HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes RAB 110789CITY 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
RECREATION AND PARKS ADVISORY BOARD
November 7, 1989
The City of Palm Beach Gardens Parks and Recreation Advisory _
Board met on Tuesday, November 7, 1989, at the Community Center.
Those present were Chairman Chuck Campbell, Lynne Bundick,
Ellen Finnerty, Betsey Yerry, John Elsner, Chuck Goforth, Alan
Shisgal, and Councilman, Joe Russo. Also present were Parks
and Recreation Director Doug Hood, and Assistant Director Sue
Ruskay.
First of all, Mr. Campbell expressed his congratulations to
Mr. Hood and the Parks and Recreation Department on the win-
ning of the National Gold Medal Award. The award ceremony
is was held in San Antonio, Texas, on October 23, 1989 in the
Civic Center. Mr. Hood accepted the award for the Palm Beach
Gardens-Parks and Recreation Department. Mr. Hood said that
it was a combined effort from all departments and the com-
munity that helped win the award, plus the support from the
Advisory Board. The award will probably be displayed in a
glass case with the other finalist awards.
The next topic of discussion was the Lake Catherine project.
The county is still interested in this property, but Mr. Russo
said that they do not have the funds for the purchase. It would
have to go to a referendum, and then it would be too late.
The ball fields on MacArthur Boulevard will be started first,
and then the housing project. The site plan for the ball fields
is being worked out now. There has been a few changes made on
the site plan. The turnarounds at the end of the runways are
removed. Also the plaza has been cut down to one.flagpole
with one runway; and some low maintenance landscaping. The
money saved on these things will be put toward a better scoring
tower building. The half -moon backstops are no longer a con-
sideration. They are considering putting up a 24' high fence
behind the plate with a 10' overhang that goes all the way to
the dugouts. All fields will have their own irrigation. They
will be using a county designed dugout, and the fields will be
soded not seeded. There was some discussion about which side
to put the concession stand in the scoring tower structure.
There will be flood lights on all corners of the building.
F.P. & L. will be contacted about putting in more poles and
lights. Swing gates and higher curbs were suggested to help
"QUALITY LEISURE SERVICES ... JUST FOR YOU"
NATIONAL GOLD MEDAL AWARD FINALIST 1987 and 1988
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prevent kids from "hanging out ", and vandalism to the fa-
cilities. The finger canal on the south side of the complex
• will be filled in and used for a water retention area.
The next subject up for discussion was the Youth Athletic
Association and its programs. The Y.A.A. is struggling,
and they are very defensive about the Recreation Department
taking over their programs. Complaints about the Y.A.A. are
their lack of organization, the fact that it is run by non-
residents who do not respond to problems, and the program has
deteriated since the start to the point that the kids are not
learning the basic skills. It was decided that we need to
approach the Y.A.A. with a "grandfather program ". A letter to
the City Council was discussed pertaining to the complaints
about the Y.A.A., and the fact that nonresidents are run-
ning the program. If the city takes over the Y.A.A., the
Parks & Recreation Department will be running their athletic
programs. The point was made that we need these people to
help coach and administrate, and we do not want to alienate
them. Post season play will be supported by the Recreation
Department, said by Mr. Hood. The Board feels that we should
invite the Y.A.A. to our next meeting. Mr. Hood said to be
adamant in the letter to the Y.A.A. that only their Board of
Directors are invited to the meeting.
Next, the tennis facility was discussed. Mr. Elsner has been
talking with the Tennis Pro, Brenda Engle. There are proposals
• coming in now for new lights for the courts. The public courts
will not be included in this proposal. Mr. Hood asked Brenda
for a breakdown on the tennis programs. The Advisory Board
voted in favor of the purchase of new lights for the tennis
courts. A letter will be sent by Mr. Campbell to the City
Council requesting this purchase. There is a need for more
courts. The next question was do we need just more courts,
or do we need some clay courts. Mr. Elsner showed us drawings
of different ways that additional courts could be added. Mrs*.
Ruskay said that we have permission to use the high school
courts, when available. Mr. Hood suggested that maybe we
could make a new tennis facility on the 17 acres on Burns Rd.
Mrs. Ruskay suggested that maybe a different surface could
be used, which would be cheaper than the maintenance of the
clay courts. She said that Patch Reef Park tennis courts
have a "latex cushion" surface, which seems very sturdy and
does not require much maintenance. The Board feels that they
do not want to remove the small park in front of the present
courts, in order to add more courts. It was agreed that fur-
ther discussion is needed on this subject.
The next program discussed was the soccer program. Mrs. Fin-
nerty expressed her concerns over the arrangement of the
bleachers. Mr. Hood said that they arranged the bleachers
the way they did because the coaches asked for them that way.
• Some of the coaches in the 8 -9 year old league are saying that
there is a lack of communication between the Recreation -De-
partment and themselves, and they are not happy with the team
selection process. Mr. Hood said that if the coaches have
concerns that are not being handled, then they need to call
him.
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Mr. Campbell brought to everyone's attention that the
• nine acres in front of the city's seventeen acres is for
sale and it is zoned for commercial use. Concern was ex-
pressed about this piece of property being zoned commercial
and how to obtain it for the city.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 P.M. The next Parks &
Recreation Advisory Board meeting will be December 5th at
7:00 P.M.
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Respectfully submitted,
Linda Bullock
Administrative Secretary
Parks & Recreation Dept.
Palm Beach Gardens, FL