that room. There's a thing that says to HDMI one. >> No, there's a panel in there like what it comes through. All right. I want to tell apology technology is part of the model
industry. Um we're going to try to get the take a second just ask the people here if you've seen the PowerPoint that was online or if you want us to walk through it. So everybody's already seen the PowerPoint and is here with specific questions then I'm not going to go through the PowerPoint again um with
everyone. So show a hand. Do you want to show him five? So registering. Okay. Um
>> laptop one. Sure. >> Oh, there. Yeah, there's a button in there that you have to enter for laptop one. Oh, there you go. There we go. All right, >> we'll roll through this relatively quickly then just to get everybody
want to move a bit so they can actually just see it on the screen. See that more they want to see us here. You just proceed. I'll take care of it. Okay. All right. Okay.
I owe everyone seven minutes. My apologies. >> Correct. So, the plan to play was the master plan that was conducted based off of research done in 2022. Um had a lot of feedback.
They were at the green fest. They were in this room. They had a really fun activity where everybody got $100 with buckets all around the room. You got to spend the money how you want. there was over 150 participants there. Um surveys were sent out via mail across different
populations to try to capture um people who may not respond to an online survey completely quickly to make sure we have a representative sample. So um we have online surveys, mail surveys, and several inerson uh reinfest and in
this room as well as something else. Um, so based on all that information, we got all this feedback of things that community members wanted to spend their recreation dollars on. If we were going to make a big investment in recreation,
what would that going to look like? So, we broke it down into facilities, um, investments, programming, and then operational needs and programming. So,
And everyone at home can see this. Um, these are this is pulled straight from the rec plan. This isn't anything that we developed. This is just their findings. There were more than it went down to like the top 10 things, but with finite amount of money, we went for the
top five just to see how much we could cover in this scope. Um, I would put this that the investment in night park is $2.5 million. And that in itself, if you read the rec master plan, there's a lot of options in there.
Um, and from our conversations with the Knight Park board of trustees, a parking lot is not on the table. So, anything that's going to increase the concrete beyond maybe like walking paths is not a viable option. So, I think we're really not in a place to be able to kind of go
back um and do a lot of discussion on how we want to spend those $2.5 million in night park. So, that's going to be a separate conversation from from this right here because what we're doing right now with the district has the goal of having a shared service agreement by
December. And the goal for night park I do not believe needs to be on that tight of the timeline and can be a conversation where we can really form a steering committee make sure that we have feedback from uh the board of trustee little league um the bureau on
public works as well as our rec department um school district of course connect 2020 which did a master plan of walkability in our town um we can't we currently are on two major walking trails that don't actually connect to each other so seeing how we can make an
investment in the park that may move us towards our connect 2020 goals um and of course engaging community members. So that is a process that is still going to happen happening kind of simultaneously but there are no decisions being made at
the moment on that front. Um I think this is still um so how are we getting this money? This is a approved in April of 2025 by the prior administration for $15
million. Um, we have secured that it will not be raising your taxes because we have retiring municipal debt and we're just substituting this municipal debt for the municipal debt that we had on the books which was for the public
safety building and then we finished paying off public safety building and went on to the the department of public works building. Um, and now that would shift to the recreation center. So that's how that's being funded. Um
and yeah. >> So good evening everyone. Um I will uh be uh brief and so what the partnership uh consists of is uh taking the goals and the objectives outlined in the
burough's recreation plan and trying to be able to check off as many of those items as possible. given the finite resources that have uh been made available. And so modernizing outdoor facilities, specifically looking at the uh athletic space behind Kletwood Middle
and College High School, uh making sure that we modernize u those facilities for both uh school district and uh recreation and public community use uh in the most uh efficient and appropriate way based on the articulated needs from
members of our community. The second aspect is to increase uh critical indoor recreational space uh through the funding of the acquisition of the former good sheeperd uh Catholic school. Um it
is currently uh the central office uh location for the school district and so uh we'll be expanding um facilities for both uh indoor recreational space, school district operational space um in
addition to making sure that we leverage a portion of the property uh for a new outdoor playground paired with uh the opening of all uh school district playgrounds. for public usage after school, which
ultimately would increase um community access to outdoor recreational space within short walking distance throughout the entire program. Uh in addition to making sure that we establish um a uh
concrete uh shared service agreement that guarantees usage for both the school district, the recreational uh programming and community access. So, we want to make sure that we are codifying that relationship and then providing um
access to the community that they have currently not had. And so, when we think about the spaces that are included in this uh anyone that has been uh behind the wheel of the high school in the last
decade, uh you've seen what the location looks like. And so, this is the current space um as it sits today. uh there's limited usage of the existing uh space. It is a large uh amount of uh of real estate. Um but the current usage of the
space is limited to one based on the orientation of the field. We do not we have not maximized utilization of the space and so uh the orientation of the field is problematic based on the demand
of of our community. Uh the natural grass uh field primary field does not allow for multisport usage and does not allow for continual usage uh seven days per week. There's poor drainage resulting in resting water. Um uh there
is also there are missing lanes uh from the current uh running and walking track which does not lend itself for Collinswood to be able to host uh state sponsored competitions and tournaments which ultimately puts our students at a
competitive disadvantage. In addition to the uh the surface of the uh running track uh is not necessarily uh conducive for year- round usage for those uh who would like to walk around the track. Uh in addition to the lack of lighting uh
for non-school usage. Uh the current multi-purpose grass fields uh they need to be uh graded and resurfaced with new uh grass seed planted in order to make sure that
we minimize uh the potential for injury as well as uh to reinforce uh additional usage of the space. Uh there's also limited participation of the entire property due to portable concessions and portable restaurants.
There is no student press box which means that we are unable to successfully document both school events as well as community events. Uh in addition to the lighting system being outdated and often serving as a nuisance for residents that live within the boundaries of the
property. Uh in addition to uh improvements needed for uh ADA and emergency vehicle access as well as limited sound security and wireless systems. and then the need for additional storage.
