HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes RAB 050791CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
COMMUNITY CENTER
4404 BURNS ROAD
MAILING ADDRESS: 10500 N. MILITARY TRAIL
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL 33410
(407) 775 -8270
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
May 7, 1991
The City of Palm Beach Gardens Parks and Recreation Advisory
Board met on Tuesday May 7, 1991, at the Community Center.
Those present were John Elsner, Ronnye Sands, Betsey Yerry,
Braxton Melvin, Jeff Sabin, Councilman Joe Russo, and Assis-
tant Director Sue Ruskay. Also in attendance were Kim Glass
from the Planning & Zoning Department and David Panaia from
the Y.A.A. Chairman Chuck Campbell arrived later.
Mrs. Ruskay took everyone to the new community center on
• Riverside Drive. She gave the Board a tour of the facilities,
and explained the usage of all the rooms. Everyone returned
to the Community Center and started the meeting. The meeting
was started by Mrs. Ruskay.
Mr. Elsner started off by discussing the concerns about the
tennis facility. The courts need to be resurfaced. The people
using these courts would like to have some type of clay courts.
He showed everyone a petition that was signed by 100 people.
The players are leaving the leagues to play at other clubs.
He suggested putting in a Hard Tru court with a grid system.
It is watered from underneath the surface. They are low main-
tenance courts. The present courts are cracking. $80,000
would be the cost for four new courts, and they can do this
over the existing courts. They are supposed to have a life
time guarantee. Balen Isles has put this type of courts in
at their club. Mr. Russo suggested that the Parks & Recre-
ation Department present this issue to the City Council at
budget time.
Mr Panaia said he would come to the Advisory Board meetings
if called. He passed out papers containing information on
the residents and nonresidents in the Y.A.A. programs. Mr.
Russo said that he understood that there were to be no new
nonresidents accepted into the Y.A.A. programs. Mr. Panaia
said he met with Mr. Orr and Mr. Hood about this issue. He
said that he is working on the suggestions made at this meet-
ing. He said that he was told that new nonresidents were
allowed, if they were needed to make a program work, and they
would be charged a $15.00 nonresident fee.
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Mr. Panaia said that of the 968 participants, there are 59
new nonresidents. These nonresidents were needed to fill
• their programs, except for two persons. It was stated ':hat
there have been several meetings with different people and
there is still indecision on this resident and nonresident
issue, and the fee that is to be charged.
Mrs. Ruskay introduced Ms. Glass to the Board. She talked
about a District Park for the city. The Comprehensive Plan
says that in 1991 the city needs to study the feasability of
locating a District Park at the intersection of PGA Boulevard
and the Loxahatchee Slough. She said that a District Park
is resourced based with some sort of natural resource. Mr.
Russo said that a reservoir is to be located in the same area
which would add to the passiveness of the park. Neighborhood
Parks are parks that you can walk to, Community Parks you have
to drive to and they serve several neighborhoods, District Parks
serve the city and residents outside the city. District Parks
are between 100 to 200+ acres with passive recreation. Mrs.
Ruskay explained that a Regional Park has a lot of facilities,
such as tennis courts and ball fields. Ms. Glass said the
Comprehensive Plan says by the year 2000 we will have a Dis-
trict Park within the city limits. Ms. Glass showed maps of
the proposed area. Mr. Campbell asked about the county and
city doing something together on a large park. Monies are avail-
able this year from the state for developing and preserving
environmental recreational areas in Florida. Mr. Russo said
• that we shouldn't be pressured to take advantage of this, be-
cause there is not alot of the rapid growth at this time. It
was agreed on by the Board that this was.a good location for
this District Park. Mr. Campbell would like to see a re-
evaluation of the number of acres for recreation per person.
Ms. Glass said that this meeting fulfilled. the Comprehensive
Plan's policy to agree that there is feasability of locating
the District Park at this proposed site. Mr. Russo said that
he would like to have a passive park inside the city limits,
at this time. Mrs. Ruskay and the Board thanked Ms. Glass for
her presentation.
The City Golf Course is scheduled to open June 15, 1991, if
weather permits.
The Teen Club that met at Galaxy Skateway won a national award
thru Big Brothers /Big Sisters. Then they had to disban, be-
cause they didn't have any more funds.
Mr. Russo said that the B &E committee would love to do some-
thing with the landscaping of the Community Center. A repre-
sentative of the Advisory Board needs to attend their meeting.
Mrs. Ruskay said that she talked with Mayor Martino, and he was
in agreement that the July 4th festivities should be in the
• afternoon and evening and at the Gardens Mall. It will be a
tribute to the soldiers of Desert Storm. There will be a band,
fireworks, and a tribute to the troops.
The Arts Festival was a success. A lot of people participated
and also attended this event, and the food was very good.
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Mr. Panaia spoke. again about the Y.A.A. He is trying to co-
ordinate a calendar with the city's sports programs. The Y,.A.A.
is putting out a booster advertising handbook to all members.
They will need sponsors to advertise in this book. They have
new members on their board. He said the parking problem at.
Lake Catherine would be helped by opening areas-up behind the
fields. He doesn't feel there is a shortage of ball fields,
just better utilization. He suggested that the Lake Catherine
fields should be crowned for better drainage. He would like
some "Quick Dry" for the ball fields and they would even pay
for it. $12,000 was donated by the Y.A.A. for new press boxes
at Gardens Park. The Y.A.A. is planning a family picnic for
June 8th for all ball players and their families at Plant Drive
Park. He wants travel teams for the winter baseball leagues.
He also wants soccer goals removed at Gardens Park, because it
causes problems for ball teams and their practicing. Mrs.
Ruskay said to put this problem in writing and give it to the
Parks & Recreation Department. He would also like to see a
local facility with batting cages and rooms for showing films.
Mr. Campbell wanted to know why the Y.A.A. was paying for the
press boxes. Mr. Panaia said he recieved a letter from Mr.
Hood about doing this, and also the fact that they would like
to give something back to the community. His final comment
was on the artice in the newspaper about how great the Y.A.A.
teams are and their contribution to the high school teams.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Bullock
Administrative Secretary
Parks & Recreation Dept.
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