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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-06-13 Recreation Committee MinutesTown of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Recreation Committee Date: 2017-06-13 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Monthly Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Time: 7:00 PM 1411 ,lJL 20 P 4- 33 Location: Conference Room Session: General Session Emily Sisson, Frank Driscoll, Dan Foley, Gil Congdon, Kate Kaminer, Mary Ellen Stolecki, Rich Hand Members - Not Present: Jeanne Borawski, Lori Russo, Adam Chase, Mike DiPietro Others Present: Peter Coumoundorus from FORR Community Pickleball Players: Patricia Leasure 43 James Rd Michael Rubin 43 James Rd Nancy Errico 424 South St John Drinkwater 392 South St Kathy Rovnak 86 Sunnyside Ave Judy Coltman 18 Milton Rd Peter Lydecker 7 Beaver Rd Russell Bond 144 Prospect St Rosmary Dissel 202 Bancroft Ave Kristin Bond 144 Prospect St Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Genevieve Fiorente Topics of Discussion: D. Foley opens up meeting at 7:05pm. D. Foley makes a motion to approve the meeting minutes. E. Sisson seconds. Committee votes 4-0-1. G. Fiorente acknowledges P. Coumoundorus from FORR and says he is here to give an update. P. Coumoundorus quickly runs through the events and programs they have set up for Town Day, Summer Clinics, and Fall Cross Country. G. Fiorente mentions she heard they sold out quick for the Middle School Cross Country Program. He responds that yes, before the end of the second day. G. Fiorente introduces Peter Lydecker and some people from the Pickleball community. She says that they are here to request lines on the Memorial Park Tennis Courts. P. Lydecker starts off by saying that there are now about 100-150 pickleball players who play in Reading since it started up 4 years ago. He acknowledges the beautiful tennis courts in town and says how they were appreciative that the volleyball court by the high school was repaved for them to use. He states that the court does have some short comings as it is not long enough which leads to tight playing quarters. He also mentions that foul balls come from the Little League Field. P. Lydecker says they hope for a better surface to play pickleball. He Page 1 1 presents pictures for shadow lining the courts for Pickleball at Memorial. He says pickleball community will fundraise for the lines. He says if the courts can't be permanently lined they would consider taping or chalking the courts. F. Driscoll asks if they need a closed area for Pickleball and asks specifically about the shadow lines. P. Lydecker says that the lines are just a different color from regular court lines and that yes, it would be beneficial to have a closed area so balls are not flying everywhere. F. Driscoll asks if the tennis nets would need to come down for Pickleball play. P. Lydecker says no, since the nets will be good for catching the balls. A conversation takes place between the picklers and committee about recreational play vs league play. E. Sisson asks about anticipated costs to line the courts. P. Lydecker says about $300. K. Kaminer asks the cost to build a new court all together. P. Lydecker says an actually facility is around $100,000. K. Kaminer suggests collaborating with another upcoming redo like Sturges tennis courts. M. Stolecki thanks the picklers for coming in and likes the idea of more adult recreation. She adds that the current courts at the High School seem to be working well. She also says that if there is a renovation done at Sturges that she would like to see both pickleball and tennis courts there. F. Driscoll makes a motion to tape Memorial Park Courts for pickleball play pending G. Fiorente getting approval from Parks and Foresty. M. Stolecki seconds. A brief discussion is had with the committee and pickleball committee about the rules and regulations. R. Hand mentions the court at Washington Park. Committee votes 5-0. K. Kaminer says to G. Fiorente to make sure that taping the courts does not default on the warranty. G. Fiorente presents the amplified sound permit for the Friends of Reading Recreation on June 17th for Friends and Family Day in the morning for the Fun Run and at night for the Fireworks. D. Foley makes a motion to approve the amplified sound permit for June 17th for FORR. E. Sisson seconds. Committee votes 5-0. G. Fiorente talks about the Batting Cage project on behalf of Reading Little League that was brought forth at the last meeting. She says that she would like to set up a Birch Meadow Master Plan Subcommittee meeting to discuss possible locations. She also mentions the Memorial Park Bandstand which will be unable to house performers this summer unless it is fixed. She says she is exploring the financials and also getting help from engineering. She also mentions that Rotary said at one point they would be interested in helping with the repair. K. Kaminer mentions getting the association of realtors together since that area is heavily used by families in town. M. Stolecki asks for an update on the Reading Softball Little League. G. Fiorente says she got a call from the police yesterday indicating there were cars on the lawn at the Birch Meadow Fields on June 10th from the event and that they had not filed for a civic function permit for their event. G. Fiorente said they had mentioned to her upon handing in their amplified sound permit that they were going to be barbecuing. She advised them to go upstairs to get a food permit and told them they may need a Civic Function Permit. The committee advises G. Fiorente to write them a letter to reiterate the rules and regulations on the fields. G. Fiorente gives an update on Hunt Park. She says that with the rain the project has been pushed back a couple weeks but the equipment is scheduled to come in around June 22nd She adds that the installation date will be in early July. G. Fiorente also gives a brief update on programming for the Summer. Page 1 2 F. Driscoll makes a motion to adjourn at 8:20pm. E. Sisson seconds. Committee votes 5-0. Page 1 3