Mansfield Parks Advisory Committee

Minutes of September 2, 2009

Acting Secretary Eric Kruger

 

 

Present: Jennifer Kaufman, Eric Kruger, Michelle Baughman, Penny Potter and Ethan Avery.

The Meeting was held at the Eagleville Preserve and called to order at 6:35.

 

 

A. Continuing Business

1.      Upcoming FOMP Programs-

a.      Walktober is coming soon and will include PAC sponsored events; “A Hunt in the Woods” at Dunhamtown Forest on October 10th, “The Fifty Foot View” at Fifty Foot Park on October 18th.

2.      Winter Program ideas will be discussed at the October meeting and are due in November.

 

B.     Staff Report

1        NAV workdays-fall schedule reminder- UCONN students have volunteered again to assist with some of these NAV workdays, specifically September 12, 19 and October 10th. 

2        Grants in Implementation Phase

a.      Commonfields-Recreation Trails Program Grant

3        Grants in Application Phase

a.      Design of Universal Access Trail at Bicentennial Pond (Recreational Trail Program Grant)

4        River Park- Online trail guide is now on line!

5        An open space bond referendum will be on the ballot in November.  The previous bonds, authorized in 2006, were not sold because of the poor bond market.  The four acquisitions the Town completed this year (Moss, Dorwart, Lions Club, and contribution for 50% of the Luce property) were funded through existing funds.

 

C.    Other Committee Minutes

1.      Conservation Commission

2.      Open Space Preservation Committee

3.      Planning and Zoning Commission

 

D.    Fall Projects

1.      A local Eagle Scout is still planning to build a Bird Blind at Commonfields as part of above mentioned grant

2.      A local High School IT instructor is hoping to have a group of students build and install benches at Commonfields and River Park.

3.      Rain Garden Planting at River Park

4.      WHIP Native Shrub Planting, etc

5.      NAV Workdays

 

E.     Adjournment

1.      The next PAC meeting is scheduled for October 7th at 6 pm at Old Spring Hill Field to view shrub plantings by WHIP.

2.      It was suggested that the December meeting include updating a management plan as a group to that the PAC members could get a better feel for what is involved with updating management plans.

 

3.      Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.

 

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Eric A. Kruger, Acting Secretary