Wanted to make sure. All right, just going to open the Park and Rec meeting for Thursday, July 9th, 2026 at the Southwick Town Hall. Um members in attendance, David D'Amario, John Wally, Dan Welsh,
Laura Sylvia, and Rachel Stevenson. Correct on everybody? >> Yes. >> Um we'll start off with public comment if anybody has anything in the audience. I guess that's a no.
Um move on to the minutes. I think Kristen, I believe Kristen sent everything out. >> Yes. >> And it was >> Um I move they be approved. >> I second. >> All in favor? David D'Amario, I.
>> John Wally, I. >> Dan Welsh, I. >> Laura Sylvia, I. >> Rachel Stevenson, I. >> Um after that, we have Wally Park, a few things. Um Do we have any updates on pickleball? I had a couple people ask.
>> Hello. >> [clears throat] >> Uh Randy White called me and >> That's one of the people. >> Yeah. He was uh wondering what was going on, so I called um and they said that they were the
um the uh people who are doing the construction were waiting because they had a letter from uh Nicole and um Doug Moglin saying that they would let them know when to start.
Well, made no sense to me, but I called Doug right away. And he called and talked to the I think it's Dario or something like that. And >> [clears throat] >> he said, "Yeah, go ahead." But there's a meeting
tomorrow. Uh 10:00. With Levec and the contractor to talk about the time and schedule. I'll do what I'm supposed to do, man. >> Put me on the spot. >> You can do it.
>> Oh, let's see. >> Maybe it's 1:00 today. >> No, it's tomorrow at 1:00 apparently. >> That's with Levec and who? >> Yeah. >> The builder? >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> Project kick off. We'll have more answers after that, I
guess. >> Okay. Yeah, I think the way it's going, I don't think we'll be 100% complete this year. They should be able to do it except for the painting. >> Um Is that it for pickleball? >> Just
>> I think so, yeah. >> Okay. Uh next thing I had um for Park and Rec was motocross, which we talked about briefly. Uh I think the busiest time will probably be between 8:00 and 1:00. >> Okay.
>> 8:00 and noon, so I'll go up there a little early just to get things set up and we'll be there early as well. The kids get up there earlier. >> What time you want me to or what time do want? >> Probably 6:30.
You want to miss a car. >> Well, I have that credit card thing, so. >> Okay, that'll be good. >> And I Jessica showed me how to use it. And so if we have enough cell service when it gets crazy, I think we'll probably be able to use it pretty good at the beginning, but I
don't know how it's going to go. >> Yeah, I was up there the other day saw Verizon trucks. I think they're doing the temporary towers and they're across again. So hopefully hopefully it's okay. Last year it worked a lot better than >> Okay. >> in the past but they had a better past.
>> works. I mean if we figure we can try it this year and see how it goes. >> Are we going to charge the same 20? >> Uh We are. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I didn't know if we were going to charge like 21 or >> Oh, It's confusing. >> Okay. Just 20 then.
>> Give them more to drink about it later. What about the RVs and stuff? >> Charge extra for the RVs. >> charge double or triple depending on the size of it. >> Yeah. Do we have anybody that's going to be down there like overnightish kind of thing like RV?
>> Kelly always checks in the morning and if there's anyone there he knocks on the camper and demands cash. >> That's fair. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Mhm. >> Okay. I guess we hopefully be all set
on that. Concert started last night for the Rotary Club if you want to give me his an update on that. >> Yeah. It just was the band which brought a huge crowd. They had a huge following. >> Mhm.
>> So our beer and wine sales were better than we've ever had and >> And what it was running was great. >> So people came to help me. People singing everything. Good start. Okay. >> And they started with 7 7:30? >> 6 6:00 to 9:00.
We start setting up about 3:30 6:00 to 9:00. >> Do you need lights on? Are those for the parking lot? >> We will do the parking lot and it was busy. >> Okay, so you're not at 9:00. I will pay more attention. >> thought about that. I mean if you do,
let me know. We'll make sure. >> They should be because if there's people walking quite a distance on the grass. >> Okay. And sunset's around 8:00. >> 8:00 or 8:10, so >> Yeah, do do you have a lot of people after 9:00? >> Yeah, there was still 150 people there.
