Mr. Vernau said that the Board of Commissioners is aware that the Easter Egg Hunt has been canceled, and they think that having the Gardeners Gathering in the fall is an interesting idea.

 

RECREATION AND PARKS STAFF REPORT

Mr. Stambaugh provided the following Parks operations staff update.  Mr. Mahon said that he is always impressed with the conditions of the Township parks during the park tours. Mr. Stambaugh responded that staff works hard to keep up the parks:

• Crews are finishing up winter maintenance on the park equipment such as painting and repairing equipment.
• At LACP, new bathroom partitions have been installed in the women’s bathroom on the lower level.
• Three trees have fallen at LACP and have had to be cleaned up.
• Volleyball and tennis nets are going up soon.
• At Pete’s Field, damage from last year’s car crash has been repaired. There is a new fence, backstop, and new aluminum bleachers at the park. Mr. Stambaugh hopes that more of the old bleachers can be replaced with the new aluminum ones.

Mr. Duncanson asked about the Fun Fort project and Mr. Stambaugh said that staff completed demolition at the beginning of March on the section being replaced. Kinsley Construction was awarded the contract for rebuilding and they have set posts and are preparing building materials. The estimated project completion date is early June. Mr. Mahon suggested a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Commissioners.

• Ballfield maintenance has begun with Trinity baseball and softball teams already practicing at Yetter Field.
• At LACP, the water test has passed for the concessions and restrooms, and these should be open Monday.
• Stambaugh spoke about the wooden steps having to be removed from Chianos Field to the lower parking lot due to rotten wood. He asked Mr. Vernau if these were planned to be replaced and he said it is not a priority at this time due to increased lumber prices. Mr. Vernau added that the original steps had been a Scout project and a replacement could be as well if there is a Scouting group interested in this type of project.
• Parry thanked Mr. Stambaugh for all the work that his department does for the parks.
• Mahon asked about the pickle ball courts at Wass Park and Mr. Vernau said that they are working on it. He added that the guys interested in creating the Disc Golf course at LACP are busy currently with other things but still interested in pursuing the course.
• Mahon asked about repair of the slide at Allendale Park and Mr. Stambaugh said that the new slide has arrived, and they will get it up soon, weather permitting.

 

ACTIVITIES REPORT

Mr. Vernau provided the following Activities update for the meeting: 

• One new reservation has come in since the last meeting. West Shore Rec Commission has reserved the tennis courts for July 5-9^th for a tennis class.
• Reservations are being accepted but the state guidelines of 25% capacity indoors and 50% capacity outdoors, as well as social distancing, still applies. Ms. Douden added that a lot of calls have come in for information on facilities and Mr. Stambaugh said he has seen some pavilion rentals come in.

 

OLD BUSINESS

Gardeners Gathering:  

Mr. Vernau said that he has spoken with the beekeeper and he is willing to make a presentation at the Gardeners Gathering regarding his bee recovery boxes. Mr. Mahon suggested looking for someone to talk about wintering for gardens and grass, and possibly pruning since it will be fall. Ms. Parry will reach out to the Master Gardeners to see if someone there could speak to the group. The plant swap is being considered although it will not be the best time for transplanting. Before setting a date, it was decided to have Ms. Douden check the LACP schedule for the fall to avoid scheduling Gardeners Gathering when a large event is taking place there.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Neighborhood Park Events:

Mr. Vernau spoke about the idea of holding an event in some of the small pocket parks of the Township. He suggested cooking hotdogs or bringing in pizza as well as a fire truck to bring out neighbors. This would provide the opportunity to ask residents what they would like to see in their parks as well as recruit some volunteers for future activities. He said no dates have been set due to COVID. Members of the Rec Board indicated their interest in participating in this. Ms. Hanna suggested having food trucks present as they usually draw a crowd, and the Board was in favor of this.

 

Other

Mr. Vernau said that he and Mrs. Paul are interviewing candidates for the Recording Secretary position and hope to have a replacement soon. Mr. Mahon asked the Board members’ feelings about meeting in person next month. They were in favor of meeting in person for the April Recreation and Parks meeting.

 

ADJOURN

The Regular Meeting of the Recreation and Parks Board adjourned at 7:51 pm.

The next meeting will be Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 7:00 pm.