Summary

Oak Ridge Swimming Pool:

• Request For Qualification (RFQ) is still in process; no updates at this time
• Per the community survey, seems the majority of the respondents wanted to keep the placement of the pool
  where it is
• 553 recruited respondents; 1500 collected through city channels
• Analyzed separately and then presented alongside in the document itself

Full Text

The October 13, 2022 meeting of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board was convened at 7:07 pm in the Oak Ridge Recreation Center Social Room with Chairman Jake Greear presiding.

Roll Call

Present:
Mark Cantrell, Jake Greear, Alissa Jones, Melissa McMahan, Chris Melhorn, Dan Robbins, Michelle Thornton

Absent:
Kelly McCampbell

Also Present:
Jon Hetrick, Recreation & Parks Director, staff liaison

Approval of the September 8, 2022 Meeting Minutes
The September 8, 2022 meeting minutes were approved with no changes.

Unfinished Business
None to report

New Business
Scarboro 85 Monument Project
John Spratling presented to the board to seek board recommendation to place a monument in Bissell Park at the old Friendship Bell site.
The monuments focus is to help to preserve, heal and educate regarding the Scarboro 85 history.
A relationship has been established with an architect and with United Way to help manage funding.

Motion was made by board chair to support the Triangle Healing project to allow the use of the former peace bell site to be used for one of the monuments.
Motion seconded by Michelle; motion passed unanimously.
Jake and Jon will work together to craft a letter of support to submit to city council.

Board Work Plan
Oak Ridge Swimming Pool:
Request For Qualification (RFQ) is still in process; no updates at this time.
Per the community survey, seems the majority of the respondents wanted to keep the placement of the pool where it is; 553 recruited respondents; 1500 collected through city channels.
Analyzed separately and then presented alongside in the document itself.

Capital Improvement Program:
Nothing for the board to act on at this time.

Greenway System:
North Boundary Greenway:
No update at this time.
Master Plan:
No update at this time.

Parks & Recreation Stewardship, Maintenance and Trail Development:
Achievement award discussion for presentation during the tree lighting ceremony.
Nominees:
Pat Postma
Steve Oliphant
Brad Spears
Tracy Crossno
Board members will share additional information regarding their nominations to the board via email.
Voting will occur at the next board meeting, which has been moved to 11.3.

Tree lighting ceremony date needs to be determined.
Tentatively on 12.1.
Consideration to have on 12.2 instead, Friday night.
Had been moved in the past due to the Children’s Museum gala and this year it’s quite a bit earlier.

CVTA work day at Aspire park in Clinton this Saturday; once done, foundation is donating $4 foot for the trail development, funds will be used for trail improvements at Haw Ridge Park.

Secondary Objectives:

Community Events:

October 25th there will be a ribbon cutting for the Storybook Trail at 1130 AM.
There will be 17 panels in place that will hold children’s books.
October 27th the Recreation & Parks Halloween Party. The Department is seeking volunteers to assist with the event. It will be held outdoors, weather permitting, from 6-8PM.
October 30th, Sunday, there will be a community band concert from 230 – 530 PM.
In November Secret City Half Marathon and SK.
Tree lighting ceremony with date to be determined.
December 3rd will host Breakfast with Santa.

Rails to Trails – Department staff are working with the engineering consultant, AMT, to identify a new Project Manager following the departure of the original PM.

Conference Center Update – Design development is continuing.

Melton Lake Park Greenway Bridge Support – there have been several meetings with the UT students and a team assigned to the project. First step is to hold a public forum which is scheduled for Thursday 10.20 on site at Melton Lake Park at 630 PM to gain citizen input.

Peace Bell – The City has received a request to add interpretive signage and entry enhancements at the Peace Bell Pavilion site. Pat Postma and Allen Tatum attended to present the prioritized requests.

Vision for the interpretive site is going to make a nice entryway and provide a nice context for the peace pavilion as a whole.
They await budgetary estimates on several aspects of what’s discussed; after those are received, will come back to the board to provide another update.

Current need to house equipment needed for the gravel garden as they’re housed at a temporary location some distance from the pavilion.Dozen steady rake rs that sign up for 2 weeks at a time.
Someone comes every week and touches it up.

Jon and Pat will discuss potential to store in the caged area outside the gym.

Disc Golf – practice baskets have been installed. Plans have been submitted and permission received for the reworking of the course layout, slimming to 18 holes.

Blueways – No update at this time.

Appearance and Citizen Comments:

Doug Colclasure requested the board craft a letter of recommendation for the creation of a parking lot at East Quarry Gate at North Boundary Greenway as parking continues to be a problem. There would be zero impact to the landscape with minimal effort to create the parking area.

Allan Tatum mentioned the achievement award wall for the recreation center.

Melissa will research and come back with suggestions.

Updates and Observations (Non Action Items):
None.

Next board meeting will be 11.3.

Director’s Report:
Special Projects Coordinator has been hired.
Indoor pool surfacing bid opened.
$90k budgeted, low bid was just under $93k.
Discussing with city manager to see if we can fund that balance.

Future Agenda Items:
Nominations for Park Board Achievement Awards

The meeting was adjourned at 8:51 PM.

Jake Greear
Chair