>> Yeah, so should at least have them on. >> Turn them on from 8:00 to 9:00 and 10:00. It'll be done. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, the couple of 10:00 will be long be plenty long. >> Okay. Well, I'll talk to me next week. >> Okay. >> But while we're on that, I I think if there's things you need for that seeing
um our new director is getting into the swing of things, I I think we got to start helping out a little bit on different things. I mean as far as the concerts go, if you need different things throughout the week, I mean you can let her know or if something comes
up and >> The guys are straight set up the stage and stuff. >> Yeah. >> I would say great, so. >> That's good. They they just got that out I think this week or last week for you. >> Then they brought over the two they bring two pieces over from the
from the Legion that used to be just a cut out in the corners and there never was enough room for the band, so they gave us two pieces to put in the front left and right corners. Those going to be staying up there for the summer? They'll They'll stay They'll stay there. >> Yeah. Oh, thinking of it, the pavilion, are we
just going to park motorcycles under there again this year like we have in the past? >> Yeah, I don't know, so. >> I mean just so you can let them know and if you get >> Oh, when they're coming up, say go to the pavilion area? >> Yeah, I think that's what I >> any of the kids. >> Okay. Oh, yeah, when they're coming in. >> gets kind of hectic. I don't really get
a chance to talk to them all, so I mean, you think of it, just let them know, too. >> Are they going to like check in with us when they get there? >> Um I They should all have my number, but >> So in case they don't know where to go. >> Yeah, it gets a little crazy, but I'll I'll try to get like the the flags and
the vests down some of them there, and I'll leave some in the gate when I'm out with that. Um let's see. Uh we also had Joe Didi was in here last last meeting for the civic fund about the freedom truck. >> Mhm. >> And I told him we discuss it again later
in the meeting, and we never did, so >> I think he's going to come to the wreck center, isn't it? Is it? >> I think it's that. >> Okay. >> Figuring it's uh it's not the town, so >> It's uh >> people can't complain.
>> Like the American 250 truck, they had it in Westfield, but I I think it's more like a Republican >> They got it in >> They had it in >> in Westfield, oh. Because they got backlash for it. See, but then they had it in Southfield,
and it was very successful, but they had it at the rotary, so it wasn't like in town. >> Got you. >> Uh-huh. I was just leery about having it at the park and >> Mhm. Sure. >> Starting it all over again here. So that's good if he has it at the legion, that's >> I believe that's what he's doing.
>> Yeah, well, it's connected to everything else, so that'll be safer for us. Um any anything else on the park? Any >> Well, I don't think so. Everything's good. >> We We've got the um maintenance guy from last year, and then we have two people
college kids helping out. So I'm trying to get like odd things done like the sidewalks where the grass is growing over. I'm doing that and hoping to get more wood chips in the place gate. They're going to take care of all that stuff. Hopefully before the end of August,
beginning of September. Like kind of the odds and end things that haven't been getting done as often as they should. Um but no other updates from the park. It's been running fairly smooth since Yeah, did you want to find out? We've got everything going.
The grass is starting to turn green again, which is good. Yeah. It's always good. So no converter set it on fire on Saturday. Um so that's all I have for the park. Um unless anybody What's the story on the lawn mower?
>> You were >> Oh, no, no, no. The lawn mower came in last week. >> The new one? >> Yeah. Okay. >> They got the PO on it and the Toro. Um John the maintenance guy said to tell you it's it's working okay right now, so but I figured the next breakdown with it
it's the end of the road for it. But I I guess they put a couple of switches in and John did something and he said it's running good now. >> Oh, good. >> But I think everything's been replaced on it at one time or another, so
the next time it goes is probably the last time up there. But we do have the new mower too and he said that's working out well. So it's a matter of which one goes first. Uh next thing up I had the rail trail. Um
even though the friends disbanded at at the same time as our last meeting, we've had um people still doing things. We had one of them repair one of the fences down towards Westfield where tree fell on it and repaired the slats in that and
didn't charge us anything. >> Oh, good. >> He said it, and he's also been doing work clearing along the fence lines down that end of the trail. >> Mhm. >> Um the boy scout finally finished up his book banks at the one at the park, and there's two on the rail trail.
>> Oh, is that like where you take a book and leave a book or something? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Oh, that's it. >> I've seen those. >> Yeah, so they've been getting a little use, I guess, cuz one of them was empty when I rode by it the other day. >> Oh, it's well then they're taken. >> Done. >> Yep.
