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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes RAB 042287t CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS • PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY CENTER 4404 BURNS ROAD MAILING ADDRESS: 10500 N. MILITARY TRAIL PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL 33410 627 -2558 PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT ADVISORY BOARD April 22, 1987 The Recreation and Parks Advisory Board for the City of Palm Beach Gardens met at the Community Center on Wednes- day, April 22, 1987, at 7:30 p.m. In attendance was Chairman Kevin Feeney, members Betsey Yerry, Chuck Campbell, Art Kaminski, and David Kanter. Also attending was Parks and Recreation Department Director Doug Hood, Assistant Director Sue Ruskay, and Superintendent of Parks Dick Cameron. Chairman Kevin Feeney announced that since he is employed by the City of Palm Beach Gardens, he would have to resign as Chairman of the Advisory Board. He asked if there was • a nomination for a new chairman. Art Kaminski nominated Chuck Campbell. Betsey Yerry seconded the nomination. This was unamiously passed. Parks and Recreation Director, Doug Hood, passed out his report, "Recommendations for Expansion of Parks and Recre- ation Report ". He also introduced Assistant Director, Sue Ruskay and Superintendent Dick Cameron. Doug Hood went over the report and explained details of the proposed expansion program. The residents of Palm Beach Gardens participate in the classes and programs at the Community Center and other park facilites, but the bottom line is, the Parks and Recreation Department is out of room. Mr. Hood explained how Sue Ruskay, who acts as Program Coordinator, shuffles classes and meetings from room to room and how Dick Cameron juggles fields, changing diminsions to accomodate different age groups and teams. The City needs to aquire property and needs to.do this in the very near future. The impact of the new mall and businesses coming in the city will cause population ex- pasion as well as utilizing available land. Ther& is money in the Recreation Land Fee Fund and the Advi- sory Board should recommend that the City Council use this • fund to purchase available land for future use. "QUALITY LEISURE SERVICES ... JUST FOR YOU" Doug Hood explained the doubled -up office situation and the needs in that area. The up- coming Summer Program was discussed and the fact that the Community Center can handle just so many people. The Summer Program will be limited and some people will have to be turned away. The need of an additional Community Center that would serve as an all- purpose building with meeting rooms for the many clubs and civic groups was discussed, as well as the proposed 4 -plex. The Parks and Recreation has held Golf Clinics in the past and they have been most successful. With the growth potential of Palm Beach Gardens, a public golf course could be a money making business if properly managed. Plans for a Tennis complex would include reviving the present program, having 12 to 16 courts and offering quality facilities. Mr. Hood stated that the present Municipal Swimming Pool is a well used facility. A new lap pool could be used for the swim team as well as for exercise swimming. In spite of the fact that a swimming pool is not a money making facility because of the high up -keep, a new pool would be used and is needed. The participation of non - residents in the Parks and Recreation programs was discussed. The very limited programs find residents lined up for hours before registration opens to assure a place for their children. Additional recreation facilities would allow the department to serve more residents and non - residents that live in the pocket areas of the county. Two large regional centers would serve the expanding population of Palm Beach Gardens. The steps for aquiring additional land was discussed. The first step would be a meeting with the City Manager and City Council to discuss using the Recreation Land Fee Funds to purchase pro- perty for future development. Then there would have to be a meeting with Foundation Land Company to see what property they would release for purchase. The steps to a successful referen- dum for additional funds for future facilities and programs was outlined by Doug Hood. It was announced that the once discussed plan of possibly moving the building that houses the offices of Burg and DiVosta at the Bluffs to the Community Center would not be fesible. In the long run, it would be less expensive to construct a building planned to our specifications. A meeting with the City Council and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board will be set up and the Advisory Board will be contacted as to this date. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. • Respectfully submitted, Linda Sellers Secretary