PARK AND RECREATION BOARD
NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP
MINUTES OF JANUARY 14, 2002
Approval of Minutes: Mrs. Sutton noted that her name was omitted from the attendance of January 14, 2002 minutes. Mrs. Sutton moved to accept the minutes as corrected. Mrs. Kelly seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
The Newtown Township Park and
Recreation Board held its' first meeting on January 14, 2002. In attendance and
voting were: Joel Grosso, Kathy Kelly, Andy Levine, Buck O'Neill,
Russell G. Strover, Anna Marie Zambriscki. Also in attendance were Richard
Weaver, Supervisor, and Bill Wert, Park and Recreation Director.
Mr. Levine, acting as Chairman, called the meeting to order at 8:10 PM.
Mr. Wert suggested that the
agenda be changed in order to organize the newly formed Board, and to hear the
presentations of the Law School Admissions Council first.
Mr. Levine moved to appoint
Mr. Bernard Bires as Chairman. Mrs. Kelly seconded and the motion passed
unanimously.
Mrs. Sutton moved to appoint
Mr. Levine as Vice-Chairman. Mrs. Zambriscki seconded and the motion passed
unanimously.
New Business
Law School Admissions Council
(LSAC) Preliminary Plan
Mr. Don Marshall represented LSAC in this matter. Mr. Marshall presented the plan to the board. He stated that LSAC wished to erect a new building on Penn Street, directly opposite their current headquarters. The new building would be larger to allow for on site storage of the Law School Admissions Test, as well as to expand the current overcrowded offices. The plans did not allow for open space suitable for Township use. The building will be in the industrial area of the Township. Mr. Marshall further explained that the land is currently a cornfield.
Mr. Marshall estimated that,
because the new building will be 85,000 square feet, with 13,000 dedicated to
warehousing, the fee in lieu of open space would be between $90,000.00 and
$100,000.00.
Mr. Wert confirmed that the fee
in lieu of open space had not changed with the new year and remains at $1291.00
per 1000 square feet of non-residential space.
Mrs. Sutton explained that the
Park and Recreation Board, as the Park and Open Space Committee had in the
past, should vote to make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors on
whether to accept land or a fee in lieu of open space.
Mrs. Sutton moved to accept a
fee in lieu of open space. Mrs. Kelly seconded and the motion passed
unanimously.
Boyce Associates
Mr. Michael Wiley of Boyce
Associates, representing the Little Tykes brand playground equipment, was
introduced.
Mr. Wiley stated that he had used
the "Considerations for Playground Equipment for Roberts Ridge Park"
provided by the Park and Open Space Committee to prepare plans for a proposed
playground using Little Tykes equipment. He also shared two plans he had drawn
up in 1998 for the same park.
Mr. Wert explained to the Board
that the Park and Open Space Committee had been given a budget of $125,000.00
for use in Roberts Ridge Park. They had asked for proposals from Boyce and
Landscape Structures using budgets of the full $125,000.00 and for $63,000.00.
The committee had not decided whether to use the entire budget on playground
equipment or to split the budget with a possible band shell/gazebo.
Mr. Wiley stated that he had used
the lower figure only when preparing his plan, assuming that more equipment
could easily be added, either this year or in the future. His plan calls for
two play areas, one for 2-5 year olds and a larger area for 5-12 year olds. The
plan, and all Boyce Little Tykes playgrounds are available under State
Contracts. The estimated cost for the equipment in the plan is about
$43,730.00. This does not include site preparation, ground cover and
installation. The plan does not provide for "passive seating".
Mr. Wiley explained that the
biggest consideration in planning the playground is the Safety Surface. There
are three choices available; loose, such as mulch; poured in place surface; and
tile.
Mulch is installed 12 inches
deep. The area is dug and leveled, stone added , then a ground mesh to prevent
weed growth, then the 12 inches of mulch. The mulch needs to be replenished
every two years. If the play area is surrounded by edger's the mulch usually
stays in place and drainage is not a problem. It is ground hardwood and meets
ADA requirements. The mulch for a playground 86'X72' will cost about $4575.00
delivered. This does not include site preparation. 95% of playgrounds use
mulch.
Mr. Wiley stated that poured in
place surfaces are more expensive, usually running about $8.00 a square foot.
The rubbery surface is poured over concrete. It is very bouncy, with different
thicknesses in the high impact areas such as under swings and at the bottoms of
slides. It is good for about 5 years. It meets ADA requirements. Over time, as it
wears, children can peel the surface away from the cement. The price does not
include the site preparation.
Mr. Wiley stated that he prefers
the tile safety surface. It is the most expensive, running about $35,000.00 for
an 86'X72' playground. The tiles are very durable, can easily be individually
replaced, and provide a very soft, bouncy surface. They also meet ADA
requirements. It is not under State Contract.
Mrs. Sutton asked about a mulch
like ground cover made of old tires. Mr. Wiley stated that it is not widely
used in this area. The downsides are that it is flammable, and that it can be
very dirty. It does not have ADA approval.
