Recreation Members Discuss Dog Park, Upgrades, New Equipment

By Kendra Bobowick

A range of topics, including trash, finances, and fundraising, fueled the Parks and Recreation Commission’s first meeting of 2012 Tuesday evening.

Assistant Director of Recreation RoseAnn Reggiano mentioned an interest in placing recycling containers at Eichler’s Cove Marina. She had hoped to put the containers in place for boaters, she said.

“It’s worth exploring,” said Commission Chairman Edward Marks. He also would like to know the costs for the recycling containers.

Director Amy Mangold said, “We’re in the park business and we should be doing it and I would love to see it happen at more than just Eichler’s Cove.”

Mr Marks then said, “Let me be the Devil’s Advocate…” considering general public park rules, he said, “I thought if you bring [items including recyclables] in, you bring it out.” He asked, “Why are we willing to do garbage service for some of the people some of the time, but not for all?”

Jumping in to answer, Ms Reggiano asked rhetorically, “Why not at the ball fields? Because everyone driving through would use [a trash bin] and it would be overflowing by the time the teams came, and then trash would be stacked and left all around it.”

“Some places make sense and others don’t; you have to evaluate each location,” Ms Mangold said in a separate conversation.

Tom DiNicola suggested asking if groups in town might fundraise for the project.

Still considering how to make the recyclable container idea viable, members including Jan Brookes liked the effort. Ms Reggiano will investigate costs.

Project and equipment costs next drew attention as members contemplated how to prioritize requests for equipment, or potentially fund studies for concepts such as pocket parks.

Assistant Director of Parks Carl Samuelson hopes to make a successful argument for a $72,000 heavy-duty truck. Gaining approval from the Board of Selectmen, for example, may not be easy, however. “It’s a difficult budget year again,” warned Ms Mangold in a later interview.

“That truck may be a problem,” said Ms Brookes.

“I would rather cut it that buy the wrong piece of equipment,” Mr Samuelson said. He foresees problems with the department’s current, lighter duty trucks, he said. “They’re getting old.” He explained, “It’s not about bigger and better; it’s about the right fit.”

“We have to be ready to demonstrate that we really need it,” Ms Mangold later stated.

Expressing some concerns with justifying the expense, Mr Marks said, “I think it’s an argument that [Mr Samuelson] has to make and [the Board of Selectmen] has to make a value judgment.”

If the truck is going to be cut from their budget, Ms Mangold wanted to be prepared to prioritize what requests would come next. Members also mentioned the need for Dickinson Park lighting for the park’s pavilion, or a replacement utility vehicle at $22,000. Lighting is estimated at $18,000.

Conversation turned to American with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations, which now pose new pool requirements. Mr Samuelson made the point that he had received assurances that older structures were grandfathered in and would not need to add lifts or ramps to pools, for example.

“Where can we put a ramp in at Treadwell?” Mr Samuelson asked. Ms Mangold explained that the department would have to replace a handicap lift rather than a ramp. She also suggested requesting town contingency funds if ADA upgrades do become necessary for Newtown’s public pool.

Bringing up some good news, Ms Reggiano added up a recent mailer fundraising effort on behalf of Newtown’s Park and Bark dog park, which is still in planning stages. “We collected $4,910 and there is still some coming in,” she said. The total funds raised to date is $24,453. She estimates that the purchase and installation of a fence and information/trash kiosks is roughly $50,000, which is her goal. The next big fundraiser will be in May.

Regarding the dog park project, Mr Marks said, “I think most of us feel it’s the most tangible project we can bring to the town in the next year.”

Ms Mangold later explained, “We did a good job with the fundraiser, we’ll get a park and it will be a wonderful asset.” Comparing the current volunteer effort to the push to create what is now a successful skate park at Dickinson, she said, “The volunteers will take their passion and make it happen.”