Re: Minutes
The minutes were approved as presented.
Re: Citizens Forum
None.
Re: Staff Report
Neal Owens was present to share with the Board the recent happenings of the center. The center is currently on schedule with their performance measures.
The center is currently placing their area of emphasis focusing on teens. Next Friday is the centers March madness, which will be held at TCRC for the teen group. The center’s next project is going to be a garden built on the north side of the center. They are currently looking for volunteers within the neighborhood to help with the upkeep of the garden. A stone will also be placed in the garden in honor of the late Bobby Israel.
During Spring break week they are taking a group of 15 children to Capitol Hill.
A church group has recently volunteered to do upkeep work at the center. They are going to hold a spring-cleaning party and paint the center.
Park Board member’s Kate Savage, Larry Eason and Bob Taylor renewal letter – Included as FYI.
Potential Park Board Members – Wendy Braund and Adrienne Crutchfield were present to be considered members of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board. Wendy Braund stated that she hopes her background in public health will benefit the Board.
Adrienne Crutchfield shared with the board her past and present participation in City leagues and activities and how she would like to give back to the community.
Ray Thomas was not present.
Re: Street Tree Appeal Staff Response Letter
The Board reviewed the final draft letter. Terry Baker recommended that the City accept the letter as revised.
Re: Multi-site tennis proposal
Jack Shore, Director of the Bullis Tennis Training Center, Anne Pallie, Vickie Datlow and Kevin Dowdell were present to share with the Board the Jack Shore Tennis national training program.
Jack Shore stated that the number one tennis area in the United States is the Rockville/Washington DC area. Programs start as young as 3-4 years old up through the teenage years. Currently they have 350 people in their program within the Rockville area.
They are looking to build two indoor facilities at no cost to the City and to run programs year round. The programs are geared to the community and will be family oriented.
Jack Shore would like to be able to show the City how to implement a tennis program so that it becomes a thriving program. The tennis program would like to begin with four courts year round, which would be covered, air conditioned and heated. They have identified 30 tennis courts as potential program sites.
During the summer they would hold a huge Rockville tournament to show the enthusiasm for the sport.
Jack Shore shared with the Board that they are interested in first hearing what the City would like to do and how they would like to get started
Chris Henry inquired about the two sites that would be covered year round. Jack Shore stated that they would prefer to have four courts with 20 parking spaces available.
Terry Baker confirmed that they would like to run the program for 7 years, with risks and at the end share the profits as well as jointly agree to share the books. Bob Taylor asked if the program would have exclusive use. Jack Shore stated that they would only for the covered courts. When a program is running there is as few as four persons on a court to a maximum of 12 at a time. On a daily basis a program will most likely run from 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. Chris Henry asked if there is a minimum amount of hours they would use? Jack Shore replied that they don’t have that number but would need to plan it all out, but he does not think it would interfere with open hours.
Jack Shore would like to bring the players back by organizing groups and ladders and tournaments to encourage more participation in the sport.
Terry Baker asked who would be responsible for maintenance. Jack Shore replied that he would be responsible for the indoor courts and the City would maintain the outdoor courts.
They are looking to start with one 4-court site and grow from there.
The lease at Bullis is up August 2008. They are looking at this as a new opportunity. The facility at Bullis was built and designed by the Jack Shore program.
Larry Eason inquired if the City had a number of participants that currently use the courts. Chris Henry stated that the courts are used through our classes and camps programs in addition to the drop in use by the residents. She also added that Burt Hall’s thought would be to start with the Broome location. One issue that comes up is the parking situation.
Other location options that were stated are Woodley Gardens, King Farm and Maryvale. Woodley Gardens is used a lot. The Broome and Maryvale locations will need to work with MCPS, which would also need to get the courts back in shape. Mark Twain is another good option with plenty parking but more courts would need to be built. The school is also slated to be closed in the future.
Jack Shore added that they don’t have to do both and could do just one because they don’t go hand in hand but it would work best if they started with the indoor program. There are more indoor public tennis courts in Prince George’s county than there is in Montgomery County.
Spring and fall programs are doable but they would prefer a year round program.
Terry Baker stated that for a really successful program it would be best for a year round program.
Kevin Dowdell inquired about the next step. Bob Taylor stated that the Board would need to figure out the best location and see if more work with other organizations such as MCPS if the courts reside on their land.
The Board enjoyed listening to he possibilities that the Jack Shore Tennis Program presented but they would like to pursue potential indoor locations. Kate Savage stated that the proposal has brought up many other questions that will need to be answered prior to the next step.
Jack Shore stated that they benefited from presenting their program before the Board and look forward to hearing the feedback as well.
Re: Mattie Stepanek Peace Garden
Chris Henry shared with the Board the GIS plotter size map of the Mattie Stepanek peace garden.
Re: Strategic Issues
The Board reviewed the Recreation and Parks Department Strategic Issues chart. Included as FYI.
Re: Subcommittee Reports
Citizen Bicycle Advisory Committee – None.
Environmental Issues – None.
Fallsgrove – None.
Glenview Mansion – Next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 3rd.
King Farm – Already done.
LPCC – Already done.
RedGate –None.
Swim Center – A contract has been completed for the construction of fitness addition. The outdoor locker rooms are scheduled to be replaced this summer.
TCRC – None.
Town Center Park – Currently redoing all of the pavers. Chip Boylan inquired about the fountains and if they are going to be reinstalled because of the mishap this past summer.
Youth Sports – None.
501(c) 3 – Papers to get the fund incorporated have been sent for review. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 4th.
PROS Plan – Meetings are currently being held with various focus groups. Terry Baker added that the PROS meeting he attended last month the topic of a more expanded and centralized teen center needs to be considered.
Re: Monthly Divisional Reports
Included as FYI.
Re: Old Business
Chip Boylan asked if anyone had any additional comments regarding the Tennis Program that was not brought up while the group was here. Terry Baker stated that he didn’t feel that there is a huge need out there for this type of program. Chip Boylan also added that the City has a diverse community and is this necessity that the City needs. Potential new member Wendy Braund added that this might limit the City’s already good use of the courts by then restricting the resident’s use.
Larry Eason inquired if this would eliminate the City’s tennis programs that are already in existence.
Chip Boylan stated that the City’s would get the construction and built of the facility but the limit of use may hinder the city’s benefit. He added that the Dogwood tennis courts would be a potential location.
Re: New Business
Bob Taylor stated that he like both candidates and thought that they both brought up good
Chip Boylan stated that even though Ray Thomas did not show and we should not hold that against him.
Bob Taylor motioned that we recommend both candidates to the Mayor and Council to the Board. – After discussion the Board voted unanimously and will recommend to the Mayor and Council that Wendy Braund and Adrienne Crutchfield youth member be appointed as a members of the Recreation and Park Advisory Board.
Re: Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 27th at 7 p.m. at the Croydon Creek Nature Center.
