By Chad Reynolds, Board Member
The Municipal Parks & Recreation/Natural Resources Advisory Board (P&R) met Tuesday night (12.10.19) at City Hall.
Link to agenda: https://tn-lakeland.civicplus.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/895
Rental rates for the IH Park and Clubhouse were reviewed by the Board although no approval was required. Kevin Rooney, Parks and Recreation Department director, said discounts for Saturday use of the facilities were changed, not the rates. To receive a discount, a group must be a consistent contributor to the Parks Department, he said.
New felt is needed for the pool table and members agreed to stick with the current green felt.
Derek Johnston was sworn in as the newest P&R Board member. Scott Robbins is rolling off the Board due to work, which opens a position. Steve Snow is running for re-approval. Mark Mangone is also rolling off the Board.
The official design/site plan for the Athletic Complex at Memphis Arlington and Canada Roads was presented.
- Two multi-use fields
- Parking for 96 vehicles between the fields (potential for more parking based on budget)
- Paved sidewalk from one field to the other
- Space available for future storage room
- Space available for future concessions
Zadie E. Kuehl Memorial Park Update
Working on the site plan with Cannon and Cannon for the new dog par. The site plan will be for driveway in, parking area and path into the existing park. The Dog park site plan is completed. It will have a paved path with lighting. Currently checking with MLGW for pricing.
Christmas Festival
Festival was very successful with 250+ kids.
Grateful to the volunteers from the Lakeland Senior Center.
Had a conversation on preventing kids from being so close to Canada Road during tree lighting.
Virtual webcast of tree lighting presented as option but voted down.
Consideration of moving tree but we want tree to be visible to those driving Canada Road.
Agreed to continue this conversation later
Lakeland website
Working with Civic Plus for a full website redesign that is projected to go live in March 2020
Notice some changes to the website over the next few months.
Tree City Application
Martin Perez, public works supervisor, will let us know how many trees in Lakeland have been trimmed, downed and planted this past year.
Recreation/Sporting Programs
Basketball
Week 1 games went very well
One more game before Christmas break
Lakeland League Night at Memphis Grizzlies game January 26th vs Phoenix Suns
Kids will be able to be down on the court before the game to see / high-five players as they enter the locker room
Lakeland League Night at the Memphis Tigers game February 8th vs University of South Florida
Cheer
Competitive Showcase this weekend at Memphis Pride
Big competition coming up on February 1st for competitive team
Rec cheerleaders now cheering for basketball games on Friday and Saturday
Lakeland Senior Center (LSC) – Information from Kim Odom, LSC manager
November Attendance:
2019 – 377
2018 – 327
River City Boppers (RCB) is hosting a fundraiser to benefit the Senior Center and Parks & Rec Saturday (12.14.19). This is the second fundraiser of the year the group has held benefiting the Center. After the first fundraiser, they donated $500 to the Center (Parks & Rec). They also donate bingo prizes throughout the year, and a few members of the RCB volunteer for special events throughout year. RCB member Barbara Taylor worked the recent Christmas Festival, and she and another member will be working Friday during the Seniors Christmas Dinner.
The Seniors Christmas Dinner sponsor is Saint Francis Hospital Bartlett. Seventy+ tickets were sold for the event. There will be a traditional catered Christmas meal and prizes. Entertainment is the Jim Mahannah Band. Most of the prizes for the event were donated. Prize giveaways include six passes to Memphis Botanic Garden, Gateway oil change gift certificates, Safety Nails gift card, Starbucks gift card and Center participants donated knitted/crocheted blankets and other items.
The first Creative Aging (CA) grant program, a four-week Pottery Studio, wrapped up last week. The participants loved every minute of the class and look forward to the next program. Creative Aging’s grant program offers LSC an opportunity to book 16 programs (art, educational, or musical entertainment) to the calendar through June. All supplies are provided for every class. Required paperwork is done by the Senior Center manager after each class and turned in to CA. Other suburban senior centers are also being offer this opportunity. If we all do our part and turn in the paperwork and have good attendance, there’s a possibility that the grant program will continue.
… Photos by Lakeland Currents