Mr. Levine questioned whether the
proposed ground covers and equipment were wheelchair accessible.
Mr. Wiley explained that the ADA
does not require that the entire playground be wheelchair accessible, but that
it provide ramps and "transfer stations". There are areas on the
playground that can be used by wheelchair bound children, and the playground itself is wheelchair
accessible, however the entire structure is not. There are areas for play
within the structure that a disabled child can enjoy.
Mr. Wiley again stated that
his $43,730.00 estimate included the
equipment and border panels. It does not include installation and safety
surface.
Mr. Wiley stated that when a
playground is "community built" the manufacturer will provide a site
coordinator to supervise the installation. The installation is very difficult
work and the site coordinator reads the plans and checks all the equipment
after installation. When a site coordinator is used, the manufacturer assumes
liability for the equipment. Installation by the manufacturer is calculated at
30% of the equipment price.
Mr. Wiley provided catalogs for
the Board. He said that each playground is originally designed, so that when
children visit them they do not see the same one twice.
Mr. Levine asked how far the Park
and Open Space Committee had gotten in their planning for the playground.
Mrs. Sutton said that the committee had chosen a site for the playground in the middle of Roberts Ridge Park, near the one large tree. It is a short walk from the parking lot, is not close to the street, and is a short walk to the are set aside for the proposed gazebo. The site chosen does allow room for expansion in the future.
The committee had also decided
that they preferred the equipment be of natural colors, and be made of
synthetic material. The features of the play events had also been chosen, but
not the specific equipment. They had spoken to a representative of Doylestown
Park and Recreation who told them that wooden playground are very difficult to
maintain; that the bolts loosen; that they splinter and fade. They are also
flammable; the playground in Morrisville has been burned down.
The committee asked Landscape Structures to prepare two proposals, one for the full $125,000.00, one for $63,000.00, in order to compare. They had not made a decision yet as to whether they would spend the entire budget on the playground.
Mr. Wert explained that the
$125,000.00 for equipment is the 2001 budget.
A playground and a gazebo/gazebo had been suggested uses for the money.
Mr. Wert had gotten a ballpark
estimate for bringing electricity to the park, which would be needed for a gazebo.
He has been told that bringing electricity adequate for a band shell and future
restrooms would be about $40,000.00. This information has been forwarded to the
Township Manager.
Mr. Wert explained that the
design for the Gazebo that the Park and Open Space committee preferred was
$23,000.00. This did not include site preparation, installation or electricity.
Mr. O'Neill suggested that the
Board should consider a community built playground. He felt that he could
assemble a committee of volunteers with construction experience, and that a
community built playground would be a source of pride.
Mr. Wert stated that he would telephone Mr. Helmuth of Landscape Structures, Inc., and invite him to present at the February 6, 2002 Board meeting. Mr. Helmuth should present two plans, and the Board would have a better basis for comparison in trying to decide between using the full budget or half on playground equipment.
Mr. Levine suggested that after
the next meeting a sub-committee be formed to make recommendations to the board
on the choices to be made.
Liaison Reports
Shade Tree Commission
Mrs. Sutton reported that she had
received a donation from Frost Watson of 20 cut pieces of pressure treated wood
to be used as identification markers for the trees in Roberts Ridge Park. There
had been a miscommunication with Frost Watson as to the number of markers
needed. Mrs. Sutton will contact Home Depot for the remainder of needed
markers.
Mr. Strover reported that he is
working on the verbiage for the plaques to be placed on the markers.
Mr. Strover had also planned for
a grove of lindens to be planted on the hill leading down to the area for the
proposed gazebo.
Supervisors Report
Mr. Weaver reported that the Supervisors had joined the Park and Recreation Committee and the Park and Open Space Committee into one Park and Recreation Board in order for them to work together to enact the Comprehensive Plan for Parks.
Park and Recreation Director's
Report
Mr. Wert provided the Board with
copies of the 2001 Recreation Performance Review and Newtown Township Park
& Recreation YTD Division Performance. These have not yet been audited,
however they show that the Division is 85% self sufficient.
The winter brochure has been
mailed and the Division has already had $41,000.00 on enrollment fees.
New Business
Mr. Weaver stated that four
developers were scheduled to present preliminary or sketch plans at the
February 6, 2002 meeting.
Mr. Wert said that if the Board
decided on playground equipment, that he hoped it could be installed this
coming spring.
Approval of Minutes
Mrs. Sutton moved to accept
the minutes of the Park and Open Space Committee of November 26, 2001. Mr. Strover seconded. The motion carried
with a vote of 2-0, with Mr. Grosso, Mrs. Kelly, Mr. Levine, Mr. O'Neill and
Mrs. Zambriscki abstaining.
Adjournment
Mrs. Sutton moved to adjourn
the meeting at 10:00PM. Mrs. Kelly seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted
__________________
Mary Donaldson
Recording Secretary