#3 Minutes 11-9-10
LEISURE SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 9, 2010
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4 FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM, ROOM 416
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
Members Present: Betty Schwarz, Steve Ellis, Lynn Jones, Sandy Hendricks, Lori Markus,
Jayme Roth, and Councilmember Bill Truman
Staff Present: Shelley Slapak and Tom Presny
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM in Room 416 of the Municipal Building by Vice Chair
Betty Schwarz.
APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 28, 2010 MEETING MINUTES
Correction was noted that the meeting adjourned at 8:25 PM rather than 7:25 PM. A motion was
made by Sandy Hendricks and seconded by Lynn Jones to approve the minutes as corrected.
UPDATE ON THE TRAXLER PARK VETERANS WALKWAY CONCEPT PLAN
Tom Presny gave a summary report of recent meetings with the Patriotic Society. It was discussed
that the City wants to be sensitive and accommodating to veterans, but to also be considerate of
limited space and other park users. Tom indicated the Patriotic Society had 1,500 members with good
intentions to recognize vets. Concept plans were put together for the Veterans Memorial Walkway.
Tom Stehura shared that the concept plan will be modified. He indicated that the Patriotic Society
does not have a problem with other user groups utilizing the memorial. The veterans want memorial
visibility and the City wants to protect open space. The veterans as a committee will attend a City
Council meeting in January on this matter. Tom opened it up for further discussion.
Betty Schwartz: Asked if there would be an eternal flame at the memorial on Veteran’s Walkway.
(likely not was the response).
ICE AGE TRAIL SCOPING PROCESS / MASTERPLAN FOR TRAIL IN ROCK COUNTY
Tom Presny presented the Committee with two draft Ice Age trail plan maps. The 1100 mile long trail
crosses 28 counties and each county must have an adopted plan showing a corridor of 1 mile in width
where-in the Ice Age Trail must exist. It was noted that Janesville was one of the first southern
communities to establish the Ice Age trail in the early 1980’s. Tom mentioned that Janesville has just
started the scoping process. The National Park Service is working with the City on this matter and we
are considered to be in the first phase. A committee of 18 professionals and citizens is working in
Rock County to evaluate a broad range of trail placement criteria. Tom shared that the map showing
the colored dots represent desirable trail amenities. The larger the dot the greater the value it
received. The second map with a single trail corridor has been recommended by the trail committee.
The corridor provides linkage from Lima Center, through Janesville and traversing west north of
Footville, to Magnolia Bluff Park and finally connecting at Albany with The Sugar River Trail Bike Trail.
Tom mentioned this was a process which would lead us to officially becoming registered as a
segment of the Ice Age trail and making us eligible for future maintenance and land acquisition grants.
Questions and comments:
Sandy Hendricks: Commented that most people think of the Ice Age trail as completed in Janesville.
Steve Ellis: Isn’t the corridor already more than one mile wide?
Tom Presny: Corridor width is referring to where land could be purchased or the trail could be built.
William Truman: Shared that the state DOT recently gave a grant for a new trail extension from
Janesville to Milton and northward to Watertown within the right of Highway 26.
TRAXLER PARK LANDRINK – SKATING IMPOUNDMENT
Tom Presny shared that this outdoor skating impoundment will be one where earthen berms will be
created in order to retain more water than historically provided. This process will create thicker ice.
Tom explained the process in detail: 1.) water enters via city water pipes at 55 degrees. 2.) Water
goes through a chilling pond. 3.) Water seeps out from chilling pond into larger area where water will
freeze. Ideal conditions will make 12 inches of water becoming ice, but some flowing water
underneath the ice will exist to float and strengthen the ice. Right now a contractor is in the process of
excavating the top 18 inches of soil and then bringing back 12 inches of clay. The project should be
completed for use this winter. The City of Madison successfully uses this bermed impoundment
system for their outdoor skating. The only downfall is the lost ability to remove snow when the ice is
too thin to drive vehicles onto it. Traditionally we have a 3 week season and the hope is for this to be
a 6 week season.
Questions/comments:
William Truman: Friends of Traxler bought a new skate sharpener and they are working with
electricians for new lights.
UPDATE ON RECREATION PROGRAMS
Shelley Slapak shared that the recent Enchanted Forest special event at Palmer Park proved to be
another success with the second highest ever participation of 4,800 children. Visitors attended from a
broad region including Rockford. High winds cancelled the event on Wednesday but large attendance
took place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (October 28-30). Sunday a Trick or Treat Trail was
hosted in the park attended by an additional 800 children. The success of these events is due to the
high degree of volunteer students from Craig and Park High Schools and support from the Optimist
Clubs and many in-kind donations from area businesses.
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The Sugar Spice and Ice winter program will be held on Saturday, December 4 at Traxler Park.
Santa will be there and the committee was asked for suggestions on how he might arrive in a grand
fashion. Entertainment will be provided on an outdoor stage. Hayrides through the park will be offered
along with fireworks.
MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Councilmember Truman overviewed 2011 budget cuts to Leisure Services. A park employee vacancy
will not be filled at Riverside Park will result in service reductions at the park, other west side parks
and at the cemetery. Riverside Veterans Field will be mowed to game standards by the city and the
field will otherwise be cared for by American Legion Baseball. In addition wading pool hours at
Riverside and Palmer will be reduced by two hours per day.
Steve Ellis shared that he and Janesville Youth Baseball were successful in getting the current bus
routes to extend to the Youth Sports Complex beginning in 2011.
The next Leisure Services Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 11, 2011.
The meeting adjourned at 8:13 PM
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Minutes respectfully submitted by:
Shelly Slapak, Recreation Coordinator
Tom Presny, Parks Director