And so based on the amount of feedback that we have received from our community over the last several years, uh what we are proposing is to reorient fields to better maximize the utilization of space in order to be able to address much of
the demand that was clearly articulated um uh to both the burough as well as the school district through numerous community engagement uh events. convert the natural grass uh primary football field into a multisport artificial turf
field. This would be the only um uh space on the property that would be artificial turf. The remaining envelope of of the space would be uh natural grass uh construct an eight lane rubberized running and walking track uh grass
softball as well as multi-purpose uh fields. And so we would uh ex excavate, grade uh replant um new seed uh lay sod in areas where were appropriate. Uh in order to increase access to those fields
as well, we would construct a new uh onestory concession stand with storage as well as uh bathrooms sufficient for a 1500 seat spectator grand stand with a student press box.
uh updated uh sports lighting systems to reduce uh the impact on neighbors around the athletic complex as well as install a vinyl coated uh chain link fence around track uh to help uh maintain
safety for those that are walking or participating on the track with all of the other events that would be going on simultaneously within that space as well as improving ADA and emergency vehicle access and adding additional on-site maintenance and storage units for future
use. And so, uh, when we think about how to utilize the space, we wanted, uh, for our community to be able to envision what it might look like. And so, what we did was we referenced, uh, we met with our architects and engineers, and we
wanted to find out, are there properties locally that we could just take a look at to be able to have a visual reference to? And so what you're seeing on the screen right now is Cherry Hill East. Uh this facility was finished in 2024. And so when we think about artificial
turf, there are numerous um updates and upgrades to uh traditional turf. Uh the fill um uh the cooling mechanisms, all of the materials and the resources uh are more responsive than they have been in years past. And so the commitment
that comes from both the district and the bureau is for us to continue to look at minimizing um negative environmental impact and making sure that what we uh propose is is safe for the children and the residents within our community. Um
multi-purpose grass fields uh and softball uh diamonds. And so we say softball because based on the space uh softball both varsity and junior varsity um would be authorized back within that space. we would not be able to utilize
varsity baseball, but we could utilize it for junior varsity baseball um as well as recreation. When we think about a 1500 seat grandstand, uh the current seating is insufficient based on the sheer volume
um of usage of our community for both sporting events and community events. One of the core features of a new grand stand would be elevated seating with uh ramps and stairs to make sure that it is handicap accessible for those with limited mobility and also to make sure
that every vantage point in a seated position is able to see out onto the field without having um participants uh or visitors having to stand in order to see what's happening within these athletic spaces. Uh the rubberized track
um would also be um more um conducive to long-term repetitive usage for both students and community members. And it would also allow us uh to be able to host uh athletic events, charity events,
u walk-athons, all of those core pieces. We would be able to host all of those here in Colorado. Uh what you're seeing is just a side view of uh potential grandstand stairs and ramps in order to make sure that any new spaces that we create um within our
community, all of our members are able to access them. Uh stabilized lawn areas and sidewalks to make sure that we reduce uh trip hazards and increase safety for all of our visitors. >> Student press box. Uh this allows our uh
students uh we have we are very fortunate to have an award-winning uh television studio that is all run by students. Our students are not only um into television production but they also produce films. Um they have won Emmys
for their fil production. They have won uh state, regional and national awards for television production. uh and our students are uh burgeoning filmmakers. So, we want to continue to foster and develop those skills for our very talented students. In addition, we want
to make sure that we're able to document the core community events that makes our community so special. Sports lighting um so that you just get a sense of of what type of sports lighting uh would be uh used. So the goal is to make sure that
there is sufficient lighting um for the complex but not intrusive lighting that uh disrupts the comfort the life uh of the residents outside of the athletic complex. So that requires us to significantly update not only electrical
but also the lighting system. Um for illustrative purposes only um concessions. concessions allow um our different organizations to be able to provide service to visitors but also be able to raise additional funds to reinvest back within our community and
so concession is really important uh as well storage is also important and although they are not sexy bathrooms are an absolute must and so making sure that we have appropriate facilities um so that our visitors are well taken care
of to take care of theirh their personal needs Uh that is also a must. And so when we think about the additional indoor and outdoor space, um the uh former Good Shepard site, uh it's a large uh 45,000 square foot facility
right in the middle of town, one block away, uh from the app. Uh and so it's in a prime location. Uh the school district currently resides on the first floor. And so all school district operations is currently operated out of the first floor of the good sheeperd with second and third floor uh being currently
utilized by the dascese as well as community organizations. In addition, there is a uh cafeteria, there is a library space uh where is open as well as a full-size gymnasium uh that are currently uh being used but are
underutilized. So that presents a a valuable uh opportunity for us to be able to add uh additional programming um that we've currently not been able uh to add.
And so with the additional space, um the purpose of many of these meetings is for us to hear is to update feedback that we have received from our community about how should we best utilize all of these spaces in order to make sure that in a shared service agreement, we are being
extremely clear about how to guarantee that those needs are being met and then opening up what's still available uh for times for open open view. And so, for example, some of the uh feedback that we've received is having spaces for the
community to be able to go for open gym. Um indoor spaces at a premium. We are landlocked as a community. And so, whenever we can add back value to our community, we believe it's incumbent that we do so. And so, the improvements uh to the good sheeperd would include uh
updates to the indoor space aligned with where the needs uh go. And so based on the organizations, based on the recreational needs and operational needs of the schools, the community, and the recreational programs, we would be continually updating the facility to
include the gymnasium. There is a commercial kitchen and a full-size cafeteria which could be used for uh open uh community meetings, uh court events, and so on and so on. Um uh bathroom updates uh to make sure that
bathrooms are sufficient based on the utilization within the spaces and then interior and exterior signage and lighting improvements in order to make sure that it is a well lit well uh utilized location. And so what you're seeing now are just
these are the current state um of the uh facility. And so we are very also very fortunate that the dascese has done a phenomenal job of maintaining um this resource. And so most of the spaces require cosmetic improvements. They
don't necessarily require major reconstruction. And so as a school district we have a fullervice uh buildings and grounds facilities team. Uh we have carpenters, electricians, plumbers, painters. uh we
are able to uh internally do a majority of the work needed uh in order to support both the school district's needs as well as the recreational needs of these are more images of interior spaces
including the kitchen um and indoor uh some of the former uh classrooms are waiting for programs to And so what you're looking at now is an aerial view of the total property. And
so if you think about that block, um that's the block of of property that would be subdivided from the dascese uh included within this transition. And then for illustrative purposes, you're looking at the Newton Lake uh park.
There's an ADA compliant inclusive playground that was built last year. Uh and so we would be uh working with the bureau um in order to make sure that we add an additional uh playground in addition to the five elementary schools
currently uh in Collinswood uh to add additional uh outdoor space. >> All right. So there was a lot of questions far we've had 20 respondents to our online survey which is the depiction in
the back and this will take you to the online Google form. If you're here and you ask a question I would still love for you to and I when we're taking notes we're adding that to the feedback but if you have more to say or occurs to you please fill that out as well. It's very
very helpful. Um, we've had nine people drop off comments at Burl Hall. I don't know how many are dropped off the library. Library is closed today for an interest. Um, but based on that feedback, there seem to be a lot of questions about how the funding is going
to work. So, the bureau is the borrower for this bond. U, we're partnering with the district and using we have the same engineer. We both have the same engineer. Um, and the burrow would be paying whoever selected
to do the project, which would go through an RFP. There's all the all the laws about how we pick the bidder. It's not um it's it's all open. It's all the way that we choose someone to repave the street is the way we would choose who
would be constructing this project. Um, it'd be $10.5 million for the high school middle school field upgrades, $2 million for the acquisition of Good Shepard and the demolition and building
of the new playground that was mentioned, and then $2.5 million for night parks. Um, so we This is community concession number two. Uh, as promised, either the November 5th or the November 16th are at
this point going to be themed. One of them is going to be themed Turf because that has been the biggest feedback that we've gotten from the community. Our concerns about turf and as um Dr. McDow said, Turf has come a long way. There's a lot of different kinds of turf and a
lot of the research we have is from versions one and two. So we are actively compiling data. We are using the articles that we've had a lot of community members submit different research different articles. We're working that all in so
we can present like findings. We can present numbers on what it costs to have certain uses and, you know, really putting, you know, we talk about injuries and we talk about heat, but putting that in perspective on the actual kind of turf
that we're talking about using because unfortunately it's kind of all thrown into one. You hear turf and there's a lot of different angles. So, we want to make sure that we present our due diligence that we are doing um to the community. So, stay tuned. I'm not sure if that's going to be the fifth or the
16th. I think there's still uh a possibility another big theme comes up of what we have seen in our feedback is that the big conservative community, we hear you and we're we're working to make that a more transparent um decision-m
process. Um we are trying to make these different days of the week, different parts of town. We have one on a is that a Sunday? on a Sunday at night park if you need to bring your kids. Um if it's hard to make these at night, we're trying to be as flexible as possible. We
have two boxes, one at the library, one at Bur Hall available. Um there we go. Um so there's the hours of Burl Hall, the hours of the library. If you want an answer to your feedback in one of the boxes, please leave your
email. Um, all nine wonderful people that dropped off did not leave any contact information to get back to them, but I will address their concerns. Um, if you want to know where where your feedback is going, that's all going into one gigantic form so that we can easily pick up themes. And I'm just we're just
pairing together like the buckets so that we can further address those buckets when we have these conversations with you, which is why this presentation is a little different presentation from weeks ago because we have a week worth of feedback to work off of. Um, we have this presentation that you are
seeing at home. It's already on the website. Um, and it's the same presentation we gave last week. And once we have our FAQs up and running, it will be on the same landing page on the burough website and for the district as well. Um, at this point, I'm going to
open it up to questions. Uh, Commissioner Henderson Riley is working on the online version. So, if you're at home and you have questions, type them into the chat and she will read them out loud and we'll address those and to these wonderful folks that came out
tonight, you get first dips for your questions. So, if anybody has any questions or comments, um, things you would like to see. >> My comment would be this. Um, I'm not the representative, but I'm here to make
sure that seniors don't forget us. But the other part of it is I'm thrilled with what I see. But on the other hand, with so many things going on, how about if I just moved into town,
how am I going to know what's out there? Or how is things going to be visually? Oh, wait. It's it's Tuesday night. this. >> And it seems to me we need almost like a uh somebody who's going to help
coordinate it, possibly schedule things like uh you want art and music and so on. I personally think we could have informational speakers, somebody who talks about whatever. um we
would need somebody who at least works part-time and I mean that is their job right >> uh for example here in the senior center we have all different kinds of activities I'll bet anything none of you
know what they are I don't >> because they have country dancing and scrabble and they have I don't know what night I don't know what day do I have to pay for it? We have a meditation group. What? Okay, we need somebody for that.
