The Big Pool Story
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Recreation & Parks Board Minutes 10/13/2022

Recreation & Parks Board Minutes 10/13/2022

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Summary

Request For Qualification (RFQ):
- Still in process with no updates available.
Community Survey:
- Majority of respondents favor keeping the pool at its current location.
- 553 respondents were recruited, and 1500 responses were collected through city channels.
- Survey results were analyzed separately and presented together.

Director’s Report:

Indoor Pool Surfacing Bid:
- Budget for the project was $90,000.
- The lowest bid received was just under $93,000.
- Discussions are ongoing with the city manager to cover the budget shortfall.

Full Text

Minutes of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Meeting

October 13, 2022 Regular Meeting

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 monument’s 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, the majority of the respondents wanted to keep the placement of the pool where it is; 553 recruited respondents; 1500 collected through city channels
Survey results were analyzed separately and then presented together in the document

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 it 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 workday 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 11:30 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 6-8 PM
October 30th, Sunday, there will be a community band concert from 2:30 – 5:30 PM
In November, Secret City Half Marathon and 5K
Tree lighting ceremony with the 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 6:30 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, they 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 rakers 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 on 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: