1973-10-25
~
TO.,!': C::- '.J'APpr;,lGE'\ RECREA.TIDf'! CO:";ISSIO~l
r,~ .._;~5 OF OCT ~]ER 2::;, 1973 i',EETL~G
, : e x t m 8 e tin 9 - r: 0 V e ri1 be r 8, 1 9 73 - 8: 00 p. m .
The special meeting of the Town of Wappinger Recreation Commission was hald
ot th~ Town Hollon October 25, 1973 at 8:00 p.m.
Attending: Messrs. Hugh J. Maurer, Richard Garren, James Porter,
Joseph Ennesser, George Schlathaus and W. Thomas Rogers, Director
of Recreation; Mrs. Raymond Beahan.
Abs~nt: Mrs. Alfred Arkell
SU~lHER PROGR M'1S
Mr. Maurer started the meeting advising the Commissioners the reason for
meeting was to discuss the present Summer Program, such as are we getting
out of them what we should be as far as children participation, etc.
Mr. Porter asked if he thought the proglrm was the program or people.
Mr. Schlathaus ~ltated the summer program has not been a great success. My
personal observation is I do not feel the kids are getting what they are
suppose to be getting out of the program.
Mr. Maurer said we should get some new ideas and try and increase the number
of children attending. Also, we should set up a regular schedule on program.
Mr. Porter asked what was the average age of kids attending programs?
Mr. Rogers said average age is about 12 years and each year it seems to be
getting younger,.
Mr. En-esser said the Commissioners should be making rounds of areas.
Mr. Porter said we should be getting more involved and set up a schedule
among ourselves to visit area during the day.
Mr. Maurer in talking to kids, they liked playing ball with other teams and
fields.
Mr. Schlathaus went over enrollment of Mr. Rogers'Report on number of children
attending playgrounds.
A duscussion followed about nationwide cost per child attending areas, why
have we had a decline on number attending and feeling 25% decline is old
shoe attitude of newness of parks wearing off, etc.
~r. Schlathaus said a child has to be stimulated to participate ln playground
p::-OCJraf':"'iS.
.... .
I'i.~.' .
,- ~:U'J:. -:;5: ':: fJ.V8:r:'~O out to pa:;.-cc;ts in forr~ of question:!3ire Of, progri3~;.
~t'i-" ,r-
.r:-~"1 1
I '._
,.)~
(".~ i. ,- 1
, _:. r') 8 e d .J.. ~ ., --:, .~ t
,= ~-~ ~.:-- ~<
to
t' ....1 t
ne ;-',;U.S no
being
,,_..L- '
....; '- 'w__
..... s....:............:..... ~.... '-~ ,_.... ,-' '_ wen.
SU,)~::~s-::
.l. __
_,. vU
~c;d __
n:lre
i i J:J '1 U ,2 =_~ Y
ar-.r
_ . I........
..:... :3 T~
-t:;l~::~
'::i rJ T
i ~-) v (] 1. \l e d
ii1
~:8g~nn]Jlg
of ~;rc
- ,.:;
-:0 L'
'7) ._~
-' - .
Town of ~3pping8r ~8c~eation Co~nission
;<inut~~ .. f October 25, 1973 ;.;:;eting
Page 2
~r. ~ia~~~r said tha Director of Recr~ation has to get hard nosed and ~aybc
fire ones not doing their job. If the word gets around that he can be fired
you will get better cooperation if he wants his job.
~lr. Schlathaus said if any Co~~issioner sees something wrong he should advise
nr. Rogers and he should be the one to terminate employment if necessary.
Mr. Porter said they should put a kid on probation and not fire on spot.
r;r. r:a...:::::;:;:- s aid a c ~:3:" n of co,::' and s h c ,-' ~- rl b 2 fa 11o\rJed and prCls '3 nt in formation
to Director.
Mr. Rogers felt a great deal was due to novelity of beautiful area wore off.
Mr. Ennesser asked about possibility of bussing to Robinson Lane where there
are more facilities.
Mr. Rogers stated you feel there is too much hel~ and problem is why kids are
not corning to area? You should define, give specifics and not generalities.
Year to year we don't know and that is reason we hired more help at Martz.
Some playgrounds have more facilities that others is another big factor.
The concession elf opinion is something is wrong and maybe we should get it
from parents in area and they r.lay be able to tell us what's missing or wrong
~."i th program.
Mr. Ennesser said we should make up a questionnare and get parents opinion.
Mr. Rogers suggested Martz area would be good place to send flyer out.
Mr. Garren suggested to put article in Southern Dutchess.
Mr. Ennesser said he would rather have survey submitted door to door.
Nr. Ro;eI's said he would nake out questionnaire and submit to Mr. Maurer by
next meeting. \~e haven~t solved anything and survey is only the beginning of it.
Big thing is revising prograG, you should be more specific in stating the
progr3~:"s lousy. You should eV31u2te program such as who, when and how. There
should be a structured method that everyone could use to evaluate it. One thing
we should have is a form of evaluation process. Heresay is no way to criticize
to avoid friction. Getting Commissioners more involved in playgrounds is a good
idea. If we are all going to criticize then all should get involved in playgroun
Compete~t help - there is such a thing we have to recognize is age group of kids.
Attention span and how quickly thay get tired, are one of things to be included
in eva~uation group. To sum up we should get going on survey, hire early in
year, ~s~ Commissio,lers-invc:ved, get tougher on people hired and set a precedent
The prc==am can be saved by setting specialized help trained to understand small
chi~~=3~, such as ~~-~one Going to cn!:ege sp8cilizing in this field.
- ::: su:~ _~,: _.~l. :J8tti",
. j .. f'OI r. f, :>~ ~:."'~:; s .=; i d .
G~; J.. l.-. ..;3.~ ;:.1 ace a t R e e s e F 2 l."' k
~3 d :- a mas c n u U _~_ s t ~.J d :2 n t t r a i n 3 j i nth i s fie 1 d 1:. (J P ~ t
:; '.-: i 11 ,J 0 S t j 0 CJ for d r cc. a, a I' t s a ~d c r c: f t s. ;] 23 " 8 \i [;
to ;Juild "''' urea to put on a play.
I.]r. '-2r asked "::-. Rogers tc nake u;:: rules 8!ld regulations on evaluation
.. _~ _ ;\] co:], L' -, "'0 ", t 0 S '-, ': U ,0 n,' r I J '. ~ iJ r;1 1 i k eel 0 c k\,'J[1 r k t D use as qui:~:c 1:i n e .
_, ~ .... .~ r - ~
I,l -':;;- . :::::t it ',-j',. iF Dp8~, b::::a::-d and this year ,-J8 r8311y \tl3nt directio;,.
I_,j cf ':iappin':J'~r R'3c::-eation Cc. ::-:ission
:.L:_:r'.:Ys of Oct':;;J8r 25, 1973 >;ec"tir;
Pu-j8 3
R C :-) I .~? 0 ['J L M,j E
Mr. Maurer said we should put a bull dozer at Robinson Lane, that the water
level is as low as it has ever been and would like approval. r~otion carried.
PARKS CLOSH~G
Mr. Schlathaus advised Commissioners that this is last week for playground
areas to be open and should make arrangements to drain water lines.
Mr. Porter advised that the gate at Qui~t Acres has been fixed, but would
like to have sign put up on time park is open.
Mr. Maurer suggested to put a sign made up as follows" Open 8:00 a.m. to
Sun down accept with special permission". Carried.
Mr. Schlathaus said the P.A. system is 10 years old and is in for repair and
suggested to get a new one.
Mr. Maurer summed up meeting with feeling we are going in the right direction
for our programs, starting with survey being prepared by Mr. Rogers.
Meeting adjourned at 11:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted:
A~~
/ Sylvia Guarino
Secretary
sg