And I I love what I see there because I know how much we need it. But on the other hand, it's for nothing. If the Girl Scouts are meeting on this night and my little girl wants to join, I don't know anything about it. How am I
going to know? We also have homeschooled children, so they're not even in that school network, right? that these seniors a lot of them don't know what's going on but and a lot of them don't use internet don't use Facebook or whatever
and they're cut off. So we have a lot of different ways we need to be able to uh meet those needs. So I would like to see something like that put in there. >> So I'm going to rephrase this and you can check me if there's something that I'm that if this is not the right
direction. programming, inclusive programming. So that means for kids who are not in the school system, for young adults, for adults, for older adults, we have a lot of buckets of programming needs. Um, a way to know what's happening, what is like a monthly
calendar, which things need registration. So that's kind of in our recck department. And because our recck department has been offering the same things for so long, it's kind of like a routine like what you expect. You know, basketball's the winner and Odds the Mind starts. You know, there's youth
theater. You know, there's community theater, but you're right, that does need to be centralized. And part of the shared services is how do we carve out time for the different groups? And that's one of the things that I've done in the last week is working with our director of rep to make sure that I have
conversations with the heads of Odyssey the mind of community theater of youth theater of some of the senior activities and who organizes those what's are their space and their time needs so that when we're having our conversations about the shared service agreement we're sure to
protect for the different activities the bureau is currently doing. And then what percentage are we going to go for for the war? Right. Um I'm going hear you. >> I think you did very well. You >> okay? All right. There was Yeah.
>> Are the bar officers will they go over to the checker? >> No, the burl officers stay at burl. >> What is the timeline for making all of these things? Do you have a timeline for it? >> Uh, so for those who don't know, I think
they're very very nice. For those who don't know me, I'm Robert. I'm the school board president and then >> Sarah Sherman. Um, I'm the committee chair of the school board. >> Uh, and so yeah, so for the there's a lot of different phases. Um, I one of the the big pieces we're trying to move
on as soon as possible is the high school middle school fields. Um and and right now our timeline uh with the burl and the district is to uh final phase finance of shared service agreement in December. Uh so that we can go out to bid as soon as possible. Give the
architects and engineers time to wrap up all the work go to bid you know beginning of 2026. So during the winter when it's too cold to actually do a lot of work uh so that once the weather changes they can get going as soon as possible. Um and then you know The idea
would be that you know as as quickly as we can get that done we get that done then also the purchase of of good shepherd uh would be again after fall as we talk there pieces to button up um but you know there's many processes in terms of
that that purchase but that would be also as as soon as um we can get to that process >> right so we're meeting jointly between the district the bureau and um the arch dases next week at the end of next week that the earliest arch dasces was available. So, we'll be speaking with them next week. The funds will not be
borrowed till 2026 um because they were not factored into the 2025 budget which I came into. So, we're waiting till 2026 to do that financing. We are still deciding whether it's going to be a 20, a 25, or a 30-year bond. Likely, it'll be a 20-year
bond because that is the most financially responsible, the smallest sum to borrow that money. Um, but that's still something that we're working through. Um, and those are my two highlight. >> I think so. I mean, but do you know how
long it would take to complete the the improvement of the fields? Like is it a yearong process longer? >> Yes. >> So, in a best case scenario, we're looking at seven to nine months of barring
no major disruptions to supply chain. Um no major disruptions to the the later market. So, as long as the materials are available, um they estimate seven to nine months. >> And some of the improvements for for
Good Shepard again are it's about when we'd be able to get I mean the school the district's already in the space, but when we have access to the gym, for example, the commercial kitchen and that's a conversation. Well, by the end of these meetings, we'll have more
information to share. And there's not um I think space would be available much sooner indoor than outdoor. >> Sure. >> Um I guess I'm curious a little bit about access and space for some of like the community programs and whether or
not um you've thought about how that access would work and whether or not there would be space for uh community organizations. Um, I know you said something about the classrooms. Um, I think one big problem a lot of the groups have, I mean ours included, is
the >> what's ours? >> I'm sorry. Uh, the concept collective. >> Okay, great. >> Um, is like a storage issues or having like a place to kind of call home. We're because it's built out of everyone's
personal time and and um and properties like everything kind of like is spread out between everyone. >> Everyone's garages. Yeah, I I would say probably the same thing for like the u the Odyssey, the group, like similar things. >> And I think having access to something
like that and being able to especially at night too because there's there's things that uh you know, most of the people in our groups who have the time to volunteer uh usually don't have kids at the time or have kids that are older um and they can really only meet at
night. Um, so I just wanted to just put that out there for consideration. Like it's not really a big deal if it doesn't happen, but it would certainly be nice and helpful. And there's organ and there's also programs, sorry, there's also programs that people have always suggested like a tool library that we
just can't maintain at someone's house with no actual staff or help or support from other things that we would be we would love to fund, but we don't necessarily have the the structure of having an in-house full service uh
facilities team um and a pretty substantially sized facility um is that we have flexibility to be able to address a wide range of needs. And so the continued conversations and so the more feedback that we can receive, the
better informed our shared service and our planning can be so that we can accommodate as many of those needs as possible. What I will say is that there are uh there are opportunities to do some of the things that you just said um using the facility. Um, and I'll ask you
the same that I asked of the head of Odyssey of the Mind, you theater, if you can either on the on the submission form or just an email to be Salon Awards.com is your your wish list, right? We are cons collective. We would love to have
400 square foot of permanent storage space that we can access in the evenings. We would also like a meeting room >> once a week or something for an hour. what whatever whatever you're and just kind of put that in there so that we know and can keep that on the map
because you we had our first meeting to start building the shared agreement this Friday and you can bet it's going to be a very large board with a lot of needs and how we put them in. So we want to make sure that all the needs are on there our senior services our civic
collective um a calendar to be able to see all the things that are happening we want to make sure that that's all built in. >> Yeah. I think we'd certainly be interested in helping like set up some programming too and >> love that things like that. >> I just want to add that those specifics
are really helpful. So I think this is a time to kind of be bold and say these are the things that we'd like because this is that input time. Um so don't you know don't worry that you're asking you know for too much but but come in and ask if this is what your needs are and that way we can respond if we haven't
heard. you know, we are poking folks and trying to hear from the groups that and the stakeholders that we know. Um, but we do want to hear all those specifics. So, >> put together. >> We like can't wait for your email. >> You've been talking with a lot of folks and I think tool library is the first
time we've heard that that's a that's a really cool idea. Um, I do want to mention the the storage piece that that you mentioned. You know, that's something that we heard also from PC line and other other groups. I I think that um I I I I do want to make sure to set expectations a little bit there
