HANOVER TOWNSHIP RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD

3630 Jacksonville Road

Bethlehem, PA 18017-9303

Minutes 09/08/05

 

MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:  Mike Stasak, Bob Roll, Alex Sahaydak, Steve Crump and Bill Hursh. Frank Colon from the Board of Supervisors also attended.

 

Call to order: 7:40 PM by Bill Hursh (Acting Chairman), seconded by MikeStasak.  Approved by all members.

 

Review of minutes from August 2005:  Motion to approve by Alex Sahaydak, seconded by Bob Roll.  Approved by all members.

 

7:45:    Crawford Park Issues – Recent Vandalism & Poor Grass Coverage

 

·        Alex brought in pictures on his laptop of the recent vandalism. This is the second time in the last several weeks that a car has driven in circles on the soccer fields causing damage. Had the fields not been dryer and firm because of the lack of rain, this damage could have been much worse. The members all agreed that immediate action must be taken to prevent further occurrences. We asked Frank Colon to make this a priority item with the Board of Supervisors. We suggest either planting trees at the north and south ends of the parking lot or placing some temporary concrete barriers there until further action can be taken.

·        Alex also took pictures of the poor grass coverage on the north soccer field. It seems the seeding has not taken well, leaving many bare spots. In addition there seems to be an abundance of small rocks on the field. The members agree that something must be done to improve this field before we make it vailable for play.

·        Future budget needs should include another set of soccer goals. If possible we should look for another donor. We suggest that a plaque should be placed on the pavilion naming the Bethlehem Soccer Cub as the donor of the first set of goals.

 

7:55:    Other Park Issues:

·        Village View - Dave and Lee Anne Eck did not attend this meeting and bring the results of the survey they promised. Perhaps they will come in the future.

·        Pharo Park Issues – One of the tennis courts needs a new center strap. This is the time of year when a great deal of debris falls on the courts, making the surface difficult to play on. We suggest that a leaf blower be used at least weekly to improve the playability of the courts. The outfield of the baseball field is now being used for soccer, which brings with it additional parking problems. We will continue to put money in our yearly budget to make the paved area leading to the tennis backboard ready for off-street parking. As this park attracts residents from throughout the township, not just locals, we feel this park needs to have a restroom facility. There is a facility in the pavilion. However, it is not open at all times. This needs to be looked into and a restroom needs to be made available.

·        Municipal Park – Work on the big pool is scheduled for this year. The baby pool needs to be the next budget priority. The members continue to push for a zero depth entry pool with a water mushroom in the center for increased fun for the small kids. Resident cannot provide this type of entertainment in the backyard and attendance should increase. With the upgrade of this facility, the two additional shade structures, which previously had been budgeted, need to be put back into the budget. This park also attracts residents from throughout the township, not just locals. There needs to be restroom facilities available during the hours when the Community Center is not open. We suggest thinking about a way that the swimming pool facilities could be made available during these times, or perhaps all the time as we did at Crawford Park.

·        Any future parks, particularly the park on the Jaindl property north of Hanoverville Road, need to be designed with restroom facilities in mind.

·        College Heights, Village View, & Delta Manor – All old equipment needs to be removed from these parts. We asked Frank Colon to make this a priority item with the Board of Supervisors.

 

8:20:    Playground Play Stuctures – Crawford, College Heights, and Delta Manor:

 

·        Bids were submitted to the Board of Supervisors and recommendations made. The Board of Supervisors will solicit bids for the installation of the play structures and additional site work that is necessary. These are priority items in our budget for 2006.

 

8:30:    Other matters:

·        Grant money:  The Recreation Advisory Board recommends pursuing grant money from the state and county for open space for improving our parks.

 

8:35      Motion to adjourn meeting by Bill Hursh.  Seconded by Bob Roll.    All members voted in favor.

 

Next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 13, 2005.

 

Submitted by: Bill Hursh