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Home My Public Portal AboutCommunity Preservation Committee -- 2013-02-27 Minutes BREWSTER TOIdN ERK Date Approved: March 27, 2013 Vote 0-0-0 Town of Brewster '13 APR 8 2:23PM COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes February 27, 2013 Present: Elliott Carr, Don Arthur, Roland Bassett Jr., Jeanne Boehm, Elizabeth Taylor, Terry Ryder and Paul Ruchinskas Members Missing; Martin Kamark and Len Avery. In Attendance: Council on Aging Brewster Recreation Department Oceana Soccer Brewster Little League Whitecaps Lower Cape Youth Lacrosse Friend of Brewster Skate park 4:30: Call to Order 1� Rereation Discussion Discussion regarding the Recreational future of the Town of Brewster with regards to activities for any age, skill level or gender. Explanation of the CPC's role in helping provide for some of these programs. Chairman Elliot Carr gave a brief Background of CPC charge and allocations • Seven years ago CPC was approved and voted on by the Town of Brewster with stipulation as to what percentage was to be allocated to each of the four areas stipulated • 3% of tax rate, state aid matched at various levels • 50% goes to Open Space, 10% Community Housing and 10% Historic, the final 30% split between Recreation, Housing or Historic • Recreation has had 2 previous project; Early Childhood Playground in 2007 for $25,000 and Tennis courts in 2009 for $250,000. A project has been through our approval this year (to go to TM this spring) for Eddy School Playground at $200,000. • Help up form Recreational priorities, collective or individual • People apply for grants we do not generate projects • Our applications are on a rolling deadline and can be submitted anytime. Some take longer to review and process. Each request that s approved by CPC must go to Town Meeting to be voted as warrant article. Ellen pjala - Director of Recreation for Town of Brewster Overview of what we do well, needs and where this department is going; • 60-65 % self supporting with program fees • It is a town service run like a business • Facilities are the biggest issue; townspeople have lots of outside choices, we are competing with gyms, clubs and studios • Space (related to facilities); we use Eddy Elementary gymnasium afet school and summers, upstairs in COA building, 2 Eddy classrooms; one for office and 1 for game room/meeting space. • Fields; Freeman's fields (cannot be expanded), Town Hall field space, Gage's field, Long Pond Beach and Drummer Boy Park on occasion. • Storage needs-spread out all over town as needed, Currently sufficient although we could use more organized space; shelving and uniform storage etc • Programs CPC Minutes 02-27-13 Page 1 of 4 o Youth-game room, fields and gymnasium o Summer Playground- summer camp style program, pretty much maxed out in numbers due to space constraints. Bad weather must have enough indoor space to run a program not just "baby-sit". Field trips take kids off the premise leaving some additional room. Comfort capacity is about 200 (based on number of staff) o School year programs- needs level are covered. Seem to be missing out on 11- 15 year olds o Adult programs-struggle, difficult to compete with private facilities and programs. Time constraints are extremely difficult with adults. No "soft spaces" available for some adult activities; yoga etc. • Fields (specific) o Significant accessibility improvements are needed o Multi-use field space needed; lacrosse, field hockey, Frisbee etc o Freeman's Way fields are limited in scope and amount of fertilizer that can be used due to Zone 2 water district. o Softball field needs to be expanded to adult size o Lighting- for adult needs o Basketball courts- Lost the court behind the Fire Station, only school Basketball courts in town and they cannot be used during school time or summer program times. No place for pick-up games for teens or adults/ o Pickleball courts- there are leagues looking for space for winter inside game. o Tennis courts-need a shade structure o Public areas- would like a pavilion and picnic space Questions • CPC doesn't develop projects but can certainly help fund projects presented • Do you have a priority list? Multi-use field space • Give us a priority list. • Could several groups get together to submit a project? YES • We really need a map of all town facilities, where bike trail goes for accessibility and town or Conservation/BCT owned properties • Letter from Wellfleet regarding multiuse park • Questioning adult needs? Are people filling these needs? Could we offer programs here? Brewster Whltcaps • Clarification; CPC funds CAN be used on Recreation lands that were not purchased with CPA funds? CPC funds must be spent on rehab not regular maintenance • Expanded opportunities • Whitecaps does not receive funding from the town • Significant monies are spent on improving the fields • We are just trying to get an idea of what's allowed. Kelly Moore- representing the Friends of Brewster Skate park • This proposal was originally part of the multiuse park proposal presented at Fall TM • The land transfer part did NOT pass thus the proposal became a moot point • This proposal was done in coordination/support of the Rec. Department and Rec. Commission • The activity itself is very popular; there is a huge need for the right place • It includes skateboarding, scootering, roller blading and biking • It is creative and aerobic • This activity is done by all ages; especially early teens through adults • Develops camaraderie, they video tape stunts and teach each other through help and example. • The problem is the land; expensive to purchase so we have looked at town owned parcels. • How much is needed? About 1 acre would be ideal but within proximity of the bike path would be desired as most of the participants do not drive and to be able to ride there bike there CPC Minutes 02-27-13 Page 2 of 4 would be perfect. It should also be visible for safety sake with a parking are for transport and public safety vehicles. • The young teenagers are not served well • It is usually a concrete structure that is fenced in • This project has lost some momentum after last TM but we are still looking at town owned land. • More liaison needed with Open Space for land use • Most tax title land does not meet criteria of accessibility and visibility • Closest to here is Chatham and they are in the process of designing and building a new facility. There is a very small park in Orleans with limited hours peter Johnson- Brewster taxpayer • I am very supportive of this , great community asset AND it is on my bucket list to try and learn how to skateboard. Jayanpe Scl- the Friends of Brewster Skate park • About how much funding from CPC is available for Recreation? We have done projects from $25,000.00 to $ 250,000.00 just bring it forward • Does it compete with other? It depends what comes forward each year • Currently $800,000.00 uncommitted Tom Shanahan, Tim Maloney and Luke Savini- Brewster residents • The 3 of us scooter, skate and bike • We travel all the way to New Hampshire to attend parks • This park would be attractive to visitors to Brewster and other towns • All ages; 5 years old to professionals • We teach each other • Are there formal programs? Summer camp at the NH park, Barnstable has had classes • People that work there teach • Brewster has a huge need for mid teens • Are all activities done on the same park? Yes penlse Rego- Brewster COA Director • The town needs a new COA/Community center with a multiuse park all together inon area Lower Cape Youth Lacrosse • This program started in 2006 and is exploding • High Schools have Lacrosse teams; MIAA sanctioned. Middle schools have teams and youth teams are springing up everywhere. • Started with 25 now 150; about '/2 from Brewster • Currently at Nauset High School which is a hike for many parents, inconvenient to travel • I envision a field space; same as soccer that could be shifted yearly to minimize wear and tear. • We could fill six fields if available • Lacrosse running patter is all around a goal area, wears our that section (active pocket) • Season is March through June (3 times a week) but summer programs are springing up and could be incorporated in Rec. programs • Turf field could ease the wearing issue but more expensive at the initial installation. CPA funds do NOT fund turf fields (test case: Newton) Kristen Dash-Lower Cape Pop Warner (football) and Brewster Little League • Pop Warner could use the same field as Lacrosse just different season • Little League is a regional program with about 1/2 from Brewster and regulation foeld space is an issue COMMON NEED; multi use field space CPC Minutes 02-27-13 Page 3 of 4 Keith -Oceana Soccer • Do you fund feasibility studies? Probably not unless part of a whole project/a mature proposal • Is Freeman's Way expansion allowed? Possible ADA but not much more due to Zone 2 and proximity to Water Department wells. Probably not the best place to have built those fields but that was the only land given by the town at the time • Can the field be switched around to the opposite way? Get 2 field instead of one. Could be looked into THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 4:30 PM • Elizabeth has the warrant Article Summaries, please review, send e-mail any suggestions • To be discussed at next meeting Motion by Rollie Bassett to adjourn Second by Paul Ruchinskas VOTE: 7-0-0 Respectfully submitted, I 11 i Elizabd aylor, Clerk Marilyn Mooers, • cording Secretary CPC Minutes 02-27-13 Page 4 of 4