where I think it the storage space piece I think is tricky and and I'm sure we're going to talk through and and make sure that we can do what we can but understanding that you know part of the issue is that we need to have indoors safe that's usable by folks right so I think that definitely is one of
something that that will be taken by P and then also the idea that you know hopefully uh if if uh the stars line in the future we'll be able turned into a fun marketing school, you know, if if when you've been using that as storage for everyone for years. Um uh you know,
it' be I think quite a shock to something dissolve all your storage space. And so I think those are some considerations that I think definitely worth thinking through as folks bring you know understand that that's a that's a huge people have like boats or whatever that they have you know
people's garages and and it's um definitely something that they brought up about needing to have a space somewhere else to store things. Is there a basement I could sh? >> No basement. No secret basement. Okay. It's also our goal
to roll things out in a in a way they can stay consistent. So we don't want to say, "Sure, you can do all these things. We have the space now. In three, four, seven years, we're going to take it away." We don't want to do that. I would rather go slowly, make sure that
we have the space that we can dedicate x amount of square feet for these four different organizations to have pure storage. We can work that in and then we can do programming in these spaces. You know, you and then open it up to x amount of groups, but if you can pack it
in and pack it out, like great. You you get more access. But I I we don't want to be in a place where we commit to something that we cannot provide a community in a sustainable way because that just wouldn't make much sense. So we are trying to kind of balance the two
and you can now see what are we talking about when I think >> is there a plan to like is the push to try and make that into like use a school in the in the end game of this. >> Yeah. So, so one of the one of the I think big reasons why um this
partnership I think it helps both the the bureau and also the district is that um good sheeperd is I think a really great option for how we as a district can basically modernize some of our builds and so it's a it's a um the the
dascese the the parish are offering a really great price to the the district um for that building and it's it's a building that's that was made in uh kind of the more modern era of school buildings. So, it's got the structure
that is really conducive for um elementary schooling now and I would say probably for the foreseeable future where it basically has large classrooms, full indoor gym, a fullsize cafeteria, uh full uh indoor commercial kitchen,
right? All these different library >> library, right? all these different spaces that a lot of our our older um uh school buildings online school buildings don't have. Um and because it has those bones, the amount of money that would be
needed to uh renovate that to Department of Education requirements to house uh kids now uh though quite a lot, right, would be much lower than having to build a completely brand new school building. So definitely like from the from the
board perspective the hope is to identify uh some point you know in the future where we can financially responsibly um again go out and ask the community for or for the funds to to do that renovation. Um, and you know, we're
one of the things is we're there's a a bond. We know that we have some debt from our 2005 uh referendum rolling off in 2030, right? So, that's one of those times where again that's I think the most obvious one right now. Um, but yeah, I mean, yes, in the end, just a
long way of saying we have old old elementary school buildings. We need to find a fiscally responsible way to to um uh update them. And this is uh in argue one of the clearest ways to do that. >> And I think it just you know it there is no be clear there is no plan right now
like oh good now we're going to close this school once good shepherd has been purchased that is not a plan but the flexibility that it affords us in the structure um you know like Robert said we do have ag buildings that is a problem that is not coming your way and it is a very expensive problem. Um and
so having that as a backup has a flexible space something that can be used in the meantime is you know kind of an opportunity that's good to good >> and I would say it's a really natural partnership also too between the burrow and the district because um something
that we talked about last week during the the initial presentation was that um if you you know go by boys and girls clubs for example during the during the day they're they're closed because everyone's in school, right? Um and so
the idea is that even when Good Shepard becomes hopefully becomes a school, right? Uh the kind of because of the elementary school, right? There's not for example the gym, there's no 7 p.m. elementary school basketball games,
right? Um so that's that's a gym that could be open for community use in a way that say the middle school or the high school gym can't be because of of the games they have them, right? So the idea would be uh you know a school naturally lends itself to also gaining community resources in those off hours. Um and you
know we thought that on the court about how we view the the the school district and the building of the school district and the ground that's as a community good, right? And so this this kind of partnership between the the district and burrow to um make as much use of of uh the lim we have here and limited
resources we have here in Kingswood uh is is part of the genesis of of this partnership. Then also, you know, when you look at, you know, Maddie Deetsz runs a senior center, right? So, she's the one who has to say, I think she says no more than I do. Uh, Maddie has to say
no to a lot of people. Um, she's actually already been the first person in line, then. So, when can we use the gym at Good Shepard? Because two two weeks ago, she already was like had a group identified that she would love to give space to, but she would only accommodate half of their dates. So, it
would open up a senior community center for more programming as well because we could take the evening stuff and we can move it to Good Shepard which would give you more space here as well because I do know that seniors use this space during the day often but the during the day from what I'm told is not quite as
competitive and there is more flexibility. There are free spaces um but it would give more flexibility. Um I do know there are daytime activities but um but yeah sorry
we have any online >> um trying to think through some of your feedback >> improvements would that include updating the playground >> eventually
it's in bad shape Um that's kind of a different phase >> but yes but potentially potentially >> that would come like that's the se that's except from like this >> part of the rec plan um but like yeah
that there's a number of of um at the park level >> yeah I will say that the priorities on behalf of the park trustees is drainage or there's like two yeah there's two main points of drainage concerns
And then also uh potential schematic like engineering fees to look at how the fields are laid out right now because they all all the fields in Night Park just appeared like one moved in and then another one moved in and literally built a thing and then so it wasn't done in a
way that really is necessarily maximizing the space and also kind of taking into account how those drainage issues are going on like are we trying to drain something that is never going to be dry? Should we just maybe work around this space, make it into a little uh you know those like the little
watershed ponds or a rain garden or something like that? Um so th those are the two highle things that I know are uh priorities for the night park board of trustees and a lot of the feedback that we received for night park was for
uh walking paths and bike and bike trails and natural um natural play systems, more more nature play. Uh, and I've also heard a lot of feedback about some sort of uh,
uh, playground for older children. So, you know, not not the three-year-olds, but the 10-year-old, the 12 year olds, the 15 year olds who still want to hang off the stuff. Um, so those are the the big asks that I've heard in in themed chunks so far. I do know the last two
years we have raised money for playground improvements from the snowball gala. That money is not earmarked. That is still a discussion. It's still in play. So maybe on the matter. >> Yeah. I guess I'm thinking, you know, I
know that um with the referendum last year, people were concerned about there not being space shepherd. Um, so I know the playground will take care of that and that could be great. Um, I guess I'm thinking, you know,
that like this area if you're going to open and Hampton County just did such a beautiful job all these playgrounds, which is great. >> Um, you know, it seems like there's a good amount of playgrounds in that area.
