MINUTES

RECREATION AND PARKS BOARD:	LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP
REGULAR MEETING	October 25, 2023
The following were in ATTENDANCE:
BOARD MEMBERS	TOWNSHIP PEPRSONNEL
Greg Mahon, Chair	Helen Grundon, Administrative Assistant
Robert Pelles	Tom Stambaugh
Rick Grove	Renee’ Greenawalt, Recording Secretary
Megan Klenzing
James Kaiser
Susan Parry

Mr. Mahon called the October 25, 2023 Regular Meeting of the Lower Allen Township Recreation and Parks Board to order at 7:00 pm.

APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES
Mr. Grove motioned to approve the minutes from the September 29, 2023 Regular Meeting. Ms. Klenzing seconded. The motion carried 6 -0.

PUBLIC COMMENT – Beacon Hill Park
Mr. Kaiser noted he lives near the park and has not heard about any issues. Ms. Grundon also announced that the Township had been awarded a grant in the amount of $138,200 from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program administered by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for development of the Beacon Hill Radar Site Park. Mr. Grove also noted there was $600,000 in the budget for Phase I of the project.

Liaison Report
Commissioner Nagy noted that the Parks and Recreation budget would be presented to the Board of Commissioners on October 30^th. He also thanked the staff and volunteers for a successful Yappy Hour event.

TOWNSHIP STAFF REPORT
Ms. Grundon presented the Recreation and Parks Staff Report. She noted that trash collection, mowing, and maintenance is ongoing in all the neighborhood pocket parks. Staff sanded and sealed the bathroom and concession stand floors at LACP. New landscaping was installed and the area around the concession stand was graded and seeded. They are just waiting on a new railing. Tree trimming was completed, and dugouts were painted at Wass Park. Photos of the work completed at the LACP concession stand and the new dugouts at Wass Park were shown. Ms. Grundon also reported that staff prepared an area for seeding pollinator gardens at Yellow Breeches Park and Cedar Spring Run Park.

OLD BUSINESS
Ms. Grundon provided an update on the United Cerebral Palsy 70^th Anniversary Dedication project. Township staff will take the lead in bench placement or tree planting at Lower Allen Community Park. A recommendation is requested as to which and then a letter of support will be provided to the Board of Commissioners. Members suggested that a bench would be appropriate for placement along the trail perhaps midway.

Ms. Klenzing offered a motion to recommend a bench for the project. The motion was seconded by Ms. Parry and passed 6-0.

Ms. Grundon noted she would draft a letter on behalf of the Recreation and Parks Board to recommend a bench.

NEW BUSINESS
Beacon Hill Radar Site Grant/Award – members discussed the components of what was included in Phase I of the project. It includes an open lawn area with native meadows installed along Beacon Hill Road, as well as an ADA accessible parking area. Phase II will include a playground, aggregated trail, and a pavilion. Work will likely begin in early spring.

Next, members discussed the tennis courts at Pete’s Field. Since the tennis courts are not used very much, staff suggested the idea of selling the area to the Pizza Grille at fair market value. Mr. Mahon stated that there had been prior discussions about the possibility of adding pickle ball in that location. The area would only provide enough space for possibly eight parking spaces. Mr. Grove expressed he was not in favor of giving up park land. Mr. Mahon agreed and noted he recognized the parking challenges but would prefer to see the location considered for pickle ball retained by the Township. Ms. Grundon also noted the discussion that had occurred during the summer park tours about looking into having a plan developed for Pete’s Field.

Ms. Grundon announced a Fall Park Clean Up organized by Barbara Arnold to be held at Wass Park on November 21^st from 9-11 am. Gloves, trash bags and safety vests will be provided, and volunteers will receive an environmentally friendly prize pack. The event is being funded by a “Keep PA Beautiful” grant. Participants will register online.

Lastly, a Holiday Market is planned for November 4^th from 1-3 PM at Highland Estates Park, hosted by the Highland Estates Growers and Makers Market.

Mr. Mahon also noted the $10,000 donation from Energy Transfer to the West Shore Historical Society for the Sheepford Road Bridge.

Lastly, Mr. Pelles announced that his appointment would expire this year and that he would not be seeking reappointment after serving for the past twenty years.

ADJOURN:
The Regular Meeting of the Recreation and Parks Board was adjourned at 7:41 PM. The next meeting will be November 15, 2023 at 7:31PM.