PR03-07-06Min MINUTES
~ PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY -BOARD
175 WEST WARREN AVENUE
LONGWOOD, FLORIDA
March 7, 2006
COMMISSION CHAMBERS 7:00 PM
Present: Abigail Shoemaker, Chair
Elsie Richardson, Member
Mary Volkening, Member
Kitty White, Member
Fran Meli, Recreation Program Manager
Chris Capizzi, Recreation Program Coordinator
Linda Goff, Recording Secretary
Absent: Bob Driver, Vice Chair
Gino Gavoni, Member
_ 1. Call to Order. Chair Shoemaker called! the meeting to order at 7:14 p.m.
7
2. Approval of Minutes February 7, 2006 Regular Meeting.
Member Richardson moved to approve the minutes ofFebruary 7, 2006.
Seconded by Member White andl carried by a unanimous voice vote with
Vice. Chair Driver and Member Gavoni absent.
3. Public Particepation. None.
4. Old Business.
A. Recreation Program Manager''s Report.
Ms. Meli introduced Chris Capizzi, Recreation Program Coordinator. She
reported they were. preparing for Easter. She said the February Bluegrass was not
well attended, although they did have four outstanding musicians. She stated there
was a large Bluegrass Festival being held in March so the regular musicians
would not be in attendance. She reported the Senior Matinee feature in March
would be Sisterhood of the .Traveling PGrnts.
Ms. Meli gave an update on the City Parks and said the status has not changed
since last meeting. She handed out and reviewed copies of the conceptual plans
for Reiter Park and Smallworld Park. Sh.e advised they were waiting to apply for
the St. John's Water Management permit and were hoping to break ground in
P&R 3-7-2(106/1
September for Reiter Park. She advised the. City had been awarded a $200,000
~ grant for Reiter Park that has a provision for a set completion date. She said the
tree grant would be utilized for planting trees in both parks. She advised the City
would be applying for a Community Development Block Crrant (CDBG) for
Smallworld Park. She reported Magnolia and Sandalwood Parks will have
covered pavilions. Highland Hills Park vrill be renovated following the
completion of the stormwater project.
Ms. Meli reported the Easter Egg Hunt vrill be held on Saturday, April 8, 2006
starting at 9:30 a.rn. in Candyland Park. She stated there would be a jump house
and they would possibly have train rides.. She said they would be increasing the
number of gold eggs in each age group. She explained the children finding the
.gold eggs would receive a prize. She staged they would be stuffing 1,000 bags to
hand out and would be looking for volunteers to help.
Chair Shoemaker said .she read an article: in the Sentinel regarding bike trails.
Ms. Meli said the City of Longwood has been asked to give. a presentation to th.e
County Commission on March 28, 2006.. She stated Deputy Mayor Anderson
would be making the presentation. She said the trails were being proposed frorri
Candyland :Park down Credo to Orange then down Orange to Ronald Reagan. She
advised they would like to continue the trails down Church to Reiter Park and
continue on Church to Rangeline, then up Rangeline to E.E. Williams.
r
Chair Shoemaker said the wooden bridge connecting the sidewalk on Church by
the Citgo was very narrow. She inquired if it could be widened.
Ms. Meli said she would contact Mr. Smith regarding this.
Discussion was held regarding. the sidewalks and trails.
Mr. Capizzi said he has put together a te:r~tative itinerary for Summer Camp field
trips. He reported he conversed with representatives from Winter Springs and
Casselberry and they would be collaborating on some field trips. He advised
Lyman High School would be shared with Casselberry this summer. He said this
provided for a good opportunity to com~~ine the camps for some dodge ball or
kick ball tournaments. He has been working on an informational sheet for parents
and this would be included in the water bills. He said they would be offering a
slight discount for early enrollment and payment. He advised he spoke with the
camp director from last year and he would be returning.
Ms. Meli said they would be teaming with Winter Springs to share a bus for
middle school field trips.
Chair Shoemaker suggested they look into holding sleepovers.
P&R 3-7-2006/2
Mr. Capizzi said he would like to implement some various sports clinics.
~ Ms. Meli said they would be looking into offering a Spring Break Camp for next
year and other camps when children were out of school.
Ms. Meli said they were working on Rock the Park. She said school ends May
24t" and suggested Rock the Park be held on Friday, May 26t". She stated they
would have summer staff hired by then and hoped to have the counselors involved
in this event. She suggested they have a DJ or a band. She said they did not want
to have a skate demonstration because t:he children attending want to skate and are
not able to.
Chair Shoemaker suggested a radio station or band would be better than a DJ.
Member White expressed concern regarding holding this event on Memorial
Weekend.
Ms. Meli advised the other option would be Friday, June 2°d. She said Summer
Camp started June St" and they preferred to hold Rock the Park prior to Summer
Camp. She said they would keep working on ideas and report back at the April.
meeting.
.Discussion was held regarding the music at Rock the Park.
Ms. Meli suggested a DJ might possibly have censored versions of the music
teens prefer to listen to.
Chair Shoemaker suggested holding teem dances. She said there was a building on
Mingo Trail in which the City held dances in the past. She suggested the City look
into renting a building for this purpose.
5. New Business. None.
6. Adjournment. Chair Shoemaker adjourned the meeting at 8:12 p.m.
E
w--
AbigaihShoemaker, Chair
ATTEST:
cam..
Linda F. doff, Recording cretary
P&R 3-7-2006/3