By Lisa Carolin
A little bit of rain and 40-something-degree weather didn’t stop the Chelsea Parks Commission from holding its May 7 meeting at Timbertown Park. It was a good way to get a first-hand look at the state of the park.
City Manager John Hanifan suggested that as far as the next five years go, no big changes are in the works, mostly maintenance. Parks Commission members agreed that it is a priority to maintain the field, which is big enough to accommodate a variety of sports and activities.
Constructing a trail connection to the non-motorized trail is also something that needs to be considered based on what’s in the best long-term interest of the green space.
Hanifan said that the wooden play structure will need substantial work in the future, but maintenance should suffice for the next five years.
The city gets $50 each time someone rents the gazebo. Most of the activities are birthday parties and graduation parties. There was discussion about building a second gazebo as well as some sort of a windbreak area to keep parents somewhat comfortable while kids run around during the colder months.
It’s definite that the Pierce Park Improvement Plan will not be receiving any financial help from the Patronicity crowdfunding platform because it doesn’t fit the profile of what they do, according to what Hanifan was told. He said that there is $50,000 in the current budget and $50,000 in the budget for the next fiscal year that begins in July, which will allow some of the work to get done.
Park Commission members agreed that the priorities in Pierce Park are working on the trail, re-landscaping in the front, and building a new gazebo. The work in Pierce Park should begin soon.
Also discussed were dates for summer programming at the parks aimed at teens, tweens, and families. Activities will include kickball, ultimate Frisbee, a dinosaur egg hunt, volleyball, kite building and flying, and decorative painting. Dates and locations will soon be announced.
A reminder that the parks cleanup takes place Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m.-noon.
The Parks Commission no longer has a vacancy as of May 6 when applicant Christine “Kate” Mehuron was approved by Chelsea City Council for a term ending March 1, 2020.
The Parks Commission will meet next at 9 a.m. on June 4 at Veterans Park.