>> The Rotary has one set up at the Congregational Church, too. >> Yeah, I saw I've seen those. >> That just came up this week and up last last Sunday. >> They just finished that one? >> Yeah. >> It wasn't the same boy scout, was it? Or you >> No, it it's through the through the Interact Club, which is again part of Rotary
uh from high school. >> Is that one of those projects for that? >> Ours Ours was an Eagle Scout project. >> Yeah, Eagle Scout, yeah. That's what I meant. >> They don't go away. We'll We had one come in. They're like every year there's another Eagle Scout project. >> That's good. They do good things.
>> on the trail or the park. >> Yep. >> So, we'll see what happens next year. Um no other updates on the trail. The our mower maintenance man has been doing a good job. So, we've all had a couple of complaints on him just >> [clears throat]
>> things not getting done, but he started like the last month last year, so he wasn't super familiar with everything, but everything's going good. Um next thing I had was the town beach.
>> I saw a couple people asking on social media about it, but I >> It was actually it was on the news tonight, too. Before I left on channel 40 news. >> It was. >> Well, I guess Babs raised their prices to $40 a carload to get in
per day. And I guess they tried to go to the >> That's a lot. >> Yeah. >> For a little beach, isn't >> kind of crazy. >> Yeah, I don't I've never >> I haven't either, so. >> I haven't been in forever. >> I'm not a I'm not really a lake person. >> No, I'm not either.
But I guess as part of the the news story, they went to Southwick to see how much it was here. >> Oh, and it was not open. >> Well, it's open, but it was closed today. >> Oh. >> I think Kristen is online if she'd like to give us a beach update, cuz she's
probably a little more familiar. >> I don't know about that, but >> [laughter] >> She's familiar enough. It's been a work in progress this year. I'll I'll preface it like that. Um nothing was really ready to go at the beginning of the season. It was kind of
a lot of people came together just to get it open, and I think we still have staffing issues, I believe. Correct? >> That is correct. That is why the beach was closed today. >> And any other updates on the beach, Chris Kristen?
>> Not really. I mean, um I I've It's only been 2 weeks for me, so um they're still water testing and everything, and staffing is, like I said, a little bit of an issue, but I had a pretty good schedule set up for
them, and Karen went through and tweaked it a bit, so hopefully it'll stay open for the rest of the summer. >> Well, hopefully it works out. >> So, all we can do is hope. >> So, was it just like it closed on 1 day
a week, or was there a or it just happened to be today? >> No, so um what happened was I don't know if it was a scheduling miscommunication or something, but >> Oh. >> the manager didn't show up, and only one
lifeguard showed up, so she would have been by herself, which I can't open the beach if there's only one person, so. >> Okay. So, if people ask I can say it's open? >> Yeah, it's supposed to be open 7 days a week. So and it they haven't had to
close yet because of water or staffing until today. So today was our first little um bump in the road, hiccup, yep. >> So what's the um admission cost? >> Um David might know better than me but I
think it's $2 for in town, $6 for out of state. >> That sounds right. >> Just in case someone asks. >> It's on the It is on the town website but I'm pretty sure that it's $2 for town residents and then $6 for out of
state. >> Awesome. Who else do you need for I guess for staffing? Like do you need a lot more staff or is it just a few people to fill in? >> Um The biggest thing was the lifeguard situation cuz um
our old director used to take care of that like starting in April and she left before that and basically HR and um another lady from the town that was filling in
for our director 7 hours a week were supposed [clears throat] to take care of that and it got down to the last couple of weeks of the season we only had so many certified lifeguards that were around and basically in the 2 and 1/2 months nobody had
gotten hired. I think two people. >> Okay. >> So then we had a few other people pitch in and find us lifeguards. So we're kind of probably have half as many as we normally do
in a regular summer so kind of one one foot away from >> Uh-huh. >> being closed more often. >> Yeah. >> So, hopefully it works out till the end of the season. It'll go by quick, probably another 6 weeks. >> Mhm.
>> And anything else on that, Kristen, or all set? >> Sorry, I couldn't unmute. Nope, it's all set. >> Okay. Thank you. Um anything else on the beach or Um we had Dave Sweeny in here last time
for the master plan and Norm Cheevers sent me something. I haven't really finished it, but basically things we had talked about on the master plan how we're not going to get anything fulfilled on our end because it's more expensive and longer-term projects. So, I'll fill that
out and basically going to put down it'll be like 2 to 5-year time frame for getting things done like the the bike lanes connecting the park and the rail trail and the schools. That's more won't happen until the town goes Powder Mill Road
along with it. Um but we don't have anything that's inexpensive to do that's on the master plan that that I'll fill that out and get that back to the implementation committee. Um let's see.
