November 2024 - Meeting of the Fiddlers Green Park Association

Meeting of the Fiddlers Green Park Association 

On Monday, November 4, 2024, the Fiddlers Green Park Association gathered at Theresa Kelly’s home for their monthly meeting. Led by President Matt Titus, the meeting covered updates on ongoing projects, financials, and future plans aimed at maintaining and improving the park for the community. Here's a recap of the highlights:

Strengthening Community Support

Treasurer Theresa Kelly shared that the association's account holds a balance of $xx,xxx as of October 31, 2024, with contributions from 35 donors this year. However, donor numbers have declined compared to previous years, reflecting changes in the local population. To foster connections and show appreciation, Tammie Fallon is crafting a thank-you message that Theresa Kelly will send to donors, emphasizing the tax-deductible nature of their support.

Enhancing Park Facilities

Efforts to improve the park remain a priority.

• Kiosk Improvements: An Eagle Scout project is in progress to construct a kiosk in the upper parking area, expected to be completed by spring 2025. Meanwhile, Matt is working to repair damage to the brick area of the lower lot kiosk.
• Memorial Trail Signs and Benches: Plans are underway to replace missing or damaged trail markers, with a special memorial sign honoring Bob Hopkins Jr. being added. The group is also exploring more durable materials for a new memorial bench.

Celebrating Nature and Wildlife

The association is collaborating with the Town of DeWitt to enrich the park’s educational offerings. By the end of December, they aim to update kiosk displays with detailed information and photos of the birds and animals inhabiting the park. This initiative highlights the park's role as a haven for nature enthusiasts and wildlife alike.

Keeping the Park Beautiful

Recent clean-up efforts led by Jerry Aloi and the Town of DeWitt have ensured the trails are in excellent condition. Though currently in good shape, plans are in place to refresh the trails with stone dust or wood chips come spring.

Looking Ahead to Festivities

With the holiday season approaching, the association is exploring opportunities to participate in Jamesville’s festive events, such as the museum’s annual open house. Matt is also considering ways to incorporate leftover painted rocks from a previous event into upcoming celebrations.

Building on a Legacy

Though some projects remain without updates—such as the park logo and North Street property—the dedication of the Fiddlers Green Park Association is evident. Their efforts continue to build a park that serves as a cherished community space for current and future generations.

The next meeting will take place on December 2, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at Theresa Kelly’s house. Community members are encouraged to attend and join in the work of preserving and enhancing this beloved local gem.

By investing time and energy into the park’s upkeep and development, the Fiddlers Green Park Association demonstrates how small actions can create a big impact, fostering a sense of pride and connection in the Jamesville community.

October 2024 - Meeting of the Fiddlers Green Park Association

 

Fiddlers Green Park Association Meeting Recap – October 7, 2024

On an October evening, the Fiddlers Green Park Association gathered at the welcoming home of Theresa Kelly to discuss the latest developments in maintaining and enhancing our beloved park. Led by President Matt Titus, the meeting kicked off promptly at 7:00 P.M., with a dedicated group in attendance, including Kay Sharpe, Jim Sharpe, Kay Keough, Jerry Aloi, Mike Weiskotten, and our gracious host, Theresa.

Treasurer’s Report

The meeting began with a positive note from our Treasurer, who reported a healthy account balance of $xxxxx.xx as of September 30, 2024. With 34 friends of the park contributing, our community support continues to grow, paving the way for exciting projects ahead.

Old Business Updates

Kiosk Enhancements

One of the key topics was the park’s kiosk. Matt announced plans to send out an email to our friends featuring an order form for personalized bricks. Additionally, he will install plexiglass on the opposite side of the kiosk to display important park information for those leaving. Once that’s completed, Mike will add more signage encouraging visitors to become friends of the park and details about purchasing bricks.

In more exciting news, an Eagle Scout has expressed interest in creating a new kiosk and sprucing up the upper parking lot, with completion expected by February 2025.

Memorials

Matt is in touch with Fast Signs regarding trail markers in memory of Bob Hopkins Jr. Each marker has a minimum order cost of $250, but bulk orders could reduce the price per marker. He’s also working to reconnect with Matt Schunck, who originally designed the trail markers as part of his Eagle project, to gather any remaining information about those signs.

Furthermore, there is interest in adding a new memorial bench. Matt and Jerry will scout the park for an ideal location and collaborate with the interested party.

Wildlife Kiosk

In collaboration with Kelly Smith from the Town of DeWitt, our association is working on a wildlife kiosk that will highlight the diverse animal life within the park. A list of wildlife species identified during the meeting will be compiled and shared soon.

Logo Design

Jerry updated us on the logo project. He spoke with Anthony Hyatt, an art teacher at Fabius-Pompey, who will review student designs from Marcellus and create a logo that incorporates these ideas. Jerry will keep us posted on this creative endeavor.

North Street Property Update

Jerry is still awaiting further information regarding a survey proposal for the North Street property and hopes to provide updates at the next meeting.

Park Clean-Up Initiatives

The need for maintenance was also discussed, including a large fallen tree blocking a major trail. Jerry will coordinate with Rocco and Gene from the Town of DeWitt to have it removed. There are also plans for potential Eagle Scout projects to create steps on the trails and to assess the need for additional stone dust or wood chips.

It was noted that several benches and tables require cleaning, as they’ve accumulated moss and debris.

Website Developments

In our efforts to enhance community engagement, Jerry shared that he knows a videographer who uses drones. He plans to connect this individual with Mike to create a captivating video showcasing our park and trails. Mike will also ensure that a PDF of our meeting minutes, minus financial details, is posted to the website after each meeting.

Next Steps

The meeting concluded with a reminder that our next gathering will be held on November 4, 2024, at 7:00 P.M. at Theresa Kelly’s house. We hope to see more friends of the park join us as we continue our work to maintain and enrich Fiddlers Green.