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.