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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 2 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. 3 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. 0 r • Respectfully submitted, Linda Bullock Administrative Secretary Parks & Recreation Dept. Palm Beach Gardens, FL