I would just love to see more of the several million dollars. Um, I know it's not just for playgrounds take down that building, but like I think a more immediate thing would be how about park? How about updating all the equipment or
or making some of those things happen? >> Um, especially since I if Good Sheper does become school, it's going to be some time. Um, I don't know. That's just something to me like I know it satisfies a need for for green
space which was asked but um that part okay fair enough absolutely appreciate it all the all the way around All I know is all I know is that it was the here I go back to that
>> that the highest priority investment was trails for walking and hiking. 68% of respondents maybe like around I know there's some wellworn trails like that bridge >> anywhere >> not with like not with a road like a lot
of bike riders will you know roads >> and also we should also put in perspective that this feedback was in 2022 before the night park had invested in re um repaving the outer perimeter walk which had last
So that might be what people were referring to. You know, we we don't know which is why it's so important for people to come and tell us what is it they see. Even though there will be a steering committee to like guide what's happening in Night Park, this is still the opportunity to come and say, "Hi, I think there's enough trails there. I
would like to see build a blank." I also want to point out that um for several months the draft version of the plan to play the recreation plan which is over 90 pages was online and now it's the final version and so that entire documents if you are having trouble
sleeping at night and need something to read that entire document is online and what it's a comprehensive study and as a researcher I really appreciate it's a description of the methods the community engagement etc. So, I can't say for sure what's in there about the trails, but I know there's a lot and I have a whole
printed copy of it at home that I reference with little tabs. So, um for anything like that, um certainly can take a look at the entire plan as well. >> Couple very thanks. Um, I was at the the meetings for the uh about changing the
park and adding the trails and I think that you're right with the paving of those trails was a big part because people didn't like all the bumps and make a mess from tree roots and all that. So that came up a lot and saying,
but I think it was just we have them but um I think I think the stadium area that looks great like I I wish that um but uh but that's exactly like for so my kids are in my school. They
went all through the system here. My daughter's a freshman, my son's a junior, so it's going to just miss the changes to the stadium and all that, but um I'm on board with that. It's great. I know that with the last referendum, Turf was like just became this whole thing
and there was real presentations about like I remember major discussions and talk about different types of all that and it was the due diligence was there like more than I could imagine talking about
turkey. I didn't know you could add that much and it it felt like it was just it didn't matter if it was the purest uh substance ever that it still was not people were not going to go with it. And
I don't know if for me I I never knew if it was understood what that rats can uh keep up with all the sports that become that it was actually bad. Um and I don't know if
from not being in the parks not being on the fields and it would be hard to understand that. I get I get why people would not understand that because it just seems like grass and I have it in my yard. doesn't turn them up. Um, the
third thing is I know we're going to talk about night park separately, but when it comes to school and night park, I think of them completely joined and I came to them at odds. Um, for living here uh for as long as I have the nine
card board of trustees is like a joke to most of the people in town of who's on it. It's a shadow board. I've heard that. Right. And it's always been at odds with like when the when the times change
um and there's hundreds of kids playing soccer. There's like we used to get we would ask to use the high school and we it would get charged by the high school to the rec department to be able to use it and it just always felt really
bizarre and just I'm a soccer guy, right? Like just to put that out there. Um, and I don't know what the percentages are of our wreck program, but I would really like for that to be looked at for how much is
football, how much is and you know, we don't have wreck football, but um, for each of the sports because there's a ton of baseball teams, right? And the the difference with baseball is it's a defined space. You can't do
something else with it. but for soccer and then you have ultimate frisbee or you have um other sports that are just an open field and that space can be used for you know like multiple sports but soccer is the one that you just look and you
just see like you know and it's not mar so for high school soccer teams I can say for sure that we have the worst fields >> in South Jersey 100% It's
>> we're number one. >> It's so embarrassing. >> Just and seeing kids get hurt is a real thing. Um so, uh I I guess I I just want to make sure that they stay together,
right? night and feel it has to be how are they going to use a concert and a lot of why I came tonight is for like the night piece for me is really important just because I it's been so
much used and it's so that show really rough when it just feels like our resource >> but it's like owned by somebody and I know I was out there once coaching kids on a Sunday and we were it wasn't an official practice. I asked kids to just
come out and the cops pulled out because you can't have an official practice that was Sunday and I had to talk to a copy because you can't do that. I was like it's not just me kids like playing a sport like totally embracing right.
>> Yeah. I I think um and you know in our talk with the trustees is that there is a symbiotic relationship between the district, the rec department, the schools and the park, right? It is the lungs of our town. They have rules that
as a trusteeship they have to abide by, but there is room for growth and for flexibility there. and they have shown a tremendous desire to work with us and I think all of us here um and they're really excited
to be at the table to have these conversations. I do know that the Florida City baseball field gets taken down every year and turns into I think we use it from four different rep soccer fields right now. >> Um so we do and they and they put them
back up. So, it's a varsity baseball field in the spring and in the fall it is four soccer fields. >> Yeah. >> And you know, I'll just mention from the board perspective, you know, um definitely, you know, we appreciate the the partnership from from my park uh you
know, for a lot of our sports play there and you know, we we do work with them pretty closely and so again, we we appreciate their partnership for sure. Um and that's part of I think why the the middle high school update is so important. It's, you know, this is kind of the point I think that that Dale and
I have talked about, which is that the the school and the town believes in the middle school high school, it doesn't the impact of that doesn't just stay there. What it does and what it will allow to do is this takes some of that burden away from that park, right?
