Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee

Meeting date: 
Monday, May 8, 2023
Prospect Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee 
Meeting Minutes
May 8, 2023, 5:00 pm

 

Members Present:  Tina Beavin, Ron Cundiff, Carolyn Embry, John Evans, Doug Farnsley, Lynn Granger, David Holmes, Stuart Miles, Sallie Schneider, Linda Wardell

Others Present:  Don Gibson, Chris Gorman, Lee Tucci

The meeting was called to order at 5 pm.

  • Minutes from the April 10th meeting were approved as written.
  • Mayor’s Update:  Mayor Farnsley reported that the playground is open, and a curb cut at the east side of Cowley Park has been completed.  The Little Hunting Creek Park Pavilion has been dedicated and named for John E. Evans, former Prospect Mayor.  The playground will be named Charlotte’s Playground after the daughter of Sarah O’Dell, who initiated the playground project.
  • Parks Update:
    • Little Hunting Creek Park Pavilion—Despite some weather issues, the opening of the John E. Evans Pavilion took place on May 30.  The event featured a performance of “Hamlet” by Shakespeare in the Park and was a great success with about 50 people in attendance.
    • Little Hunting Creek Park Playground—The community has embraced Charlotte’s Playground with children almost always playing during daylight hours.
    • Little Hunting Creek Park landscaping including trees and shrubs has been installed.
    • Parks Programs
      • The second wildflower walk was attended by 25 community members.  Carolyn Embry and Jacquelyn McGrail are discussing ways to make the event better next year.  Plans are to divide the attendees into two groups so that it is easier to see the flowers and hear the information that the leaders present.
      • A full schedule of summer concerts in Little Hunting Creek Park has been announced with programs each month through September.  The schedule has been distributed to Prospect homes and posters will be placed in local businesses.   Sallie Schneider asked that next year we try to include programs that would appeal to families and especially children.  John Evans asked for suggestions for next season.
      • The next craft program will be “Craft for All” and will provide the opportunity for community members of all ages to create a tie dye t-shirt.  The event will take place in Little Hunting Creek Park on a Saturday in June, with details to be announced soon.
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  • In a discussion about ways to recruit additional park volunteers, it was suggested that we approach local high schools.  Many require their students to log a certain number of volunteer hours.  Tina Beavin offered to contact schools to discuss inviting students to work with Prospect Parks & Recreation.  In addition, David Holmes suggested that at the July 4th celebration at Cowley Park, we have a way for people to sign up to volunteer.
  • Scout Update—Lynn Granger announced that there is a scout who wants to build an information kiosk for Little Hunting Creek Park.  He and the scout will work with Ron Cundiff to determine the best location.  It will be placed near the parking area, the playground and pavilion, to be highly visible to park users.  The kiosk will most likely be built in August.
  • Chainsaw artist Harley Dougherty has been engaged to carve a fox-themed sculpture using the oak tree stump in Little Hunting Creek Park near the pavilion.  He expects to begin the sculpture in June, and it should take about one week to complete.
  • The meeting was adjourned at 6 pm.  The next committee meeting will take place on Monday June 12, at 5 PM in the Prospect Library at City Hall.