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Charlestown Township Parks & Recreation Board |
Present
Announcements
A trails workday is set for this Sunday the 20th starting at 9 a.m. If you have any interest in attending, please meet at the Pickering Trail/Pickering Dam Trail Head at Pike’s Peak Road and Pickering Dam Road. Please bring gloves, shovels and any tools capable of cutting weed foliage. Plans include removing fallen trees and fixing walkways, questions please give Frank Beyer a call.
Minutes for Approval
The August minutes were approved.
Business
Youth Sports
There was a lengthy discussion at the last Board of Supervisors meeting regarding sports activities in the Park. The final decision was the teams would be allowed to continue their season according to their governing policies for COVID as long as there were no county spikes in positive cases or the Township insurance advised against it.
Mr. Lawrence is closely watching a minor rise in cases. Mr. Maurer said no positives or symptoms have been reported for PASC. Saturday they will be playing on two different fields and they have been spreading the age groups. No issues have been reported.
- Mr. Mount will post a Google Calendar for teams and Mr. Lawrence invited others to
post community or Township events, games, and practice schedules, etc.
- There were students on the roof of the PMYC Clubhouse. The University security has been made aware and will be watching.
- The Brandywine Flag Company will be out to investigate the problems the Township is having with the Park flag pole.
- A resident complained about being bullied while playing Pokémon Go in the Park. After a call to Niantic’s customer service, the maker of the game became less hesitant to accommodate Mr. Hubbard after finding out that the Township could control the Pokéstops placed at the Park. They offered to contact local Go users and re-communicate the Code of Conduct. If complaints do not subside, players could lose Pokéstops and lose the ability to play Go in the Park, or be suspended from the game.
- Pavilions are not being rented yet, but the Board has maintained the policy that only non-profits groups will be able to rent in the future.
Trails
- The Roadmaster and Davey Tree are coming to the entrance of the Pickering Dam Trail to look at downed trees.
- The Thompson Trail needs more work, but progress has been made.
- The McDevitt Trail has many trees down, one too large for a horse to jump, and certainly not something a bike cannot get around. Mr. Beyer has been notified.
- The spring Butterfly Walk had poor weather so turn out was very low. Next year’s Butterfly and Wildflower walks are already being planned. There will be volunteer’s available so that groups are less than 6, and there will be signup sheets. Mrs. Underhill continues to take the lead in planning these events.
- The Rails-to-Trails Project has received funding to begin creating a proposal for governing and policing the trail since it crosses many municipalities.
- The Charlestown Parks & Recreation Facebook page should bring volunteers to the Trail workday on Sunday at 9 until ≈noon.
- There is a new Boy Scout project underway. The scout will be leveling benches and raising walkways on unlevel footers. Plus, a small kiosk will be built in the Park.
Brightside Farm Park
Mr. Goodman met with Davey Tree at Brightside Farm Park to discuss the Alantis trees and Spotted Lanternflies. Davey Tree suggested the method of “slash and treat” where cuts are made into the tree and the herbicide is placed into the slash so that it kills the tree from within. Mr. Longua shared that it takes a few weeks to see a difference but the tree is ready for removal after a few months. This time of year, it may be difficult to navigate since the leaves are falling soon anyway. There is one tree on a property that is bordering someone’s lawn and may require extra care. The rest of the trees could be felled right where they stand. Davey tree does not recommend traps in this area. Mr. Lawrence stated that several people have offered to help with the Lanternfly situation near the Horseshoe Trail nearby. He will send Mr. Goodman the contact info. He is waiting on a quote from Davey and will send it to the Board of Supervisors and Mr. Lawrence, but he expects it to be high. The homeowner would need to be visited, the trees would need to come down quickly, and it is a large project-there are many trees.
Although the herbicide is not an airborne or “spread” type of application, Ms. Alix Coleman doesn’t want poison near Brightside Farm Park. However, if the trees are simply cut down, they will resprout quickly and multiply. Mr. Goodman needs to reconnect with Alix. Mr. Buck suggested providing Alix the material safety data sheet for the slashing chemical. It may make a difference to let her know that the trees and poison will be removed from the farm after they are down.
Mr. Buck reminded the group that there are after dark visitors at the farm even though it is closed at dusk. Visitors watching comet activity or walking aren’t a great concern to P&R, also no trouble has been reported.
EAC
Mr. Goodman discussed increasing the riparian buffer with Davey Tree while at Brightside Farm Park.
Charlestown Day
Mr. Lawrence updated Members about the Drive-In Movie Night at the CAT Pickering Campus in Phoenixville. The ≈$5,500 cost of the screen, movie rights, staff, portable restrooms, etc., was not covered by the $1,700 worth of sponsorships. Mr. Lawrence wants to lower the cost but have a second movie night. Many residents took advantage of the 250 free tickets and the event “sold” out quickly. However, only ≈80 showed up for the movie.
Makinlee Fox of GoFox and Members discussed the possibility of having 2 or 3 showings, getting more sponsorships, raising the ticket fee, advertising more, and bringing food trucks into the event.
Mr. Lawrence will begin the paperwork for October 10th movie night. He requested volunteers from tonight’s meeting, especially for finding sponsors. Mr. Lawrence will follow up with Mrs. Csete.
The Township newsletter will advertise the art contest, possible virtual 5k, and Park Cleanup. Mr. Mount will be advertising again in social media. Mr. Lawrence will talk with Mrs. Csete about the details. Mr. Mount suggested advertising the art contest with the Movie Night sponsor’s logos.
Communication
- Mr. Lawrence has requested that Members email amongst themselves, instead of him being the “spoke in the wheel”, this will speed communication.
- The deadline for the newsletter is October 15, Members were urged to submit articles and pictures to Mrs. Csete.
- Mr. Lawrence suggested some Members become admins so that they can share things on the P&R Facebook page.
- Lastly, stay tuned for updates regarding Pick Up Pennsylvania (PUP) that will be providing gloves, safety vests, and trash bags to volunteers. Mr. Lawrence will be looking into the program, for a Township-wide cleanup activity.
Adjournment was at 8:30 p.m.