To free up space there to to let more programs happen kind of in that back space. And to your point, the deter, right? More programs there. So that I think my park um their trustees can can make sure that they're doing their jobs in terms of what what um they're uh
directed to do in terms of of maintaining that park as it was envisioned while also still you know making sure that the entire town has vision spaces. So I think that was kind of a symbiotic point there that >> and one of the things that's in the rec master plan is you know we have DPW that
has garages on night park and they cut some of the grass and then we have facilities that cut some of the grass and then we're not really sure who did I have yet to be able to figure out who paid for the asphalt on the sidewalk.
It's so like there's a lot of like we're really intermingled but not necessarily in a way that's been set down to make sure that we're not duplicating to make sure that we're not maybe upkeeping one too many mowers like maybe so this is that's part of shared service right is
to really try to streamline what this is that maybe DPW does a little bit more of this than facilities a little less or we trade it off month by month depending on the need maybe it's something that you know the facilities team does in the summer because they're not in the buildings, right? So, it's
just something that I don't think all the parties have been at the table to like talk through their logistics before and now we are going to. So, we I think Matt Craig, another board member, he's like, you know, he's he's the president of Lily whatever. Um but he uh he made a
point to say that like nice park as a park was not peeled like it's not like that like it was never when it's inception was not envisioned to be at we just use it as such it's a green space in the middle of town um and so like you know to have that additional space
beyond the middle of high school can really kind of let it be a park again and we don't have to worry I also coach soccer so like worry of kids puts at an angle on But it does batch of grass um is going to go a really long way just to
let that space kind of like heal and regrow instead of having to shift everything around to one of the >> So I would I guess I would caution there that that was kind of called out as a separate seat at a table.
>> So they are being little but not part of breath. That's the reason I automatically program, >> right? And they have their own >> that's why they're not housed under the W department like >> soccer and basketball and wrestling and
youth youth theater and obviously the mind and those are all like wreck programs. That's why they're separate. Um, I would often say that like these ideas when you're talking are really important because some I've heard it um through three or four separate forms of
like making night park one way the whole park like that would you know we can't eliminate realistically eliminating cars is a is a bigger conversation. Adding more concrete is a no. But what can we do to make it safer to walk through the middle of the park when there are seven
little league games going on or all the soccer games on a Saturday, right? So like that was a really good recommendation that someone made that pretty much at the cost of making a couple of signs we could do, right? So that's why we want to keep hearing these
things because there's some low hanging fruit that can address some problems real quick. So you mentioned that the park really isn't suited for athletics. I get um with that being said the uh lacrosse
field the hockey field will that be her why is that they are just as well. >> So that might be the nicest grass this whole town has is that field. So, it's Yeah, my kids played on that. I played
on that. Um, it's not great. It's not great. And I don't understand why they can't have a field against football, you know, and they're on football now, but the girls also have a good lacrosse and hockey
field. I mean, program is good. >> I have a question about that. I'm from Northern Virginia and our field hockey team had their own field and they played on their field, but lacrosse played on turf. >> Yeah, that's what played on. >> Most schools, most high schools um that
compete um those games would if they don't conflict with football's number one. Um they would I would imagine that the athletic department and Dr. McDonald would be able to speak more of this would then move them back on the turf because that's where most other schools
could be. So the the purpose of the turf is to increase the utilization. And so I'm I'm with you. I was a a soccer player for 20 years. And so as a soccer player, we played on the unless there was an active conflict with the
football, we played on the football field under the mics. Um field hockey and lacrosse play on the football field, you know, in the in the same space generally. Now, I'm from rural North Carolina and so you know the TV show
Friday Night Lights, the old town was at the football field Friday nights. Two to three thousand people every every Friday. And other than that, all of the other sports on every other night use those
music. I think we're saying that the field that is on night park is still a field that would be usable, but it's not that they would necessarily be playing their, you know, their JV and varsity game there and and that's like to be seen like I but I went to a high school that had
2,600 students and every single varsity and actually every JV game for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, and football were all the same field like so the idea that it's just one field actually with scheduling it can all be >> well and that's why that's that's one of
the reasons why um I think per and and uh using kind of that artificial type of surface stare for that main field is really important is because we can then load it up with all the different sports uh and really have a big schedule you know right now uh with our current grass
field right um you just you can't use it that much if it just rained the night before and it's a little wet. If you if you use it twice in a row, it's it's mud, right? And so the point there is I think the whole point is that it would be multi- multi sport fuel and it would have markings for it wouldn't just be
things, right? You go to like wow high you'll see different. So it would likely be for games and competition fields would play on that field for games or tournaments. practice skills though and this is what most high schools do. So
like where I teach at Rayus Valley, we have our own sports complex because there's nowhere on our main campus for those kids to practice. So lacrosse field practice on a grass field at the at the complex just like how um college would like to continue to practice on
the grass field. games would be for turbul because I would imagine that football will be practicing in the fall on that turf field. That's how most high schools do it. Our high school football
team at Great Valley or like my kids have told me what they play on in college, right? So I think it's you'll have your process I can't remember which one they're like you only play on tour. Yeah. Yeah. So it's like
grasshockey is actually it's like wet it actually right carpet and they they hose it down and wet. It's it's really interesting. Um but I think all of these I think points about the logistics and well it's definitely um I think really great for us to have this conversation so we
understand you know what we have to look out for and plan for. But um in many ways I think that's those uh decisions will will have to be put together you know by the by school administration um and the the athletic department you know as they try to figure out all the
different puzzle pieces as things come into play. What I think is really important about this plan is that it gives us the flexibility to be able to actually say, "Hey, we would like the field hockey team to be able to play in front of stands,
right?" and spectators at night. Now we can't >> right where marching bands to be out there do you like this doesn't just limit us to
athletics either marching band has been itching each other's a larger competition they did once this past September but like being able to have multiple competition track uh events that is something that um we can then use this space for it is a point of
prior price for students but also equally as important it's a way to genate revenue because these other schools would have been paid for. >> Um does help so you know I saw you
presented that the football field others would be turf. Yeah. But everything else would be grass. Does that help mitigate like any environmental concerns about overflow to creek? Yes. Okay. >> Yes.
