City of Lawrence

Parks & Recreation Advisory Board                        

March 8, 2005

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Vice Chair, Bill Penny, Tom Bracciano, Chris Schumm, LHS Student Matt Riley

 

MEMBERS ABSENCT

Chair, Sharon Spratt

 

STAFF PRESENT:

Fred DeVictor, Mark Hecker, Ernie Shaw and Roger Steinbrock, Tim Laurent

GUESTS

City Commissioner Boog Highberger, Planner Brad Haushchild

 

 

The meeting at South Park Recreation Center, 1141 Massachusetts, was called to order by Vice Chair Penny.  Minutes of the February 8th meeting were approved on a motion by Bracciano, 2nd by Schumm.

 

          With the weather changing, the Board asked when parks water and restrooms would be open; staff said by April 15th.

 

          Bracciano, DeVictor and Hecker reported on the committee of parks and planning commission members discussing future park planning.  A draft of a report should be available at the next meeting after their March 30th committee meeting.  Discussion continued about how to combine park planning with input from both groups.

 

          Penny and Hecker reported on the Burroughs Rail Corridor Planning Committee and that there would be a meeting with the City Manager team March 9th to clarify work on their project.  They showed a map of adjacent land owners to the corridor north of 23rd Street to 13th Street.  Matt Riley suggests we include water fountains and trail head parking access.

 

          DeVictor reported the Friends of Sesquicentennial Point Committee was continuing with the quiet phase of their fund raising and have raised $150,000.  Clenece Hills will report this to the City Commission on March 29th.

 

          Commissioner Highberger presented his request for the Board to review the current standard for neighborhood parks of a ½ mile serve area.  He requested the Board and staff look at a ¼ mile service area to help assure ability of all citizens to walk to a park.  There was numerous questions and discussion of the current parks and recreation comprehensive plan and the joint park/planning commission committee looking at updating the parks and recreation chapter in the Horizon 2020 Plans.  Staff indicated they would assist in doing a survey of area cities to ask about their park standards and place this on the April 12th agenda for more detailed discussion and consideration.

          Hecker reported on park projects including the Rotary Arboretum, ideas for a second dog park and second disc golf course in Riverfront Park and master plan for the greenbelt area by Langston Hughes School.

 

          Shaw reported a new slide for the outdoor pool is being bid which would replace one of the current slides and be a drop slide into the diving well.  One of the one-meter diving boards would be removed and electricity would need to be run to that area.  Staff is gearing up for the summer with lots of employment opportunities.  New kickball and dodgeball leagues are forming and the shelter reservations season is in gear.

 

          Steinbrock reported he was working on the summer program guide, which will increase by about eight pages due to increased programs, activities and information.  He has applied for the National Recreation and Park Association Gold Medal awards program.

 

          Tim Laurent announced he will be a speaker and part of an ICMA conference on E-Gov and website enrollment in Austin.

 

          DeVictor thanked Chris Schumm for attending the Kansas City Metro Parks and Recreation Directors Association Board and Commissions appreciation meeting in Kansas City on February 22nd.  Schumm indicated he enjoyed it and met a lot of peer Board members in the K.C. area.

 

          Meeting adjourned at 1:15P.M.  Next meeting is scheduled for April 12th at the Indoor Aquatic Center and staff recommended we hold meetings at various locations to help Board members see more of the LPRD facilities.