With pages of notes and ideas to discuss, members of the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC) met on Thursday evening, Feb. 25, to review their Tuesday night work session with the Palisade Board of Trustees.
A delegation from the local pickleball group attended the meeting to address the committee with some requests and information regarding the growing local interest in pickleball.
Since their group of players has expanded, the group is requesting that lines for pickleball be painted on both tennis courts, instead of the one originally requested and agreed to by the Town. The group agreed to pay for any additional cost of paint, and will supply the net and equipment as well, so cost to the town can be kept to a minimum.
Painting lines on both tennis courts will allow more players to play at any one time, as well as giving the group the capability to schedule tournaments in another year or so.
They currently meet at the tennis courts in Peach Bowl Park on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 1:00 p.m., weather permitting, and they also play in the renovated gym in the old Palisade High School on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 a.m.
Anyone interested in joining the group is welcome to contact Wanda Robinson at 970-216-6559 for more information. They have equipment to loan as well, so there is no excuse not to learn to play pickleball!
Karen Maheux, one of the pickleball players, also requested that PRAC give more thought to more activities or at least facilities that could be used by the senior population of Palisade.
She suggested possibly setting up a ping-pong table and a few tables and chairs for card or board games on the stage in the gym, for instance.
As our former librarian, Maheux noticed that many seniors currently use the library as an informal gathering place, but it doesn’t really allow for much in the way of activities or conversation like a more dedicated space might.
Maheux also provided the committee members with information on a ‘senior park’ in Glenwood, with exercise equipment, benches and other health oriented options.
PRAC members discussed the new Community Events Board that will be installed on the side of the public restroom building on Main Street in downtown Palisade. Half of the board will be used by the Town of Palisade for official announcements, and the other half will be devoted to citizen use for posting public service and event announcements. A set of rules regarding what announcements will be allowed will be posted on the board as well.
The committee decided to hold the $5,000 donation received from Richard and Carolyn McKinley until they can get some community input on how the money should be spent.
PRAC member Dave Fisher expressed concern about the continuing use of the property next to the Bike Skills park as a repository for debris. The committee also discussed ways to improve on the Bike Skills park, including rest room availability, water, and some shade and landscaping. They agreed to spend a few hours at the park on an upcoming Saturday to talk to users, and parents of users, to get more feedback on how to improve the facility.
There will be two public meetings scheduled on Thursday, April 21, 2016, to discuss and get community input on a new skate park. The first meeting will be held at 3:00 at the Palisade High School, and the second meeting will be the same day at 6:00 p.m. at the Community Center meeting room.
Attending the February 23 meeting were PRAC members Ashley Cholas, Charlotte Wheeler, Faith Maciejko-Krenek, Dave Fisher, Janet Prager and Carol Pellowski. The next meeting of PRAC will be held on Thursday, March 24, 2016, in the public meeting room of the Civic Center at 341 W. 7th Street.
