HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-12-11 Recreation Committee MinutesFAX: (781) 942 - 5441
Town of Reading
16 Lowell Street
Reading, MA 01867 -2685
RECREATION DIVISION: (781) 942 - 9075
READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES
December 11, 2012 TOWN HALL — CONFERENCE ROOM
Attendance: Eric Hughes, Rec Committee Chair, Mike DiPietro, Rec. Committee Member, Richard
Hand, Recreation Committee Member, Frank Driscoll, Recreation Committee Member, Kate
Kaminer, Rec. Committee, Nancy -Linn Swain, Rec. Committee Member, Adam Chase, Rec.
Committee Member, Mary Ellen Stolecki, Rec. Committee Member, Karen Janowski, School
Committee Liaison, Joe Rossetti, Associate Member, John Feudo, Recreation Administrator, Jenna
Fiorente, Recreation Program Coordinator
Guests: Brad Fuller, Sandy Lethin, Pat Lucy, Dick Lucy, Joe Kehoe, Demitri Tseckae, Jeff Jadul,
Ed Hackett, Gary Juffre, Priscilla Squires, Leslie McGonagle, George Katsoufis, Lisa Egan, Dave
Walsh, Casey Prescott, Rich Abraham, Jodi Cirrone, Pina Rizza, Michelle Ferullo, Laura O'Neil,
James Bonazoli, Cheryl Mooney
E. Hughes called the meeting to order at 7:06 PM.
J. Feudo had both the Recreation Committee and the Sturges Park Committee introduce them.
Eric Hughes, Reading Recreation, opened the public hearing and read the hearing notice.
• J. Feudo provided an overview of the project
— Concept plan, draft design, looking for community feedback
— Improvements will happen according to Town approval, funds, etc.
— Playground already in capital plan ... to be done in 2013
— 60+ survey respondents
— Get skating area to be dual purpose (J. Feudo, G. Katsoufis, D. Walsh)
• Fill in rectangle (2:1 replacement for wetlands removal)
• Add extra parking — —28 spaces
• Basketball and tennis court updates and access improvement
• Fields
• Walking trails
• Playground is currently 6 feet from street ... to be moved in, fenced, benches, tables
• D. Walsh: Park has good bones.
— Raise wet area of hockey area, and move wetlands to another part of park
— Improve overall use of park
READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES December 11, 2012 Con't
• J. Feudo: upgrade lighting, get rid of wires, add benches...
• L. McGonagle orchestrated feedback session for public input from Recreation Committee and
residents
— Brad (Walnut Street neighbor): Who will be responsible for maintaining the park?
• Confirmed that the DPW would continue to maintain the park. Discussion of
overgrown walking trail, creek full of debris, thoughts of creating projects for Eagle
Scouts (e.g. clean-up; build bridges).
• Brad asked how moving the wetlands would affect the water table. G. Katsoufis
answered that the 2:1 ratio would create even more water retention with no adverse
effects to the water table. More water would be stored.
— Nancy Swain: What are the boundaries? J. Feudo showed with pointer on map.
— Cheryl Mooney: Lives across from playground: Concerned about noise from additional field
(hockey area) and additional parking.
o Explained that the field was not regulation size, and wouldn't draw additional traffic.
Players are young, with no older youth sports. Since playground will be pushed in, so
will the parking spaces. Should not negatively impact the area.
— Demetria Tseckae (Oak Street): Expressed interest in wetland movement, plans to garden,
recognizes it as a vibrant part of the park. Current state is nasty.
— Mike DiPietro: Interested in survey results and top -line viewpoint from neighbors: Skating
areas, standing water, mosquitos, etc.
— Brad Fuller: Asked if there would still be two separate skating areas.
o Yes, hockey and free skate.
o G. Katsoufis clarified: Likely that one of the two triangles will be lost to wetlands (and
not dedicated to freestyle skating). The other will be fully functional. Suggestions
welcome as to which triangle should be lost.
— Mary Ellen Stolecki: Concern regarding dog feces throughout the year. J. Feudo answered
that it's not Sturges- centric, but community -wide.
— G. Katsoufis: Discussion of creating an Awareness Trail — add signs to raise awareness of
environment, and heighten conscientiousness of caring for the surroundings.
— Resident: How will park be paid for?
o Town allocated $45K for playground portion. Need to fund raise. Looked into
corporate sponsors? In Memory Of benches. Current committee isn't in charge of
fundraising. That will be another committee. Monies can come from a variety of
places
— J. Feudo: James Bonazoli introduction. Master plan has to be approved by the Board of
Selectmen. This is park #6. Leverage for capital, plus go to state and federal. BOS has a
donor list, and point toward town's projects
— Cheryl Mooney: Likes the idea of the walking trail — small project that doesn't cost a lot of
money
— Resident: Playground to have same surface as Joshua Eaton? To be evaluated.