For new business, so we or old business, I had the master plan, nothing else new business. Like to we haven't voted for a chair in a couple of years. I've done it and it's starting to get a little overwhelming, especially
doing everything this year. >> But you're doing such a fine job. >> but like I've done enough. If anybody else >> Or more, yeah. >> I don't know enough to do it. >> Okay. >> We just started. >> Yeah, I realized that. Any interest then?
>> Nope. I haven't learned enough yet. >> We have made everything. >> For the two years I've >> You're our man, dude. We [clears throat] need you. Let's call you a year and see what we can do. >> I nominate David Lord. >> I second
>> Yeah, I don't know how much longer I can keep doing doing this. I mean, it's just it's been like a job that I don't have the time to commit to it. I what I would like to do is um if we have questions on the park or
the rail trails or the beach, I can't can't be getting texts and calls like answering everything. I think we could divide that up. I think we tried that once a while back. >> Mhm. >> And it seemed to work out pretty good. So, I mean, if things come up at the
park like >> I'll volunteer for that. >> Okay, I don't mind the rail trail cuz there's a million people that have my number and I get calls for everything that happens on that anyways. And I I think uh Kristen could use a
little help on the beach. Um if anybody wants to help her out with that, it's I I truthfully, I don't know a ton of it. I've learned a lot of it this year. But I mean, just in case she has questions cuz like she said, she's
only been here 2 and 1/2 weeks. But I mean, if something comes up, just so somebody on the board can say, "Yes, this is good." or "No, it's not good." kind of thing. If anybody would be willing to step up and do that. >> I'll help Kristen if she ever wants.
I don't know anything about the beach at all, but >> Well, I I learned a lot this year, but I mean, as far as hiring, I think we I had a discussion with Kristen about that. I mean, we're basically too late this year because anybody who wants to be a lifeguard is a
lifeguard somewhere. >> [clears throat] >> Oh, it's kind of more for Yeah, like if like closing or if there's a problem or I mean just like she needs an answer on something. And just somebody on the board to give her an answer. I mean, there's no right
or wrong answer. I don't think there's anything. It's not going to be like day-to-day scheduling thing, but case something strange comes up. She already knows my number, so I might call somebody else. Yeah, yeah, that's that's fine.
I mean, I I kind of learned like I mean, the town didn't really give us a lot of help over the winter, so it was kind of It was either don't open a beach and say the heck with it or figure out all the the water testing and getting everything all lined up and
basically it all came together the last two and a two weeks before it opened. Basically, when Kristen started, but I mean, she was as new as everybody else to to how it operated. I get questions on sports scheduling and so forth. I've done I've done that for a
number of years, so Okay. I'd be able to help help her with that. That would be good. Did you hear all this, Kristen? >> Yes, it sounds like I have a lot more people I can bother. >> [laughter] >> I mean, just just the so you can reach
out for things coming up and just to get things answered. I know you've been pretty quick to reach out with everything and get answers or answer on your own. But there's always there's like a lot of behind the thing, but like I was telling
you, know, think it's most of the busy stuff for the season is already passed. So, hopefully not too crazy the rest of the way. >> Can you just coast the rest of the year, Dave? >> Yeah. >> Motion to be made and seconded today. Is
there a motion on the floor? >> Um All in favor. >> John Wallie, I. >> Dan Welcher, I. >> Laura Sullivan, I. >> Who just said inside? >> He can stay inside. >> [laughter] >> So, yes with chairman with help.
>> What? >> Chairperson with help. >> That would be great. Okay. Not sure if we have any anything else. We have the big day. >> I'll be there. >> Yeah, I'll be there by 7:30. 7:00, 7:30. >> Yeah, that's fine.
>> I'll be over there by 7:00 or 7:30. >> Oh, 7:00 to 8:00. >> 8:00 to 8:30. >> Rachel, you're welcome to help out if you want to flag. >> I can help I've done it in the past, so I can probably be there for like 7:00, 6:30, 7:00. >> Yeah, this is our our biggest fundraiser. I mean, we we don't have a
huge budget and it kind of supplements like we just got a new mower tractor for the field and that that came out of that fund rather than the town's money. But, basically so, our budget is pretty much limited to
the help up there and maintenance kind of things as well. Anything above and beyond that usually comes out of the parking money. All right. Don't think we have anything else, do we? >> Motion to adjourn. >> Okay.
>> Better. >> All in favor. >> I. >> I. >> Well, thank you, everybody.