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All right. Hello everyone. Uh, today is July 15, 2026. We are here for a meeting of the Cranberry Township Parks Recreation Commission. Um, let us begin with the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

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United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. All right. Can we have a reading of our statement of adequate notice, please? >> Pursuant to the Open Public Meetings

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Act, notice of this meeting was sent to the Cranberry Press, the Trenton Times, and Home News Tribune on January 5th, 2026, posted on the bulletin board, posted on the Township's website, and sent to those who requested a copy of this notice. >> Thank you. Can we have a roll call for

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attendance and report of our volunteer hours? Christina >> here six hours. >> Brendan >> here two hours. >> Katie >> here one hour. Kelly >> here two hours.

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>> Okay. Omar is excused. Sally >> here zero extra hours. Okay. Deep >> here. Zero hours. >> Alice here. and Michael >> here 1 hour. >> Okay, we have a quorum. Um our minutes

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uh we have our minutes here from our June 17 meeting. Um if there are any uh revisions uh please bring those to our attention. I would I I did I was delighted by the turn of phrase of there's an influx of

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refu of refues on the new tennis courts. That was >> gave me a little smile. Um, are there any corrections or revisions? If not, I would entertain a motion and a second to uh approve the minutes. >> I'll make the motion. >> I'll second.

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>> Thank you. >> Okay. Roll call. Uh, Christina, >> sorry, I wasn't paying attention. Was a question. >> The minutes. >> Oh, yes. Yes. Brandon. >> Uh, yes. >> Uh, Katie, >> yes. >> Kelly, >> yes.

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>> Sally, >> yes. >> Deepoac, >> yes. >> And Michael, >> yeah. >> All right, reports. Uh, let's start with our report from our recreation director. >> Thank you. Uh, summer camp is

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in full swing. Uh, this is week three. Um everything's been going uh relatively smoothly, so that's good good news for us. Um I had a number of things from last

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meeting. Um the park fees for like the pavilion rentals. I was actually very surprised when I contacted neighboring towns. Um, Princeton charges less than us, $40

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for residents and $80 for non-residents. Um, Plansboro does not charge a fee for their uh, pavilion rentals and but it's only for residents. And, um, I contacted Hopewell. They don't have any pavilions yet. They're they're in the process of building

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theirs. And West Windsor charges $250 for residents and 500 for non-residents. Um but we have um in West Windsor they have uh permanent bathrooms at both of their facilities. So it's a little bit

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different. You know we they charge cleaning fees. I mean it's included in their fee but cleaning fees for the bathroom and all that kind of good stuff. So, um, so yeah, I mean, we're actually, uh, not that bad,

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um, all things considered, you know, so the the question would be, you know, do we want to, uh, take a look at possibly raising them or just keep them where they are because ours are $50, right? Um, for a resident and a hundred for a

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non-resident. >> And how much is raised a year in that? How many fees do we collect total? >> Give or take. >> We we do a lot of uh rentals. >> Um it's I'm sure

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probably a couple thousand dollars that we get. >> But if we raised it 10%, it's not like >> it's not going to make a difference, >> right? We'd have to raise it a pretty significant amount to make a budget impact. It sounds like >> we well in in our discussions, Don and I thought maybe we were just really low

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and we're not comparatively. So, um I think we just keep it where it is to be honest with you and just um keep an eye on what other people are charging >> and >> if if we ever get a bathroom then >> Yeah. Yeah. Then that certainly would

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justify an increase in the fees. Um the I did look at the barbecues at the park um as we talked about. Uh and I found out I happened to run into Jerry Thorne while I was out there and found

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out that he takes care of replacing those um out at the park and he just recently had replaced one of them. Um most of them were in uh decent shape. There was one that he said that he is looking to replace

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probably this fall. So, um so those those are okay. Uh I did start up a Facebook page. I haven't really started trying to push out any information. I did put the fireworks were um postponed.

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I did put that up. That was the first thing I put up. But um I I really, you know, this time of year is not not a real good time for me to be spending an awful lot of time um on on Facebook for that, but I will it is up and running. I

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will um you know start trying to get some information out through that as well. >> Did you do an Instagram page as well? The only reason I asked is because when you post one, they post to the other. >> I I did not. Um, I just got to make sure that I can do Instagram. I don't know. I

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mean, the township >> you should be able to do their own. Oh, from a township. >> Yeah, from the township. They're okay with a switch on the thing. >> Yeah, I I I'm familiar with that switch. >> So, so I did um I did do that as well.

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Um the the baseball game um we we have Did you hear anything back today? So, we're we're having difficulty reaching the the people who coordinated it um from the baseball players in in essence.

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So, um we've sent several emails to them trying to say, "Hey, you need to fill out a permit for the uh field. We we're not going to charge you for it, but but we just need to have that and insurance from the people who are using it." But

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so, you know, if we were going to do a movie the same night, you know, if we don't have the baseball game, then we could do something on a different uh we could think of something different if we want to uh for for instead of the movie. So, we're hoping to get this

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squared away in in the very near future. But, um that's the that's the other thing. I think that's park fees, barbecue, Facebook page, pretty much everything that I had on my

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um list from last meeting. Uh I am starting to have conversation with some companies to run some fall programming for us. So looking to to have that and certainly going to try to bring back like some sort of basketball program for

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the winter. Yeah, we um we received the I think I did I mention this at the last minute. I'm not sure if we even knew if I knew. Uh we got a we got a grant for the boat dock. Uh but it's I haven't even filled out the application yet, but we heard

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that we got the money for it as uh from uh Linda Greenstein's office. So um that's only that's only going to take a little time, but that will happen. and and included and that's going to be the money for the um storage shed that we

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had. So, uh we were going to have to potentially take that out of the trust fund to be able to replace it, but now we don't have to do that. So, >> that's by the baseball field. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Well, the grant is covering the dock and

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storage shed. >> Yes. >> And what where is the storage shed? It's over here. It's at the end of the parking lot. Yeah. >> It's the one like the leaning tower of pizza. >> Yes. Yes. So, we'll get that done as

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soon as we can get the the funding for that. >> Thanks, Ken. It's a lot of actions. You checked off the list. >> Thank you. >> From the spreadsheet we talked about. >> Yep. >> Would there be any additional money for >> this? the money we're going to get is

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probably exactly what I put in, which is exactly what it would have cost. And and when it comes to grants, you can't just say, "Hey, we want to add this to to the grant." You have to be specific. So, >> is that shed shared by the school at all or just just

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>> No, it's ours. Okay. >> They we use it primarily only really for the um summer camp uh supply storage. Yeah. Got it. >> That's That's what I got. >> Um any questions for uh Ken?