— Casey Prescott (Pine Ridge Road): Why downsize the basketball court?
o Current one is oversized. Proposed court will still have two hoops, similar in size to
Memorial Park.
READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES December 11, 2012 Con't
— Adam Chase: How many tennis courts?
o One. New tennis court cost is —$50K
— J. Feudo: Timeline discussion: Money approved for playground. Equipment still needs to
be selected. Playground should be installed in Spring 2013. Hard to predict timing of the
rest of the project. A lot of determining factors.
— G. Katsoufis: Asking for public input on priorities of upcoming phases, e.g.:
o Hockey /wetland areas, drainage improvements
o Trail
o Re -do courts and parking
— Rich A.: What determines wetlands, since some areas weren't wetlands when he moved to
the neighborhood 20 years ago.
o Explanation of laws surrounding wetlands.
— Resident: Curious how expensive it would be to maintain the skating areas.
o DPW takes care of this
— Nancy Swain: Concern for spending time clearing the trail area, then have it get overgrown
in a year or two. How can this be avoided.
o J. Bonazoli: Trails committee (girl scouts and other groups) eager to maintain trails.
Very interested in people taking advantage of natural areas in town, especially since
there aren't too many in this section of Reading.
— Nancy Swain: Worked on Washington Park improvements. Suggestion to organize abutters
for neighborhood clean-up. Annual cookout?
— Brad Fuller: What's the location of the bridge near Walnut/South
o Location to be determined. Purpose is to be able to cross the stream. Location on plan
is for concept only.
— J. Feudo: Thoughts of using reclaimed asphalt for walking trail.
— J. Bonazoli: Current committee in existence until February 28.
— J. Feudo: Order playground in March?
• L. McGonagle thanked the group for coming.
N. Swain made a motion to close the public hearing. M. Stolecki second. Motion passed in favor
of closing the hearing by a vote of 8 -0 -0.
The Committee took a 5 Minute recess.
K. Janowski exited the meeting at 8:12 PM.
J. Feudo introduced Andrew Fotino from the Reading Youth Baseball organization. Mr. Fotino was
presenting a concept of adding bleacher benches to the existing risers at the Joshua Eaton School
field (see attached). He stated the field has become more prominent because of the work and funds
they organization has sunk into it. Therefore, they would like to make seating more user friendly.
The plan is to have to benches, every other step with room down the middle as an aisle. They
would also pour a pad at the top with a railing to comply with the ADA standards. This would all
be done at the cost of Reading Youth Baseball.
READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES December 11, 2012 Con't
K. Kaminer asked if the group had sought out the schools input. They had not.
The Recreation Committee overall seemed to have reservations about the concept. The bleachers
are not included in the master plan of the Joshua Eaton Fields.
F. Driscoll stated he thought the committee should consider the proposal, but only after the
committee understood the schools stance on the project.
F. Driscoll made a motion to table the discussion and have RYB speak with the School department
about the project and give more details. M. Stolecki seconded the motion. Motion passed in favor
of the motion to table the discussion by a vote of 7 -0 -0.
Sturges Park Plan Discussion
Overall the committee was impressed with the plan.
N. Swain felt more barriers into the park, might help prevent dogs from coming it. J. Feudo said he
would talk to the committee about plantings and guardrails for the park.
N. Swain made a motion to approve the Draft Sturges Park Master Plan as presented. K. Kaminer
seconded the motion. Motion passed in favor of approving the Draft Sturges Park Master Plan as
presented by a vote of 7 -0 -0.
The Recreation Committee discussed the proposed development of 1503 Main Street. After a
lengthy discussion, E. Hughes asked F. Driscoll to draft a letter on behalf of the committee
itemizing their concerns for the development. The letter will be reviewed by the committee in
January and then sent to the Planning Commission.
Administrators Report
J. Feudo gave a brief programming update. There is over 415 kids signed up for Sunday Basketball.
Certainly the most kids since 2000. Travel Basketball is also doing well with 13 travel teams and
134 kids participating. Jenna went on the NYC trip this weekend and it went well.
J. Feudo said the skating area lights will be turned on by December 19`". Just waiting on the cold
weather to freeze it over for skating.
Subcommittee Report
0W,I
R. Hand mentioned they are working on creating awareness for the new substance abuse policy that
was put in place by the school committee. They are also trying to broaden their outreach network.
They have already met with the Veterans and will be meeting with other groups as well.
N. Swain made a motion to accept the minutes from the October 10th, 2012 meeting. M. Stolecki
seconded the motion. Motion passed in favor of acceptance of the minutes by a vote of 7 -0 -0.
N. Swain motion to adjourn. M. Stolecki seconded the motion. Motion passed in favor of
adjournment by a vote of 7 -0 -0.
READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES December 11 2012 Con't
Meeting adjourned at 9:12 PM.
Respectfully submitted by:
John A. Feudo
Recreation Administrator