HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-04-06 ad Hoc Open Space and Recreation Planning Task Force MinutesTown of Reading
Ad Hoc Open Space & Recreation Planning Task Force'
Senior Center
April 6, 2000
Attendance: Kim Honetschlager, Chair, Nancy Eaton, Claire Bolger, Gladys
Montgomery Jones, Camille Anthony; and Karen DeFrancesco, Conservation
Administrator.
Absent: Ron Boucher, Catherine Martin, and Rick Schubert
Also Present: Wayne Currie (942-9075), Recreation Administrator, Chris Campbell and
Alan Beaulieu, Recreation Committee
General public was invited through news article publications to attend and give input but
no one appeared.
Kim reported over 700 surveys were received and 80% of them had been tabulated to
date. Copies of preliminary results and comments were distributed and reviewed. There
are 126 written comments to date. Nancy will input rest of survey comments and forward
to Camille who volunteered to group them together in categories. When results are final,
prepare press release.
Discussed the proposed Pitman Bike Path and the $225,000 in the state Open Space Bond
bill. Who is promoting this project? Will we lose the funding? Discussed the recreation
goals from the last plan. Discussed "deed" restrictions for Memorial Park. Discussed
whether a bike trail could be built around the edge. Discussed the popularity of North
Reading's Ipswich River Park and whether to do a site visit there and see what features
could be provided in Reading. Discussed interest in canoe launch site and what exists at
Lobs Mill. Discussed handicapped access and trail development and maintenance.
Nancy will get proposed Federal guidelines off the web and submit.
OS&RP Task Force requested input from the Recreation Committee on what they wanted
included in the Plan for the next five years. Wayne said there was a capital program
extending through 2008.
Discussed doing the self-surveys for the ADA accessibility portion of the plan.
Discussed a joint Friends/Steward Program for maintenance and funding/endowment
resources.
Set a goal of September 1 to have the first draft available for general review. When the
Task Force is unable to meet, members should be working on sections of the report they
have volunteered to write/rewrite. If you have not selected a section, check with Kim.
Discussed proposed Executive Summary for distribution to Town Meeting including the
. ' accomplishments from the last plan, the survey results and the goals of the new plan.
Discussed reserving Friday's at 1 pm for walking various conservation/recreation sites
and starting at Pinevale on April 28.
Next Meeting was scheduled for Thursday, May 11, 2000 at 7:30 pm unless Town
Meeting is still in session. Main topic for next agenda will be Chapter Revisions and
final survey results.