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>> All right, moving on then to uh park preserves updates. Does anyone have anything to report? Um I >> not on not on park preserves but uh to Michael's question earlier just on the previous topic we actually generate about 7,500 on pavilion rentals

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>> we >> I'm sorry I couldn't hear >> we generate about 7500 on >> Oh for the pavilion rentals. >> Yeah. >> And we net about two grand so we're >> so it's actually substantial. >> Yeah. So it's decent. Yeah. And what do we rent it for again?

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>> 50 and >> 50 and 100. Yeah. We we do get a number of non-residents. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um um any anyone else with a report for parks or preservatives?

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All right. U moving on to memorial benches. don't have any uh outstanding applications or um work in the pipeline on that um environmental commission. >> They did not hold a meeting between the time. So, >> all right. And I have not uh had any

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communications with shade tree uh commission either since our last meeting which takes us to township committee like he knew. It's >> uncanny. You put your microphone on. >> I have a few questions from the mayor

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about the baseball permit. I I reported on that. Um we've reached out multiple times to the to the teams um asking them we we're asking them to

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fill out a permit application. We've sent it to them several times. We're not going to charge them anything, but we would also need a certificate of insurance from these guys, and we haven't heard back from them. >> Yeah. I'm sorry. We need insurance. >> We need insurance from them.

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>> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. Certificate of insurance. >> All right. So, the the onus is upon them. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Okay. Um uh the next thing is uh

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ribbon cutting tomorrow uh uh at 1:00 at the uh pickle ball tennis courts at Village Park. And the mayor was wondering if anyone from uh parks would be there. I'll be there.

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>> Okay. >> Okay. You should wear sunblock if you go there. I can see that >> all the >> uh so there's two things one o'clock and then 1:30 at the senior center. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Um, and

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then, uh, great news about the, uh, the the dock and storage shed grant. >> I already mentioned that, too. >> You know, uh, what else? Oh,

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so I don't know if you guys were privy to this. So, um, Steve Galisano, uh, local resident architect, um, had submitted an idea about signage for Village Park. So, I know we talked about, um, the issues with, um, um,

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getting decent, uh, road signage into Village Park. So, his suggestion um which I want to put to you guys was something similar to the um the Brainer Lake sign. I don't know if you guys have seen it,

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but it's um it's sort of like a a gateway sign. It's rot iron. It says Brainer Lake. Um which it's something that, you know, the TC was willing to think about. I think um um I haven't gotten official feedback

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from them, but it's something that they're interested in. So, I wanted to throw it out there to see if you guys would be interested in something like that. >> Matt, are you talking about the like the two posts and then like the sign on top? >> Yeah. Let me >> Where might it be located? The reason

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it's does so well at the lake is because there's a lake behind it. You know, it really shows up. If you put that sign in front of trees or something, I don't think it's going to show up. Well, I mean, obviously something we can we can look at.

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>> You're putting it over the entrance to the park, which I doubt you're going to get one that big. >> Uh, it would be have to be pretty big. Yeah. I mean, it would be like Disney World, like like big like >> Yeah. Just I don't know if you guys seen

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it. I mean, what's you you need at least what is it? 14 ft of vertical clearance. That's >> And it would need to be as wide as the road. >> Uh yeah, it's kind of >> that

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sure. I'll be I'm not sure. This is just kind of thrown out there. Um, >> there's trucks going in there all the time, you know, fire trucks for National Night Out, >> all kinds of things, dredging things. >> I I think that makes absolutely no it would be beautiful, but it makes no

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sense to have to spend that much money to have that huge of a sign over >> and then if it's inside the park, then it's >> you're I mean, it's a matter of of taste, but my I my taste clashes with that idea. I'm not worried about the taste,

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honestly. I know we've talked about bathrooms. I'd rather spend whatever enormous amount of money on that sign on a bathroom rather than a sign >> because that sign that sign would have to be insanely expensive to build and install.

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>> To that point, what was the funding uh anticipation for this idea? >> Not sure. Not sure. >> Uh sorry. So, I'm looking at another photo that Steve sent that actually makes more sense.

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This is just a little mockup. There's one that doesn't drive this way. I >> I think there are >> we discussed it here in in this group before. We definitely think that, correct me if I'm mistaken, but my impression was we definitely think that

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like there are opportunities for better signage there that is like both aesthetically more pleasing and also better for wayinding and uh identification. >> Um but something like that over the road

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that that seems >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I know that but like one like that like the old sort of like crossroads like arrows in different direction sign or like the hanging like welcome to village of cranberry sign that's on South Main Street by Heritage Park.

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>> So in summary to take back to the TC I think that we parks is definitely in favor of additional signage at the entrance to Village Park but we'd like some input as to what it looks like and just you know Donna >> can we turn the AC off? I can't I can't hear but

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I said in summary, >> yeah, >> um to bring back to TC, I think that that parks department is definitely in favor of additional signage at the entrance to Village Park. However, we would like to be um to be included in

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some of the decisions about what it looks like. >> Yeah. No, I think Yeah. >> So, that's our summary is that we're in favor. >> Right. This is a Thank you. Uh this is like a perennial problem. you know, we sort of go back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. So, maybe what we should do um is

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have a work session maybe with the TC to sort of um figure out because I I think, you know, it's a problem that we could pro we could solve. Um I think this is a good first start. So, I could report back to TC. You guys are in favor of

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considering something, but you'd like to look into more detail of of what um it it it could or couldn't be. Um, now, is this something that like an idea that we want to be brought in on or is

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this an idea that we want to be leading? What's the I'm not sure the exact nature for the proposal and the roles and responsibilities? Well, I think I mean ultimately it's it's a township committee decision, right? It's outside of the park. Um but we would like to have your buy in,

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right? >> Okay. >> Um so not sure how to proceed. Um I think maybe I'll I'll bring back to the DC. We want to look into it further. This is a good idea at least for a start and then

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um maybe come up with some more design ideas and then bring it back to you guys. All right, sounds good. >> Um, so Barbara Rogers, um, on onto another topic, Barbara Rogers, uh, in concert with the Shade

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Tree, um, commission mentioned that Shade Tree is interested um, in doing a planting within Village Parks. remember in Village Park near Dirt Hill, which I really hate that name. Um, but near the

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sledding hill, um, behind there, we cleared out a lot of, uh, trees for for, uh, spotted lantern fly. So, they're interested in possibly doing a planting of some diverse like local trees,

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um, which the TC's, you know, broadly in favor of, but, just wanted to bring it to you guys obviously because it's in the park. So that's something they might be looking into. Um I just want to hear feedback from you guys on what you think about that. >> And now this is within the existing forested or semi-forested area.

