Committee Agenda for Youth, Parks and Recreation Committee 08/22/2019

CITY OF WORCESTER

Youth, Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber

Convened: 5:37 P.M.

Adjourned: 7:29 PM

Mayor Joseph M. Petty	www.worcesterma.gov	Clerk of the City Council Susan M. Ledoux
Committee Members
Chairperson Gary Rosen
Vice Chairperson Khrystian E King
Councilor Sean M Rose

City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

	Present Were:	Chairperson Councilor Gary Rosen Vice Chairperson Councilor Khrystian E King Councilor Sean M Rose

	Also:	Assistant Commissioner of Parks Robert Antonelli City Clerk Susan M. Ledoux, clerk

Petition



1a.	Rev. John Griffin request City to cease allowing vehicles to access and park at the top of the Crown Hill section of Green Hill Park. Further request City find an alternative to handle the overflow of cars and that the damages be repaired immediately. #7x CC July 17, 2018 In Committee September 13, 2018 - Held	Attachments

	Reverend Griffin read a statement in favor of his petition. The Committee with Assistant Antonelli discussed the following points: 1. Parking for events & encroachment into the neighborhood; 2. Damage caused by parking; 3. Limiting the number of events allowed to use the Crown Hill portion of Green Hill Park; and 4. Current condition of the parking area and plans for repair. The Chair Councilor Rosen offered the following: Request City Manager consider limiting the number of permits to no more than 4 events with parking on the Crown Hill portion of Green Hill Park. Chairperson Councilor Rosen offered the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide an annual report, beginning at the end of 2020, regarding the Crown Hill portion of Green Hill Park and its condition resulting from event parking and include repair efforts if needed. Councilor King offered the following Chairman’s Order: Request the Assistant Commissioner of Parks contact the neighborhood association to inform the area of the plans to limit event permits at Green Hill Park and explore concerns of parking overflow into the neighborhood. Recommend Approval to limit the number of permits to no more than four (4) events with parking on the Crown Hill portion of Green Hill Park.

	Chairman's Orders
	Request City Manager request Assistant Commissioner of Parks contact the neighborhood association to inform them of the plans to limit event permits at Green Hill Park and explore concerns of parking overflow into the neighborhood.
	Request City Manager provide an annual report, beginning at the end of 2020, regarding the Crown Hill portion of Green Hill Park and its condition resulting from event parking and include repair efforts if needed.

Discussion Items



2a.	Order of Councilor Gary Rosen - Request Standing Committee on Youth, Parks and Recreation discuss the state of the old and once highly-used Green Hill Skatepark on Skyline Drive to determine the feasibility and cost of modernizing it. # 12j CC July 23, 2019	Attachments

	Chris Matthews, Worcester resident was present and spoke in favor for repairs and expansion. Assistant Commissioner Antonelli stated at this time there is no funding earmarked for this skate park and stated a review of the skate parks would be needed to determine scope of repairs. Councilor Rose offered the following Chairman’s Order – Request City Manager request the Assistant Commissioner of Parks determine the potential cost for a design review to make improvements at the Skate Park in Green Hill Park. Recommend File

	Chairman's Orders
	Request City Manager request the Assistant Commissioner of Parks determine the potential cost for a design review to make improvements at the Skate Park in Green Hill Park.


2b.	Order of Councilor Gary Rosen - Request Standing Committee on Youth, Parks and Recreation discuss the state of the city's soccer fields and possible steps and financing methods that might be considered to increase the number of such fields across the city. # 10a CC June 25, 2019	Attachments

	The following speakers were present and spoke: 1. Jonathan Hardy-Lewis 2. Kevin Ksen, Worcester resident 3. Jean-E Menon, Worcester resident 4. Tamie Endow, Worcester resident 5. Adam Maarij, Worcester resident 6. Walter Jovel, Worcester resident The first speaker advocated for the following requests to the Committee: 1. A list identifying rectangular files with soccer goals; 2. Request goals be in installed in at least 5 city fields; and 3. Request the city work with Worcester organizations and residents to develop a long term strategic plan for the creation of more soccer fields in Worcester. Speakers supported the request and also requested amenities (portable bathrooms, lighting, and seating, recognition this discussion has been going on for years with no results. Assistant Commissioner Antonelli informed the Committee that the city has a master plan for rectangular fields and outlined wat is available for use and stated the city will continue to find more locations to increase field availabilities and maintenance. Schools and college fields are other resources to find field spaces for soccer. Councilor Rose offered the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request the Assistant Commissioner of Parks to identify one rectangular field as a community soccer field that includes goals and amenities. Chairperson Councilor Rosen offered the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager report to City Council any progress made for equipping existing soccer/rectangular fields with goals. Recommend Hold

	Chairman's Orders
	Request City Manager request the Assistant Commissioner of Parks to identify one rectangular field as a community soccer field that includes goals and amenities.
	Request City Manager report to City Council any progress made for equipping existing soccer/rectangular fields with goals.


2c.	Order of Councilor Gary Rosen and Councilor George J. Russell - Request the Standing Committee on Youth, Parks & Recreation meet to discuss additional steps that can and must be taken at the baseball field at Vernon Hill Park to prevent foul balls from striking and damaging the homes and parked cars of neighbors on adjacent Ames Street. # 14f CC May 29, 2018 In Committee June 25, 2018 - Held	Attachments

	Diane Pacevicz and Kim Kolaczyk, residents of Ames St. were present and requested a resolution of the long and ongoing problems. Assistant Commissioner stated the city has a design to remedy the problem but no funding has been allocated. Chairperson Rosen offered the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager fund an emergency allocation of approximately $125,000 to improve the poles and netting at Vernon Hill Park ball field at Ames St. Steve Sargent, president of the East Side Babe Ruth League, asked if it was feasible to move the league to the Worcester Vocational Technical High School field. Assistant Commissioner Antonelli requested to look at this to see if this was possible. This could potentially allow the Vernon Hill Park be used as a rectangular/soccer field. Chairperson Rosen offered the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request the Assistant Commissioner of Parks provide a report to City Council as to the feasibility of moving the East Side Babe Ruth baseball league at Vernon Hill Park to the Worcester Vocational Technical High School field and the feasibility of converting the ballfield at Vernon Hill Park to a rectangular field. Councilor King offered the following Chairman’s Oder: Request the Assistant Commissioner of Parks provide City Council with “Trajectory Study” for the Vernon Hill Ball Park on Ames St. Recommend Hold

	Chairman's Orders
	Request City Manager fund an emergency allocation of approximately $125,000 to improve the poles and netting at Vernon Hill Park ball field at Ames St.
	Request City Manager request the Assistant Commissioner of Parks provide a report to City Council as to the feasibility of moving the East Side Babe Ruth baseball league at Vernon Hill Park to the Worcester Vocational Technical High School Field and the feasibility of converting the ballfield at Vernon Hill Park to a rectangular field.
	Request City Manager request Assistant Commissioner of Parks provide City Council with a “Trajectory Study” for the Vernon Hill Ball Park on Ames St.