So if you see right here, >> right here and right here. >> So those are those are um >> pieces. I mean one of the big things you know the mayor mentioned that that one of the big issues in my heart is spin
right and that's true I think everywhere and so knows is >> uh but uh but the same thing here you know part of the cost of this is is to level out the the the ground and to also put drainage in place and you know to have
these these places the water run areas. You know, I I talked to Dr. Dow and one of the things that we talked about is is you know, you're saying that one of the directives to the architects and the the engineers is is to have the awareness of the environmental impact, right? >> And and to also say that if you get a renovation done and you have to go
before the planning board in this town, you have to have a drainage plan that's like what is your impermeable cover impervious coverage? What is the drainage? You know, so if we're going to do that for a 5200 foot lot, we're absolutely going to do that for this
gigantic field to make sure that you mean Newton Creek's literally across the bottom of it. >> Right. So this is really helpful. >> Yeah. And and just to clarify so everyone's clear. So this would be the only turf coverage in the west. >> Right. Right. Right. That that
is going to be like very bad. It's you know where there's >> Yeah. Yeah. Our tree is right now. So, so the idea would be to that we would to extend space flatten out that that bringing in more space basically both through the reorient reorientation of
the field but the current fields going this way >> both reoranging and then leveling out the the field so they get more just green space and these are like that those multi sort of grass grass field options as well. >> Is that too basketball to
basketball courts. >> So this right here is is already there. Um it's two basketball courts, it's two tennis courts and pickle court. So that that is that is there right now already. >> Yeah, a lot of that feedback was uh taken from
community members uh and incorporated in feedback given directly to the architects and the engineers. The original plan a year ago was to envelop most of the space with turf. Um, but based on feedback from the community,
environmental impact and and the cost, uh, we took the feedback and we've got a we've got new recommendations uh, that we're thinking about um, in in the new design. Um, just going back to the to the good
shepherd building, Amy, I don't know if you've already talked about this, but I'm wondering about um just any kind of resources that we could put in for public health for people who are food insecure or having difficulty with
household items, hygiene products. Um, you know, I know that the library has something in place now for um, you know, for I think for different like hygiene and personal care products. Um, so I just think it would be a really nice
opportunity to have some of those things in a building that's going to be open for much of the day. Um, and I'm sure, you know, I know my organization and I'm sure other organizations would love to help um, run it or give input, but I think that could be a nice opportunity.
>> I love the idea. Um, yes, we just announced at the last commissioner meeting the partnership with Bloom Forward, which now provides um, menstrual products and all municipal bathrooms. Um, so I think that's a very fair ask that even though this will be a school district-owned building, um, that
because we're partnering with Wreck to have products available, but I also love the idea of having, um, food, you know, available or resources, resource board, some sort of I mean, if you go into your community center, it's community, so what is where's the bulletin board? Where's all this stuff? So, I love that
idea how to get access. And >> yeah, I think about Dr. Mel. Um, my daughter actually has Miss Nisser this year. Eastern is that you say yes the >> the pantry pantry y >> um and I haven't heard a lot about the pantry as like a new parent to the middle school I wondered are there
opportunities for the kids to help or for parents um and I don't know if that could maybe be a connection there's additional room sheepard building it's open more hours um if it could be like a satellite of pantry or maybe
headquarters but I would love to see um some things go into this new space that can um that can help. >> So, we've expanded the Panther Pantry and so um the middle school uh students
and Miss Nisner have been um leading the efforts. We have satellite drop offs at every school building including uh the Good Shepard location and then it is all transported to the middle school for distribution. Um and so we have liaison
staff members and parents at every in every building making sure that we are curating and getting all of the resources in a more centralized location and then uh sending them to uh need families in Collinswood, Oakland and Woodman. >> And and my understanding is is they they
definitely uh do appreciate volunteers, you know, especially like drop off and stuff. So I think if you reach out to to Miss Nether um you know I think she would be more than happy to take some walk here. >> I'm trying to you know rely on my sixth grader
>> and then you know um and Miss News is also at all of our board of education meetings. So, so for for um anyone just kind of quick plug if you're coming to the board education meeting please um >> yeah check um no capex um and then uh
yeah like canned goods you know and and >> you say that it was interesting Amy and I met with the cola pantry run out of the uh the church >> the church on day one we lost a few theories >> so we you know we were talking the ones that move down the street.
>> Yeah. Uh but one of the things they were talking about is there's always limited refrigeration space, >> right? >> So it's that's something that is an interesting idea and opportunity because there is the natural kitchen there refrigerators. Um so that's an
interesting idea and opportunity, something that should be considered. >> Yeah. >> And I won't derail the conversation with all the ideas in my mind because now we're talking my language. This is exciting. But um if you look for example to Philadelphia where there are
community fridges etc. This is something that is really serving a need. So anyway now you got me thinking Kelly. Thank you. >> I think we're going to wrap up. There's nothing online. If anybody would like to keep chitchatting after.
>> Yeah. And so here's the QR code. Um please fill it out or just send me a very awesome email that I'll take both. Thank you all for coming tonight. >> I'll just close the meeting. But feelings
just use it.