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>> Yeah. Yeah. Because right now it's just basically I mean they they clear cut all those trees for the dragon or lantern flies and u right now it's just overgrown. So >> thoughts anyone? I I think that's a good idea, but um I

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want to remind them that we asked Shade Tree for trees planted around the walking trail. Um and they had said they would do it. So, um yes, I think it's a good idea to put trees in an area where they were taken out, but I also think

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it's a an even better idea to put them around the walking trail. And that's I know why the walking trail in Heritage Park is so popular because it's shaded. Uh, and so I'm all for trees, but let's shade our walking trail.

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That's my opinion. >> Anyone else? >> Trees sound great. >> Yeah, I would. I mean, if it's within my favorite trees, >> I certainly think that if they want to plant trees in the tree area, that's certainly good with me. >> Yeah. >> I can't say I would say no.

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>> Okay. Um, >> yes, I will I will voice I will definitely Yes. Um, uh, yeah. Oh, so the last meeting we discussed possibility of a movie night

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like third week of September. Have you guys discussed that yet? >> Yes, we were. We're going to do that in conjunction with the historic baseball game. Do you have a permit yet? >> We don't have a permit yet. We haven't

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issued a permit yet. So, um I had mentioned that, you know, we can figure that out, you know, uh once we get the permit for that, but we were going to do a that at in conjunction with the baseball game. And if the baseball game

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doesn't happen, we can certainly still um do a movie. That's not a not an issue. So, >> wait, I'm sorry. The baseball game is what date? It was supposed to be the 26th I believe September.

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>> I mean that was the only date that they floated to us but like I I never feel like it was a very firm commitment from them at even at an earlier stage. And it's it's I mean their interest is there but like I I'm not it's

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the lines of communication on this one are pretty few and far between. So I don't Yeah, I can't make heads or tails that either. >> So yeah, September 26th we'll do a movie.

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>> Do you know what time the game would be? Um >> I'll have I might have that in email. Are they definitely? >> Yeah, I I don't have a time on that one. >> Okay. >> Because the 26th is the weekend is the

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fourth weekend of the month. >> So, were they supposed to be together or was the movie going to be the fourth? And >> uh typically unless you use a different type of of projection system, you wait till dark

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for the movie. Um so they actually in that Brandon it did say um they said noon start 90 minute game for the movie, right? >> I mean for the uh baseball game it

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>> be like six hours later movie. >> Yeah. Right. Yeah. >> Yeah. But now that was now that was in January we got that and um >> I mean they're like you know they're definitely interested still or they were interested then I can say but

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>> yeah I can >> are we going to have a meeting >> cases haven't fall haven't fallen into place yet. >> Are we going to have a meeting in August? I don't I I conflating conversations in my head, but I thought the consensus was that we would not have enough of a

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participation to meet in August. I'm happy to have one. >> All right. Well, I think we will then have a meeting. >> Will or won't >> I mean, I'm not I'm not sure, but we have the quorum for it. It's an option.

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>> I won't be here. Uh what will that date be? It'll be >> the third Wednesday, >> whatever that is. >> Oh, yeah. I won't be here. >> Um All right. So then, um assuming we

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get the baseball permit, then can I report back that um movie night will happen? >> Okay. Do we know what we're gonna watch? The movie >> we did discuss that. Yeah. >> Uh double feature, single feature,

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>> popcorn. >> Popcorn vendors. Didn't we have a drive once? >> Oh, yeah, we did. >> We did. >> Yeah, that was like >> horrible idea, but >> really expensive >> because because we had to have an

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elevated screen and you know >> Yeah, >> that was >> Yeah. Um they they broadcast actually to the radio station so you could turn on your Do they sell snacks? >> I don't know.

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>> This was during co >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, like when everyone was stuck in in their in their houses in their in their closed systems, the idea was let's put them in a smaller closed system at different in a different place so they can watch their

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>> thing on a bigger screen within their family unit. You see >> which which which we were so you know we had so little family time during co we were >> I think it sounds really cute. >> Um are there is there you mentioned last

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month about like securing a license or permit? >> That's that takes no time at all. Okay. So that's not a problem. >> And we don't need to, you know, get the um the FCC's approval to like broadcast

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radio for >> No, they won't. No, they won't. So once you get the license, you're you're you're good to show that movie and and um you know, you're not going to be infringing on any copyrights or anything like that. So, yeah, I'll get I'll get a

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professional company to come in and they'll probably set up a inflatable screen and have the projector and the sound system and all that. >> Excellent. Good. >> All right. Very good. >> Anything else for us, Matt? >> Um, wait, did I get an answer? If

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anyone's coming tomorrow, >> I cannot make it. >> I will. Excellent. >> Sally wants you to text her at 12:30. >> 1:00. Is that is that in your notes, Matt? You got that? I'll be there, too.

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>> Oh. Um, just as an aside, um, not as a TC member, but I noticed the, um, the new playground in Village Park, there's holes in the >> Yeah, there were there was damage during a storm over the winter. Uh we did

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submit a um a a claim with the insurance company. Um just found out that we got the money. So I will contact the company to come do the repairs. >> Is this is this significant damage?

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>> There's a there's a whole >> reducing >> there was a bent there was a bent um rail >> and there was also damage to the surfacing. There's actually holes um from the tree. Yeah, I saw I saw the

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cones um out on the playground when I was looking at the barbecues and like I said, Jerry showed up and I'm like, "Jerry, what's these cones doing here?" And he goes, "Oh, those were from the damage." I go, "I gave everything in

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there. What? We haven't fixed this yet." He goes, "Oh." He goes, "Nothing's been done." So then I had to do a little research and found that we had the check and I didn't know. So I couldn't I couldn't move forward with it. So um I

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thought maybe if they I submitted the quotes, I got everything and then they got the money then they would just take care of it. Obviously that didn't happen. So we'll take care of it. >> All right. I I did find out that the

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prices are still good because it was months ago, but he's he did confirm with me that the pricing is still valid. So, that's good. We do have there is a deductible that the township has. You know, it's $2,500. That's going to have to come out of our

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budget most likely. So, um >> the trust fund. >> Yeah, the trust fund. So, >> what's the repair cost? >> Oh, it's significant. Let me see what >> Oh, really? >> I mean to they have to cut out a whole

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section of the and the you know the flooring system is very expensive. >> So >> initially put in the floor we looked at the option of putting it in tiles. So if something breaks you just replace that tile but that was costlier >> and what we end up doing.

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>> We did a whole mat whole >> Yeah. It's like three sections >> just just for the repairs to the surfacing. It was $3,400. Uh what was this one? And then the railing and

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installation and all that kind of stuff. There was like the there was some damage. I think the if you have replaced one part, you might have to replace another part. >> So that was another five. So it was over $8,000.

