2002-12-19LYNCH PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Saturday December 19, 2002
Meeting Minutes
Committee Members Present: Chairman, Rich Benevento, Bob Richardson, Virginia Currier, and
Virginia McGlynn, Tom Scully, Tom Clark, Mike Collins, and Joan Fairbank.
Special Guests: Drayton Fair of Tappe Associates and Jeff Hoover of Geller Associates.
Also present Nancy Brewka Clark, Anne and Michael Gaudette and Special Guest David
Townley of Endicott Park, Resident Ranger.
Members missing: Deborah Hurlburt, Ellen Flannery, Liz Caputo, Bob Griffin, Gerry Cathcart,
Artie Sullivan, and Frank Killilea.
Dave Townley gave the committee an overview of Endicott Park in Danvers, the process of their
restoration project that began in 1985, activities and administration.
·
The park project was financed through a Federal grant, programs and private donations.
·
Usage has increased dramatically
1972 17,000 people
1985 125,000 people
2002 185,00 people
They had a historic building they wanted to preserve. They also sought public input and
considered public perception.
·
Endicott Park has 165 acres that is managed under the Parks and Recreation Department
with a separate budget.. The additional 10 acres that includes Glen Magna is run by the
Historical Society and has a separate budget.
·
Their project stemmed from handicap accessibility issues and traffic problems. They
have conducted a Special Needs camp for over 25 year and the building had no handicap
access or bathrooms.
·
They wrote a grant for $520,000 and were awarded $512,000 and the Town of Danvers
put up $332,000. Their major costs involved
$135,000 architect fee
o
$160,000 in building renovations.
o
$50,000 new playground equipment
o
$40,000 fence and sand for equipment
o
$5,000 new entrance sign
o
·
Beginnings and Structure
Committee listed Goals and Objectives.
Utilized their 1970 Park Master Plan and it remains a work in process.
Their Carriage House was registered and followed the necessary guidelines including
exterior needed to look the same and use the same type of materials.
.-There are two park entrances, one parking lot that held 35 cars that was expanded to
accommodate 100 cars and a field that increased parking from 100 cars to now
accommodating 600. Total parking increased from 135 to 700 vehicles.
They had an excellent Advisory Board and had no problems with city boards or with
money. (Our Board is comprised of the same type of membership that has a
representative of all involved boards actively participating.
·
Dave Townley is a sub-contracted worker for the city and serves as the permanent Park
Ranger who lives in their Carriage House/Visitors Center. There are three other Rangers,
who are Recreation Department employees, whose shifts cover from 9AM to dark. This
presence eliminated most vandalism..
Ranges patrol the park every two hours. They are officially uniformed and have the training
and privileges of a Special Police Officer and are required to attend the Reading Police
Academy.
Their philosophy includes “Educate, not incarcerate.” Their responsibilities include total care
of parking, mowing, restroom maintenance and supplies, the Carriage House and the
barnyard.
·
Separate Meetings in their park Development Plan included:
Historic District Commission
o
Preliminary Master Plan
o
Play Area Presentation; another for design and selection
o
Historical Society project update
o
Finance Committee
o
Town Meeting Approval
o
Park Funding- and budget includes $22,000 for maintenance and $120,000 for ranger salaries
Revenues include $15,000 from park permits; $18,000 from parking fees. (They charge $1 for
residents and $3 for non-residents, walk-ins are free) They anticipate the installation of an Iron
Ranger which is a “pay and display” method of collecting parking fees with people logging in
their zip code..
Weekends 60% non-residents 40% residents
Weekdays 40% residents 60% non-residents
The Endicott Carriage House has historical significance housing 7 carriages a carriage man, and a
bunkhouse for staff. It was an integral part of the Endicott Farm which encompassed 2 orchards,
a dairy herd.
The building now houses a conference room, a large program/function room , handicap accessible
restrooms, an office, reception/visitors’ area, a limited food service and residence for Dave
Townley and his family. They sell soda and water and want to add to that in the future. They
also want to add a kitchenette with cabinets. Now everything is catered.
Programs that utilize the Carriage House include: Yoga and Tai Chi, Boy Scouts and Girls Scout
meetings and events, and environmental camp, weddings, ceremonies and other events and
programs sanctioned by and through the recreation department
Dave instituted the Police Explorers Program eight years ago with the assistance of the police
department. The Explorers assist the rangers with parking and patrolling the park, especially for
functions and large events. The rangers patrol the park with their truck. The success of this
program hinged on the attitude and cooperation of the police department and the training given to
the explorers.
Park Function Areas include:
4 major picnic areas that require a permit and fee
Carriage House – hours open 9 AM-9 PM Mon, Tues & Wed and daytime other days.
Endicott Park gardens
The Park hosts four major functions during Family Festival for 4,000-6,000 people and some
summer concerts.
Fees are $500 for park for 2 hours for weddings
$1,200/hour for Glen Magna
$6,000/hr for Crane’s Castle (Ipswich)
Permits are stopped by Thanksgiving. After that people come to ski and skate.
They have about 135 dog walkers/day. There are 5 dog stations and the pick-up boxes, rules and
buckets for disposal of waste. The leash law is in effect.
POLICIES
Trash In – Carry Out Policy
They began a leaflet campaign one year in advance of instituting the policy. Trash bags
are given out at the gate house. The Rangers began a “Meet and Greet” policy to inform groups,
park users and to meet the permitted groups. .Before the policy was instituted, they spent two
man-hour days picking up trash and the park had yellow jacket and raccoon problems. These
have been eliminated with the new policy.
Trespassing after 9 PM
stnd
1 offense, issued a verbal warning. 2 offense, issued a letter of trespass.
Parks and Recreation Commission set the policies.
Dave Townley was the clerk-of-the-works for the site and carriage house project. This required a
daily entry journal, # of workers and time of each facet of project. As a sub-contractor, Dave
pays his own health insurance, receives no benefits and receives a salary.
He suggested the NRPA- Management Planning for Parks and Recreation; The NEP&R Parks
and Recreation Management Plan and the Maine Park and Recreation Handbook as useful tools.
The Committee thanked Dave for his time, presentation and information.
Drayton Fair and Jeff Hoover presented “Critical Issues and Goals and Objectives handout for the
committee members to review, add, delete and comment on BEFORE the next meeting.
Responses are to be faxed to Drayton at Tappe 617-451-3899.
Future meetings are to begin with a 10-15 minute period for public comments and issues.
Concerns with meeting attendance was discussed and individuals are to be asked if they still have
interest in serving on the committee, as there are 4-5 people who are regularly attending meetings
who could serve in their stead.
There were no subcommittee reports.
Respectfully submitted,
Joan Fairbank, Secretary