PARK
AND RECREATION BOARD
NEWTOWN
TOWNSHIP
MINUTES OF MARCH 5, 2003
Approval of the Minutes: Mr. Ott noted that page three, paragraph two, should read, "that the Board of Supervisors could offer some help and advice on road access because of their ongoing relationship with the Council Rock School District".
The Newtown Township Park and
Recreation Board met on Wednesday, March 5, 2003. In attendance and voting were
Bernard Bires, Chairman; Andrew Levine, Vice-Chairman; Michael Clancy, Joel
Grosso, Kathy Kelly, Buck O'Neill and Susan Sutton, members. Also in attendance
were Scott Harp, Supervisor, and Jim Ott, Planning Commission Liaison.
Call to Order
Mr. Bires called the meeting to order at 7:30PM.
Approval of Minutes
Mrs. Kelly moved to approve
the minutes of February 5, 2003. Mrs. Sutton seconded and the motion passed
7-0.
New Business
Mr. Jerry Higgins and Mr. Ed Banta, Architects, presented a plan for an expansion of the Newtown Athletic and Aquatic Club pool area. Mr. Eric Chernikovich, club Manager, and Ms. Danielle Allen, Aquatics Director were also in attendance.
Mr. Higgins explained that the pool area at the club currently provides all aquatic programs, including therapeutic exercise, lap swimming, swim lessons and recreation. The plan calls for a 60 by 217 foot addition to the pool area, which will replace an existing patio. The addition will be two stories high and consist of a recreation pool with water slides and sprinkling umbrellas, and an instruction pool with different levels of depth, On the second level will be party rooms, a high intensity exercise area, and a sprint track. The club's goal is to separate the recreational and instructional uses from the therapeutic uses. The entrance to the club will remain the same. The plan calls for loss of 24 parking spaces, to be replaced by 71 new spaces for a total gain of 47 parking spaces. At its highest point the addition will be 45 feet high. A sketch plan for the project has been submitted to the Planning Commission, to be reviewed at their March 18, 2003 meeting.
Mrs. Sutton moved to recommend
that the Board of Supervisors accept a fee in lieu of open space for this
project. Mrs. Kelly seconded and the motion passed 7-0.
Old Business
Shade Tree Commission
Mrs. Sutton reported that she is
working with Newtown Borough on the Arbor Day celebration at Linton Park. She
said that some Cub Scouts would be planting trees in Roberts Ridge Park before
the celebration. Mrs. Sutton asked that members of the Park and Recreation
Board volunteer to help with the celebration, as they have done in the past.
She said that in the future, the celebration would alternate between a Borough
park and a Township park.
Silver Lake Park Sub-Committee
Mrs. Kelly reported that Mr. Wert
is accepting Master Plan RFP's until March 7. He will review the plans with the
Silver Lake Sub-Committee, and will present them to the Park and Recreation
Board at the April meeting.
Mr. Levine and Mrs. Sutton said
that they have been approached by concerned community members about possibly
re-foresting the park. Mr. Levine said that he had discussed this with people
at the County Park and Recreation Department, and understands that this would
require a great deal of work and maintenance. Mrs. Sutton said that she had
gotten similar information from Mr. Strover.
The Board agreed that it would be
better to discuss this suggestion when Mr. Wert is present at the meeting.
Roberts Ridge Sub-Committee
Mr. Levine said that he had
contacted both the County and the DCNR about possible grants for a handicapped
accessible apparatus. He is also continuing to work with Mr. Salvatore of
Newtown Rotary on private funding for the equipment. He said that the equipment
specifically designed for the enjoyment of children using wheelchairs is much
more expensive than the playground equipment recently purchased for Roberts
Ridge Park.
Active Recreation
Sub-Committee
Mr. Grosso said that he had
obtained a Master Plan for the Wohl Tract, which shows baseball/softball fields,
soccer and La Crosse fields and a sand volleyball pit. He said that the
sub-committee would like to make a presentation at the next meeting. They
wanted to re-examine the current and projected community needs, as well as the
growth in popularity in certain sports.
Mr. Clancy said that access to
the property is a problem. Access from 413 will require major roadwork. He said
that they would like to examine other possible access points on Wrights Road
and Eagle Road.
Mr. Ott said that the Planning
Commission could offer some help and advice on road access problems.
Skate Park Sub-Committee
Mr. O'Neill reported that he had
visited the new skate park in Langhorne. He said that all of the equipment is
movable. He said that if Newtown were to purchase similar equipment, it could
be placed at a temporary location, pending future park expansions. He said that
it could not be put at the Wohl Tract until the infrastructure of roads and
parking had been complete.
Mr. Bires suggested that perhaps
the Sub-Committee could look at one of the basketball courts at Helen Randle
Park. He said that Mr. Weaver had done some research on this.
Mr. O'Neill said that he wanted
to look into the availability of some open properties close to Village at
Newtown, and he wanted to speak to Mr. Harwood in the Codes Department. He
would have a more detailed report at the April meeting.
Liaison Reports
Planning Commission
Mr. Ott reported that the
Planning Commission had cancelled its last meeting.
Board of Supervisors
Mr. Harp reported that the First
Fourth celebration would be on July 5, 2003, and he hoped that Park and Rec
Board members would help again this year.
Park and Recreation Director's
Report
Mr. Bires provided copies of Mr.
Wert's report. He noted that participation and revenue for Park and Recreation
programs continued to increase.
Mr. Harp said that Mr. Wert had
been meeting with the Council Rock North Athletic Director about sharing some
of the Township ball fields for spring High School sports. Mr. Wert would like
to help the high school, and hopes that the relationship can be mutually
beneficial. Mr. Harp noted that in the past the High School has been generous
with sharing space for First Fourth and First Night, and with some Park and
Recreation Programs.
Member Comments
Mr. Bires suggested that the
Little League and the Rock Softball be added to the November agenda. He said
that he would ask their representatives to present written requests to the
Board, so that the Board could make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors
before the new budget is finalized.
Mr. O'Neill said that he would be
talking to Mr. Wert about closing the one field at Helen Randle Park that needs
to be reseeded.
Mrs. Sutton said that she had
heard a lot of complaints about parking along Lower Dolington Road near Roberts
Ridge Park, and asked Mr. Harp if the Township Traffic Engineer would be
evaluating the situation. Mr. Harp said that it was being looked at, as was the
handicapped parking at the playground and at the location for a proposed
gazebo.
Mr. Levine said that he had been
talking to some residents who were interested in a community garden at Roberts
Ridge. He also suggested that the Board might want to plan a small "kite
day" celebration at the park in the spring.
Mr. Grosso said that he thought
that the Roberts Ridge Sub-Committee should look into adding a picnic pavilion
at Roberts Ridge Park, near the playground. He said that the plans call for
some tables to be installed as soon as the weather improves, but he said that
the park is very hot and sunny. He thought that a pavilion could provide a
shaded area for parents to sit with infants while older children use the
playground. He said that many people would use a pavilion near the playground
every day. Mr. Bires agreed that this should be considered before a final
decision is made about a gazebo/band shell.
Mr. Levine moved to adjourn at 9:00PM. Mr. Clancy seconded and the motion passed 7-0.
Respectfully Submitted
______________________________
Mary Donaldson, Recording Secretary