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Nine. Is there any likelihood that the township can deposit an equivalent amount into our trust fund to compensate for that expense that we weren't planning on? >> Um, I'll have to check. >> Yeah. >> I mean, at the next one, >> I mean, there I don't

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there could be some money left over from um capital accounts that could be used for this as well. I but I don't know. >> All right. Anything else for us, Matt?

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Um, no. I just, you know, most of you know, but we don't have a newspaper anymore, right? Cranberry Chronicle is or the um Chronicle. Yeah, it's gone unfortunately. Um, so I just want to give you update on what we

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discussed at the last TC meeting. Um we um had work sessions on the possibility of ordinances uh preventing um AI data centers from being built within town confines and also on ICE facilities um

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being uh permitted. Um, so we we didn't make any decisions, but we did our lawyer was there, so we discussed the possibility of um creating ordinances to uh to ban both AI data centers and uh

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any ice facility. So, we'll probably work on that this fall, but I just wanted to let you guys know. Um that's something we're looking at. Um yeah, that's it. >> But did you say the Chronicle is no longer? They're not printing that at four seasons anymore. >> Both. Yeah, both. The Chronicle and I

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for >> Cranberry Press >> both gone. >> Chronicles. >> No more Chronicle. Nope. >> Oh, that's a bummer. >> Yeah. And actually, um, to that point, we're gonna have a work session on what do we do? I mean, this is, in my mind, this is, um, a real detriment to

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democracy, like not having any sort of um, third estate that can help us be informed in the town. >> Fourth estate. >> Fourth estate. Thank you. Sorry. Um, so we're going to have a work session just kind of spitballing and trying to

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think of ideas on how to, you know, student journalist or we're not sure what, but come up with some kind of idea to address that problem. That's a real problem. Um, it's already bad, now it's gotten worse. So, um, that's something that we're going to be working on in the

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fall. That's it. >> Does anyone have anything to direct uh toward the township committee? >> All right. If not, uh let's uh move on to our old business rules and regulations for municipal parks. Um,

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I am kicking myself because I had we at our last meeting, for those of us who weren't here at our last meeting, um, I sort of synthesized some much of what we agreed on and I had it printed out for everybody and and then I don't have it printed out for everybody here today.

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Um, and um, I I don't have it. So, um I would only note that I cannot stop thinking about the park hours issue with respect to the closing after dark and

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the not always being closed after dark when we're showing movies or fireworks displays. Um and I know that there are other parks in the state that h that are not closed after dark. So, I know it's doable.

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Um, >> didn't Matt say that the town doesn't have insurance for our parks after dark? >> Yes. >> So, >> or maybe not that exactly, but that it's a significant factor that we we want away.

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Um, does anyone else have anything for that? I I'm sorry. I don't have um I sort of dropped the ball on this one this month. If not, let's move on to our historic baseball game, which we have addressed a few times. Um

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I don't have anything further that what I had we already we already covered. Um does anyone else have anything on this? If not, let's move on to our goals and priorities. Um

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who wants to start us off here? I feel like I did not equip myself well when sharing this discussion last month. So the in our last meeting in in a email communication to the to the group we shared an Excel spreadsheet with ideas

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from the committee as well as summary of the survey and then there was a PowerPoint summary with that. So is that what you're referring to as goals and priorities like what we >> Okay, >> I am. Um, so in the LA in the last meeting, we discussed quite a few things

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that Ken has already taken care of, tactical items, which is excellent, like the grills, the communication planning with social media, the dock, the shed. We still have the open item of the kayak rack, the circle procurement item, and

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then um other hot topic was pickle ball and dog park. So quite a few of those items we've discussed over quite a few months and either the TC didn't approve it or it was a nice to have not a necessity. So where we landed was

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looking at renovation for Millstone Park. Um and then potentially um the communic like improving the communication plan and then programming for pre-teens and um the grammar school children as

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well as 55 and older. So those were like the top priorities that we were trying to look at. And then we assigned I think we intentionally signed a couple of items. One of the items that was assigned to me was the Millstone renovation

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connecting with Ken. We got some quotes on um the Milstone playground using the same footprint. There is a walking path from um the Park View. Is that the name of that street? >> Yeah, it's Park View. >> Park View. It doesn't directly connect

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to the playground area, but the playground because there's no trees, it could be moved closer to that sidewalk or we just need a little bit of a small connector, which the installer would be doing. It would include the same foam flooring unless we want to consider tile

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based on what happened. That increases the cost. It has um typical things like a swim swing bank, the um I still call it jungle gym, whatever the >> climbing >> the climbing. people not call it that anymore. >> Yeah. No, I don't think so. What's it called? >> This is new to me.

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>> Whatever that playground area is called um for young children as well as the older children, similar to Village Park, we could decide on what we want to include. The new things that are included to draw more people to Milstone is that it'll include pre-teen and

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teenage workout equipment to some degree as well as 55 and over workout equipment. So they could use that as well. >> Did you point to me when you said that? >> I didn't. I was just >> I didn't point to you. So, um, >> I'm over 50.

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>> So, it'll hopefully have a draw for a number of age groups to that area and to that park versus, you know, staying in Heritage and using that walking path or what have you. So, um, I have pictures. They're in black and white, but I could certainly email what I have. Ken has a

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copy as well. The quote is roughly 330,000. So it's less than the Village Park quote. There's also an opportunity to take advantage of a annual sale that the company, the installer would have for some of the equipment, so that would

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reduce the dollar amount. You know, Ken and I spoke to apply for a county or state grant similar to what we did with Village Park. there's very strong um you know in favor of putting ADA compliant play areas for all groups all age groups

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in towns. So Milstone was spoken about from previous members of this committee before I even joined because there was like concern with the height of the slides, the the mulch in that area wearing away and

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children falling off the slide and things of that nature. So, you know, I think it's it's time to look at that part, but we could open it up for discussion and kind of decide what what everyone thinks. >> Well, I for one want to thank you for all that hard work that you put into it

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and I think it's a really good idea. um with your I mean we just I guess the big thing is the money >> whether it's from a grant or the township or whatever >> but um >> grant would cover majority of it um and

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because of this annual sale that they potentially have which is a big dollar amount I think it'll be >> something significant that'll help with the cost. >> Yeah. I mean I I love the playground idea. I just don't know what's the cost of the other I bring up the other stuff,

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the workouts because I've seen those in other parks. They just don't seem to get used very much when I see them in other parks. So, like I know we want to do it as a draw. I'm just not sure people are going to go and do calisthenic

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teenager doing calisthenic workouts in the park there. So, >> especially in a playground area. >> Especially in a playground. So, like >> and it's shade. >> It's no shade. It's way away from the parking. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. There is >> I just I just wonder about like are there other should we be think I think

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that park needs a lot of thought >> and I don't know how much money that is. Could we put that into some way of thinking about other stuff or like even hiring somebody to say like what are the ideas of things to do? I don't know. I just >> Yeah. So the >> You're right. We need to draw.

