Park and Recreation Commission
Minutes of the Meeting
October 12th, 2011
Meeting called to order: 7:35pm.
Commissioners in Attendance: Al Larson, Rob O’Connor, Dan Rezende, Andy Paterna, Dave Romejko, George Caye, Craig Zimmerman, John Caldwell and Ray Favreau
Also in Attendance: Mayor John Pelkey
Approval of Minutes: September Minutes Approved.
Public Input: George Caye was representing SWLL. He passed out an information sheet on the improvements being done to the SW Little League Complex this fall. A new covered batting cage is being installed this month. The cost will be around $29,000. New fencing is being installed or replaced throughout the complex. The cost will be around $30,000. Little League is asking that PARC money be used to improve the irrigation system on Duprey Field and the Pepin Field. The cost is around $20,000. It was mentioned that there have been complaints of the lights on Pepin Field being on past midnight. Regulations state that the lights can’t be on past 9:30. Ray will look into getting a timer for an automatic shut off for the system.
Report of Council Liaison: Mayor Pelkey gave us an update on the Indoor Batting Facility at Nevers Park. The indoor lights are in. Plywood for the inside is being delivered this weekend. They are trying to decide on insulation. The cost to insulate the building will be around $25,000. Also looking into heating the building for use in the winter months. Ticket Network has donated $10,000 toward the facility. John has a excel spreadsheet set up for the upcoming work on the building.
OSTF: No new properties to review at this time. Jeff Folger is working to complete a new map of all the open space in South Windsor. To go along with the map is a detailed binder of each piece of open space with full descriptions of the open space parcel (how obtained, uses, etc.).
Report of Parks & Rec. Director:
- Community Center: The handicap ramp area is being rebuilt to have covered stairs at the door and a new access ramp. The new ramp will be double in width and go in only one direction instead of the current switch-back design. The area will be closed for about a month this fall.
- Lawrence Road Park: Parks crew will be clearing more of the trail system in the park according to the Master Plan as time permits between fall clean-up and winter storms.
- Ray distributed a handout of smaller tennis courts to promote youth tennis – “Quick Start” program as developed by USTA. He is looking into possibly changing the Rye Street Park courts into dual purpose 4 youth courts overlapping regulation tennis. This will be discussed at a future meeting. USTA may provide some financial assistance.
- Little League Complex: John Caldwell will suggest to LL to replace the fabric (fencing) on the Pepin Dugouts. They are completing work on the field. There will be no grass behind home plate and they widened the warning track area. They would also like the new batting facility to be painted.
- Bark Park: Still in litigation.
- Rotary Pavilion: The Rotary Club is going to install retractable walls on the open areas of the pavilion facing the southwest side. They will roll down from the ceiling. There will be three sections with the middle one having Plexiglas. Rotary is also looking into improving the lighting inside the Pavilion. Cost of the project is around $22,000 and will be cost-shared with the Parks & Recreation Dept.
- Wapping Park: A Scout is working for an Eagle Badge building a 600 foot portion of a connecting trail from Jacques Lane to the Park, including a footbridge to span the brook.
- Town Council has approved the placement of AED’s at all the town parks. They will be placed at the LL Shack, Rotary Press Box and the Rotary Pavilion. Still trying to work out exact placement for the best access to the AED’s.
- High School All Purpose Field: Having major drainage issues. After rain the field is unplayable for up to four days. Multiple de-thatching and aeration efforts, Turf Links has done an aggressive Verti-Quake Deep Rotary Aeration to try and get the water to drain from the surface resulting in limited success however. John is working with Dr. Dest from UConn to troubleshoot, test and hopefully remedy this disappointing development which far too frequently renders the fields unplayable.
SWW&WW:
- Currently rearranging their Action Plan (implementation of the Master Plan).
- Share the Road Signs: Working with the SWPD to try and install 20 Share the Road Signs throughout town. They would use some PARC money for the project. This is from the feedback received from the American League of Bicyclists to improve our bike friendly status.
- SWW&WW would like the Board of Education to implement the 4th grade Bike Program at the elementary schools in the South Windsor PE 4th Grade curriculum as a permanent yearly program.
- Sidewalk Plan: Rob has drafted a letter for the Town Council per their request for a sidewalk policy for South Windsor. SWW&WW would like the town to adopt the national recognized “Complete Streets Program”.
- Scantic River Greenway: The 2011 recognition ceremony will be held on Friday October 21st 2011 in Andover. More details to follow.
PARC 10 Year Master Plan: The plan was reviewed and changes were made. Ray will make changes and bring this to the next meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 10:20 pm
Next Meeting: 7:30pm November 9th, 2011
Respectfully Submitted
George S. Caye
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