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>> Yeah. the company, we'll have to get three quotes and those companies would give us ideas and suggestions of what other towns are doing and what is the draw for these different age groups. We could consider anything. It doesn't have to be what was proposed. This is was

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just like a first pass um at it. And in regards to the shading, there is we could add the shading over um because I did forget that there were no trees in that area. So, that's something that we'll we should add. >> Very hot. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. very hot. >> Um to piggyback off of what you were

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saying, are we primarily looking then at just renovating the playground area and drawing people to the playground area because it's a huge piece of underutilized >> Yeah, that's my point. >> So, are we going to look at everything there? >> Everything's on the table, but the only

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thing that we'd really like >> the the we're farthest down the pipeline on the playground, I think, right now. Um, we've talked in the past about a walking path that circled the edges of the park. Um,

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>> which I think would be would be used. >> Um, >> I totally disagree because you could just go into the neighborhood right across the street. Every it's like there's sidewalks and a huge loop. I wouldn't waste money. >> Yeah. I there there's definitely

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opportunity cost, right? I do see people walking around the edge of Milstone Park and in my mind I'd like to believe more people would like just walking around the grass. In my mind, I'd like to believe more people would do it if there was a proper path, >> but I might just be kidding myself. We might not get any more people walking than walk there now. But I think the

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other issue with Milstone Park in terms of use is that it's even though so many people live within like a sidewalk distance of it, it's not super easy to use those sidewalks on Trenton Road. on the one side on the park side. Um I

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often find that they're I mean I don't know what they look like right now. I literally just drove it today but didn't pay a little attention. They're often overgrown with like shrubs and stuff and they're like bit like one person or not necessarily like a wagon with your kids or a carriage which

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>> yeah the sidewalk starts and then it stops and then it starts again. So I agree coming from main street down it's not easy but >> and >> that's where it is. >> Um also like you might get runners using

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exercise equipment going for a jog going and like midway through their jog stopping in the park to use that equipment. But there are a limited number of people who run on old trend road. Um and I think we'd have a only portion of that universe would make use

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of the exercise equipment. >> Yeah. which I like in theory, but I I don't think it's I'm not sure if it's worth um the cost >> Yeah. And some of that equipment is in the drawer and is at the edges so it doesn't interfere with young children playing. So it's it's designed

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correctly, but everything's on the table. If we want to look at Milstone Park as a whole and do it in phases, I think we should, but we have to really consider meeting this budget deadline which is in December, right? Is in

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December the budget requirements >> for >> 2027 28. Oh, to get for the township's budget. Township. That's that's earlier. It's earlier than that. But >> when is it? >> It's usually we have to submit things in like September. >> Oh. So

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>> So, >> but um you know, one thing to consider, too, is to move it over closer to the parking. >> I mean, there's a little corner over there by the I don't know what the house is called there, but >> historic house. The 1713 East Jersey

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Cottage. >> Thank you. Um but there's an area that's you know to the right of the house if you're looking at it from Old Tread Road that is not really an active um sport area where you could certainly fit a playground. It would be a lot more

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accessible for parents coming there and who are driving. Um so that's another thing to think about. >> Might be a tiny bit more shaded there too behind the house. >> Yeah, there is there's more trees over there >> towards the house you're talking about. It's still it is open. Yeah, it is. And

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but like like Christina said, you could easily put chain uh up there. Not a problem. >> To move the um playground equipment. Do you need that engineer? I don't know if there's a how far from the road it's supposed to be or from a parking lot or is it

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>> No, no, no, we wouldn't need that. I mean, there's no utilities or anything over there. There's we'll be plenty far enough away from >> Village Park is right up against the parking >> parking lot. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> The one thing I'll say in favor of the

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current location and to the extent the walkability and the sidewalks could be improved outside that park and on Old Trenton Road. We say that all the time like we would love to walk to that park and we just can't, right? You can't like walk with a stroller. Um I see moms all the time you end up walking in the road,

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right? people even getting out of the car when you park alongside on Old Trenton Road, it's like not really a great situation for young kids. >> Um, but I think if that could be improved, the nice thing is it does make Cranberry overall much more walkable to a pretty significant portion of the

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town, right? Like all the Shadow Oaks area. So, um, short of creating an enormous project to move it entirely and then you're sort of left with that empty space. I would be in favor of keeping it but looking at it holistically and saying we need to make it more walkable

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so people can get there without their cars and without you know worrying about the parking >> um being separate. And then in terms of the exercise equipment and like the other age ranges we're thinking I wonder if it's just like creating like more tables and gathering space for people so

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clubs or programs can meet gather. Exactly. Yeah, like picnic tables and grills would bring people there more than I think exercise equipment >> would. But I and I'm not sure. I'm just It feels like we should maybe it's the next one. Maybe August we have an item and we're just literally

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>> brainstorming all the possible ideas if we have to have something ready by >> September and just >> has like every right Yeah. And AI could do it for us, too.

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>> Yeah, >> that's what I'm gonna do. >> I mean, we parents have gone and said like, "Oh, I wish this area was gated or like it's too certain that >> I mean, I've done it with landscaping.

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You can go to Google Maps and snap the picture of the park and just say like to AI like, "Give me ideas on this space what it would look like with different equipment and you and it would do it for you." >> I've done it with my >> yard. I mean, we we have a little more time for capital. Like my budget has to

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be in usually by September, but capital they typically don't discuss that until Jan, late January, early February. So, I have until October, November. So, we do have a little more time for capital stuff. Yes, you're right. Also, I'm

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thinking it with a project this size, it might be um possible to get uh money in the state budget, which won't h which wouldn't happen until uh the start of July, which is the money that we got for the last

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park, which I believe what was in the state budget, but that's a separate process and I think we want to and and a second and later process. So, we'd want to pursue the township budget first. Just throwing that out there. >> Um, how much are we using the baseball

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field there? >> Not very much. >> Is is there any like league >> there? There is no cranberry little league. It they play in West Windsor. >> Yeah, because there's no bathrooms and no and no uh vending facility.

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>> I mean, that's certainly part of it. You know, I I believe there's there's teams that >> Yeah. >> you know, are mostly Cranberry. Um, and the, you know, the West Windsor Little League does get a permit for the fields.

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Um, but the use is limited. >> My kids played for it, but that was the reason why, because we kept asking, why can't we use the fields? And it was because they need a vending facility because that's how they make their money. >> Mh. >> And they have no bathroom, so they can't invite all these parents and people there and be like

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>> everybody's, you know, you know, 200 people and kids to go use one portaotty, >> right? Like that's just not when they have these fields, >> right? They wouldn't Yeah, they probably wouldn't play games here. They play they practice. They might be able to practice. >> That's exactly it. They do some practices. So that's what you see there is practice stuff,

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>> but So not very much without a >> So be more worthwhile looking at ways to make that field more useful or finding ways to repurpose that >> part of the park >> if it's not being used. We have one in

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village park. popular idea that some of us loved. It's a splash pad >> that I said put a splash pad there literally like a year ago. >> Yeah, >> I know. >> And nobody wanted to do anything else. >> I think we wanted to do something, but I don't think TC loved that idea. But you like there's beautiful structures that

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look like huge flowers for example. So when it's off in the off season, it looks like, you know, a statue or whatever. But I mean, I love that idea. It would be probably from the main road. >> There's already water there because there's a drinking fountain near the old

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house and there's also a drinking fountain. >> Fire hydrant too around there >> right up near the playground. >> You still have to run more water to get to wherever. >> There's a fire hydrant though that's not far from >> but that's just like you know. >> Yeah, but that'll bring people and we have that proposal last time I

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did it. Do you was it like 500k or something with the irrigation repurposing the wall? >> Right. the um >> I think it was about five. >> That was that was with the circle procurement as the location though, right? Like it was meant to be >> it was in village park.

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>> It was with without knowing where the nearest water was. We know there's water on the road over there. >> The playground has grant potential a water thing. >> Now, do we do we want to start this the splash pad conversation again?

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I think it should be on the board if we're going to have a discussion about anything that could make that park because it's literally it's like a dead park. I mean, they play some they play some pickup soccer games there and that's about it. Like I don't see much else. And people

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walk dogs and throw balls their dogs there. That's about it. >> It's just really tired, too. Like the benches need to be painted and improved. Like it just it's hot. There's no shade. >> It doesn't really feel like a park, frankly. It just feels like a big open field. >> Yes. >> That happens to have a >> some

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>> playground in the corner. >> Love it. >> Which you which you don't see as you're driving by. Literally the only time I see people I mean we live really close by is for soccer. That's it. Just people playing pickup or practice soccer and that's it.

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>> Yeah. I mean it definitely doesn't have the feel of like a heritage park which has even less facilities but much more use. >> Right. I don't know if less facilities is the right way to look at it, but they don't have any sport fields and they like it gets much more use. >> That's also like part of that like entrance to Cranberry, right? Like we

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put that signage, welcome to Cranberry, and you have this kind of tired park as people enter. So, I feel like there's an overall >> um there's overall value for the town really in improving that entrance and like what people see and experience as

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they're coming in. >> I think >> and making it walkable to main street. It comes down to like defining what do we think like a brand for each of the parks like village is kind of the main park. It has all this stuff but is there a brand is it a sports field because that seems to be what they're there or

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is it this new thing around water entertainment or is it a running track around it? I don't know like but there should it shouldn't be like all of those things. Then it feels like why do I go here? >> I do see it as a soccer park. That's that's clearly >> right. That's what it is. Now, I guess what I'm saying is like if that's what

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we're saying, then we should almost lean into that and is it like >> that facilities built around that or like what is the brand that we want that park to be because right now it's just a big open field that happens to have four soccer goals. >> Yeah. >> Could it be a cricket? >> We try. I think I measured that and it

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wasn't >> I think it was like basically was going to go right up to the road >> almost because cricket uh pitches are so big because you need a 360 field basically. >> Um but it could be reme-measured again. Um I think it was just it would take up

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almost the entirety >> Yeah. >> of the park. And I mean, even though you you can't necessarily do anything with just a grass field, um if it's not a park, once it's just covered in athletic facilities, then it's just uh like a

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soccer uh place or you know, then you stop being a park and you start being something else. >> Start being a sports facility. >> Sort of. But we're parks and recreation, so like >> Oh, I just mean like we don't want to we don't want to maxim we don't want to like get rid of all the flat grass. >> Oh, no. I'm not trying to get rid of everything. I'm just saying but but if

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you want if we are saying it's a sports park then we should lean into that and make it actually feel like that rather than oh this is a place where there happen to be two two goals >> just >> I think the >> I think the best way forward here would

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be to pick um something to uh I mean we can we can you know work and research on anything but in terms of what we're trying to achieve over the next year I think we want to limit ourselves to one or two things. Well, it sounds like from the committee that we

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want to look at Milstone as a whole. So, we should look at it as a whole and then do it in phases. Like phase one is X, phase two is whatever >> and then pick what phase is the priority. But then we have the vision >> for because it's not going to get approved the whole thing in one year or

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even two years. Oh, at least we have the vision and the aesthetic and what we're trying to go for over, you know, maybe say three phases and that include the playground upgrade, potentially the splash pad, potentially like a walking track or something,

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>> you know, it it could be designed beautifully, >> right? >> So, that's my opinion. I think we should look at it holistically and then >> pick which one is first phase >> lowhanging fruit to like get going. I think that has to for me that's the

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playground is the first phase. Well, I I think if the if the point is that the contractors can the the three minimum that you invite can give ideas holistically, that's a good place to start, right? It sounds like that will have to happen

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>> and then we'll have to sort of come back together September, October and take a call on whether the playground is indeed especially if there is an additional discount by December. >> I've already started looking at a holistic plan without the splash pad.

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So, it's already like in the works. Um, so it won't be hard to get and I could send it via email. But the AI ideas, a great one. You just put it into any AI engine and pops out. >> I can do that. Easy. >> I mean, so we'll have ideas. We just

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have to agree as a group. >> The phased approach, what could it be? >> And there's so much open. >> Well, there's so much open. >> I have no idea. It feels like coming to the next meeting with like if everybody

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thought of like their top one or two things that that or even theoretically what the park could be. >> There's a lot of open space as you said and there's a lot of interest in town for a dog park. >> There is. Yeah, that I hear a lot. >> With that open space, could we do the

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playground at one end and then fences for a dog park at another spot? Right. >> You have more than enough room. >> Maybe turn the old playground into a dog park. and the and the new playground in a different location. But I think we should consider it because that was one

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thing that was highly reflect >> be on the list of ideas if we're saying what are the features that would draw that would definitely be a draw for some group of people and there are back to the soccer field. There are a group of people that already go there. >> Yeah. >> With dogs it would just actually define

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an area because it is an actually good place to go with your dog. It's far enough away from the road. >> Yeah. Well, that's what they did with the Winston baseball field. They made into a dog park, >> right? >> So, >> right. Could be. >> You have to >> I was thinking that I was always thinking that that baseball field makes such a great dog park. Just close off

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the parts that aren't fenced and you already have one. >> Well, sometimes >> it's currently used as a baseball field. So, >> it's actually used by the school as a field. >> I also see it as >> Yes, it is. I I've even taken my own dog. Um I do I do want to like make sure that though one of the things in a

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future uh built uh Milstone Park is just like open grass space to run around in. >> Yeah. >> Um we don't want it to all we don't want it to be like the PAL fields in East Windsor on Airport Road where it's just all soccer fields and nothing else. >> I would to I totally agree with you. All I would say is it is that now and no

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one's doing that. So like we have to think of a reason why somebody would go there and go run around because right now it is the biggest wide open area and no one goes there just to run around other than to run around for soccer. So I don't disagree with you

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>> as long as we come up with something that actually makes people want to go there. >> Yeah. So the I so the ideas for the space is upgrade of the playground, potentially a splash pad, some open space, walking path, dog park, and

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improved parking area >> and maybe sidewalk. >> AI sidewalk town or is that county that street? >> It's old Trent. It would be running along Old Trenton. >> It's a county road, but I don't know about the sidewalk >> the county. You want like the kids to

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come from here, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Like maintenance, >> any extending of No, the extending the sidewalk. >> To where? To Main Street? >> From Main Street. >> A great deal of it is maintenance for sure.

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>> There's also wide open area on the right, I guess, of it that doesn't have any. >> But there is a sidewalk all the way along. >> No, there's not. The sidewalk on the Millstone Park side goes from >> Yeah. all the way from East Windsor, but only as far as what is it? Hardley

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Court. And it does not continue again until you get to Litki. And on the other side, there's no sidewalk at all until you get to Farm. >> It's actually pretty dangerous cuz my kids take that all the time. >> And like there's there's a network of sidewalks that connects them all, but you have to go in through the Shadow Oaks neighborhood to make it work. Yeah, that that's

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>> also one side of the road for a stretch and then another side of the road for so you just you know you have people crossing over, >> right, >> where it ends on one side and then you know >> Yeah, that to me is like a bigger than park thing. That's like a major safety issue that there's no sidewalk.

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>> Sidewalk I think is more a TC action than it is a park. >> Yeah, >> because >> I mean I I definitely support it but I don't think we have a role there necessarily. No, no, I agree. But there's definitely a lot of people at night walking along the side of that road and it scares me to death. Like

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kids, too, which is just nuts. >> Yeah. >> Because there's no sign. >> We tried for years to get that connection. >> Yeah. >> On on trend. >> Yeah. And I don't know why it's never happened, but I know it's been brought up for years. >> Yeah. >> So, >> yeah. It always looks like there's space, too, which is the most frustrating part of it. Like it's like

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just to put a sidewalk in. >> Yeah. >> Well, I think what happened is like it's gradually become more connected. First there was no connection. Then there was that boy scout trail by farmstead that was a >> sort of connection and then they made the other connection from uh Four

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Seasons to Farmstead both cut through the neighborhood and also along um Ultran Road itself. >> I mean to me it sounds like we need to kind of do a master plan for Milstone Park, right? So that's kind of what we're talking about. Yeah, that's what you're talking about is is doing because

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we can't say, "Well, maybe we're going to have this and maybe we'll do this." I think he's, you know, it's e I think it's easy. The easiest thing, and we keep coming back to it, is is playground. The playground needs to be >> updated, either relocated or just

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updated for where it is. And then the next phase is going to be here. But that's something actually that, you know, that the township engineer can can help put together. we could put together the phases and all that kind of stuff and have a real plan of action for that

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park and you know because Village Park is you know pretty much we've done almost everything we can do over there um and you know the other parks are pretty much not going to change too much. That's the only one that we can

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really make any changes to. So I I think it's a good idea. I think I think we've made some had some heard some really good things and I think that's that's the the plan of action I think we should take um because we could sit here all night and kind of bounce things off of

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each other but in the >> in the um >> looking at timewise I think that's where our plan is and I think that Christina has done an excellent job at laying the groundwork >> um and we'll and I'll and I'll work with her and and we we'll get something

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together. >> So to your point, um I don't think we have like anything to like capital D decide right now. We have things that we're interested in pursuing. Um but and we're definitely most focused on I think the playground right now. I think is

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there any disagreement on that we should dep prioritize that or prioritize something else about it? >> I don't think it's about the placement. I don't think it's about the whether we have a Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So I think we got to come back together next week, next week, next month and say like we just got to look

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at the map of it basically and say does it make sense here or here at least generally from our unprofessional >> Yeah. I mean I to Ken's point um just giving you political reality unless you have a holistic vision

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>> I don't think the TC is going to pass on it. if you just come up with, you know, moving the playground and you're you're going to get a lot of push back on like, oh, what's the whole plan for the park? So, >> um I would recommend coming up with a holistic, you know, master plan for the park. >> Easy.

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>> I think that makes >> Can we um circulate ideas on email before we come? >> Yeah, >> I didn't hear what you said. >> Circulate email ideas. >> But there's also So, there's two parts to this. You're suggesting that engineer

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can help with a master plan which is an engineering plan. I think there's a design uh input that the third party can provide. >> Do we want to run both in parallel or >> Yeah, they go in parallel. So yeah, so they'll take the design, the

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the measurements, everything. >> Um and and then the whole space and then figure out what phases need to go together. Sounds like potentially the playground and dog park might go together for repurposing the old playground space, but >> and then it's comes down to dollars, right? >> Yeah, that's right.

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>> So, I think the prioritization comes after that though, right? Like I mean whether it is indeed the playground first or if it's up, you know, upgrading the parking lot like that decision can be made once this is done. >> Yeah. But as long as we could hopefully all agree that we don't miss this budget

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submission for next year. It's just because the TC as we're all aware, it takes a few rounds. >> Yeah. >> For them to give us their buy in and everything else and then we have to do revisions back and forth. So I just don't want another year >> to pass that we don't have as a as a group something we're working towards. I

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I do agree and that's where I think that we want to like pick one priority not for work but like >> for next fiscal year spending >> right >> unless we can somehow >> I know we to death but I can't and we brought this up a long time ago is there

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are a ton of gigantic warehouses and companies that are out here and I just can't believe that none of them would be willing to want to put their name on a like park or facility or something about with a donation for building a park for

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their, you know, neighborhood improvement plan because some of these places have to do those >> sort of things. So, like if we come up with a master plan and we can ask around like >> EC was looking into that, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I remember we talked about that a while ago, but it just feels like if you

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have a master plan and you can say we want to sponsor an ADA compliant park or uh whatever or do I'm sure I think we have to assign the task though. We talked about it, but I don't think anyone's ever done it. Someone assigns and picks up the task.

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>> Yeah. I think we have to start with that plan >> and then we can figure out like, oh, we want to do a dog park and Petco has a warehouse here, right? Like we should be talking to them, right? You know what I'm talking about. That sort of thing. There's some obvious ones we could reach out to. I'm sure Amazon, they're pretty

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local. Like they have more than enough money to do these sort of things. >> Um, >> it all >> So, I'm sorry. So, I apologize. I have to leave. Today happened to be my mom's birthday and my middle son's birthday. So, >> Oh, Tokyo. Happy birthday. >> I will. And I have to make dinner. So, I

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have to run. But what I want to before I go, I just want to um I think these are all fantastic ideas. I just want to and I've said this before, but I just want to reiterate the sooner you get before TC and start laying the seeds for these things, the better. So, um I know August

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is August and September we'll be doing the baseball stuff, but I just want to get a date from you guys when you come before the TC. If we can coalesce these ideas and then just start talking about it with the TC so that we can get buy in so we avoid like the splash pad thing where you guys work on it, work on it,

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then you get to the TC and they're like, "Nah, we're not interested." I think this >> is um I'm sorry to interrupt. Is October too late to get in? >> No, I don't think so. I think October's fine >> because then because August here, September a working session and then October

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>> and it gives you guys time to coalesce all this. I think October. >> How do we get on that agenda for October? >> Um Donna, >> I mean we just get on the agenda. I mean >> if you guys have a plan, >> we will. Okay. Then you know second

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first or second meeting in October then >> oh yeah anyone yeah anyone that wants to help it I think it's fun pri to me it's a fun project >> but prior to that how many meetings will you have you'll have >> one to two >> two one two >> prior talk prior to October one to two meetings

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>> email ideas um >> well you'll maybe the second meeting in October after our meeting you know in October Okay, that's probably the uh >> a good target, you know. >> Um I'm thinking we might want to wrap up

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the goals and priorities. Um >> item on we've got some good ideas exchange. I I if I misreading, does anyone else want to keep going here? >> No, I think we have it. >> All right. >> Wait, October 26th, you have a meeting?

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>> I don't know. Do we? >> I don't know. I'm saying we're meeting October 21st, right? So we can meet with you the town October 26 if you all have a meeting that day.

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>> I believe we do. There's no holiday. I think we do. Yes. >> Okay. Um quick question before we close. How many um members are allowed to be on a subcommittee? >> Three. >> Okay. Epoch wants it to. Does Ken count?

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He doesn't count, right? >> You count, but you know, >> can you count? >> But does does anyone else I think >> but you can all communicate as long as it's >> BCC 13 acres. >> Okay. So, if anyone wants to be on the

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sub, feel free. >> I'm certainly interested in weighing in. >> Yeah. But that's not a member. I'm willing to be on it. I'm happy I'm happy to help or >> Michael just actor doesn't matter >> but if anyone

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>> if I could just suggest one thing Mike your your uh issue on corporate sponsorship I think is really good what I would recommend reach out to Lisa Caner because she had been working on some of that >> okay >> and see if she'd made any headway um >> Sure

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>> and you know save time and >> and in terms of >> thing I will just add on that is I feel like there's a way to get them to underwrite the project without their logo or name >> can do because I feel like again like entrance to cranberry dog park sponsored by

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>> No, usually those sort of things they usually put like a plaque like at a ribbon cutting they've got their name on or they post it on their Facebook page. >> Exactly. Like >> Yes. So they can underwrite and support but I think being careful to reserve the charm. >> Um >> Yeah. Yeah. No, I don't think we're

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talking about a giant metal sign that says, "Thank you, Petco." >> across the >> All right, let us close by out our uh goals and priorities item, move on to our new business or action items. >> Um I will I'm we're going to close the

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loop on this forever. Next time we meet on the rules and regulations for Mun Parks, if that is suitable for everyone, I'll bring something, we'll look at it, we'll say yes, no, it will then disappear from our agenda and our lives. Um, so that's my action item.

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>> Um, we have pieces of, uh, let's see. Um, we've got two subcommittee members who are working on Millstone Park ideas as well as the rest of us.

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Did I didn't um I didn't capture any other action items actually. Did you Did I I feel like that can't possibly be the case. >> Movie night, September 26th, League of Their Own. I'll take care of that. >> And um the baseball. Yeah, if we can we

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can get somebody if we can get somebody to answer our emails. >> Yeah. If we don't get an answer, that's not going to happen. >> Um I know we talked about like the kayak things and the shed and stuff like that, and I brought this up before, but at some point it'd be good. We should think

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about um the scouts like my two sons, they need volunteer projects like constantly and the Princeton high school kids all need volunteer hours too. Like we should be figuring out if there's a list of things like whether it's stream and path

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cleanup, shed building. Like there's all these like my son's going to be desperate for an Eagle Scout project soon. Like he would probably build kayak >> racks at the park, right? Like we should just be thinking about that. I think is I know we probably do, but just as a group, >> right, >> we have this resource that frankly is

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desperate for things to >> like they have to do them and they need like at every level they need sometimes six plus hours of service hours just to get up and they're all doing the pantry and that's it. >> So, we just need to I think we could leverage that a lot more.

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>> Okay. >> And maybe consider adding that to the agenda like >> I was I was just going to say that. Should that be can we add that to the agenda as an action item to for everyone because we've like talked about it but we've never had like come in with a piece of paper and say here's our list that we're ready to give to anybody who comes asking.

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>> Yeah, >> I think that we were supposed to do that with with TC >> because I think that the scouts now are supposed to somehow present or their their projects that they want to leave places like they did it with a

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bike crash or something. I can't remember. But yeah, we could circulate it. >> It could start here and then still go back there. >> Send it to the leaders. I mean, >> yeah, Mike Galisano is like right here. He just walk a couple blocks and come in and meet with us. I mean, I think he

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would do that even if it was just once a quarter, right? Like it just >> Okay. >> They're always looking for stuff. >> Right. >> Yeah. And my one other agenda item I have is I will contact Denise um about getting us on the agenda in October for

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um one of the meetings. >> So 26 is a is a meet. >> It's likely October and November from the sound of it. I think it's it's one is not going to be done.

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>> The very first thing it suggested All right. And I don't have any other action items. Does anybody else? If not, let us post that. >> I'm going to be on that subcommittee for Milstone. >> Okay. All right. Let us open our public comment section for any members of the

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public wishing to comment. There's nobody here, so I'm going to close out public comment. Uh, can I get a motion and a second for adjournment? I move we adjourn. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> All right, we are adjourned, folks. Thank you everyone.

