[0:05] the June 25th, 2026 Sykesville Parks and

[0:08] Recreation Commission meeting starting

[0:11] now 7 o'clock. Um, first thing is to

[0:15] [snorts] approve the minutes from last

[0:17] meeting, the May 28th, 2026 meeting

[0:19] minutes.

[0:22] A motion to approve those minutes.

[0:24] >> I second.

[0:26] >> Any comments?

[0:28] All in favor?

[0:30] >> I any opposed?

[0:33] Abstaining. Right.

[0:35] >> Were you here, Lauren?

[0:36] >> Yeah.

[0:39] >> I don't remember. Um, public comments.

[0:44] Yeah.

[0:45] >> I can't start.

[0:48] >> That's the order of the stuff.

[0:51] >> I'm sorry. I'm I'm here to kind of see

[0:53] how it works.

[0:54] >> How is Joe?

[0:56] [laughter]

[0:57] Okay,

[0:58] >> wonderful. Is it in town?

[1:00] >> Yes.

[1:00] >> Perfect. Well, welcome. We're excited

[1:02] you're here. Thank you for coming.

[1:04] >> Thank you.

[1:05] >> All right. Old business then. Um, number

[1:07] one, the children's library update. Has

[1:10] anyone on Spark received correspondence

[1:12] related to the purchase or help needed

[1:14] with this project? Hasn't received

[1:16] anything?

[1:16] >> So, Gab reached out to me. It just came

[1:19] in on Monday. Um, they're waiting to

[1:24] wants to get a plaque that says was that

[1:26] she donated the um the little library

[1:30] and she bought one. She really liked

[1:32] Billy's idea of having a little one so

[1:35] that the kids could reach it. So, she

[1:37] found one where there's a big one and

[1:39] then a little one so kids can just open

[1:41] the door and get in the little one.

[1:42] >> That's cool.

[1:43] >> Um so, she's waiting for the

[1:47] >> um the little plaque where she can say

[1:49] that she donated it and then she was

[1:51] hoping that the town could provide the

[1:54] post and the hole.

[1:57] >> But she'll get back to me once the flat

[1:59] comes in and then we can move forward

[2:01] from there.

[2:03] >> Any questions?

[2:04] >> No. And and we already told her, "Yeah,

[2:06] we'll take care of the post and

[2:08] everything." So,

[2:09] >> how much um time does public works need

[2:12] to be there because I know summer is

[2:14] busy to grow the grass?

[2:16] >> Not we're out of the spring hump now

[2:19] where the grass is growing every two

[2:21] days. So, um they should be able to work

[2:24] around for anything.

[2:26] >> Perfect. I'll reach back out to Gavin

[2:28] Crystal and say let me know and then um

[2:31] we can let public force to do the whole

[2:35] do it.

[2:42] » Cool.

[2:42] >> That's all.

[2:43] >> Okay. Uh the natural bulletin board

[2:46] update. Uh we got limbs from evergreen

[2:49] and cherry trees that have been set

[2:50] aside after a cleanup project in Jones

[2:52] Park. and further discussion as needed.

[2:56] But Billy's not here, so I suppose none

[3:00] of us have anything else to say about

[3:02] that one.

[3:03] >> Um,

[3:04] >> yeah, we we can table it until the next

[3:06] meeting, I guess.

[3:08] >> Yeah. So, Billy, if you're watching,

[3:11] your wood is here.

[3:13] >> Is there Drew? Is it stored in a way

[3:16] where it's not an issue to to leave it

[3:19] for a little bit while longer or

[3:21] >> um I'll double check on it right now.

[3:23] Jones Park.

[3:24] >> Okay.

[3:25] >> Where it was cut down from.

[3:26] >> Okay.

[3:28] [clears throat]

[3:30] >> Uh the Freedom Ring Parade float update.

[3:33] Um

[3:35] I guess that's

[3:36] >> ask the new flocon concept if anything.

[3:38] Oh. Uh okay. So we tore down the old

[3:42] float um into little pieces. We recycled

[3:45] some of the wood to make signs and a

[3:48] bench.

[3:49] And the other scraps were picked up by

[3:52] public works. Is that correct? Or going

[3:54] to be.

[3:55] >> Um, we tried to make not that big of a

[3:59] mess, but we made a little mess. Um,

[4:03] Eric wasn't there

[4:06] >> for the public record.

[4:09] >> Um,

[4:11] Amy, how's the signs coming?

[4:13] >> Um, they're coming along well.

[4:14] >> Cool. I'm going to do a second coat on

[4:16] the white so that you can really see it

[4:19] so it stands out.

[4:21] >> Um, it's going well. I did want to ask,

[4:24] are we doing like a spark sign?

[4:26] >> That's what I see. The big sign.

[4:28] >> Okay. That's what I wanted to double

[4:29] check before I did that one.

[4:30] >> Yeah, that's the spark.

[4:32] >> So, will that just be on maybe the back

[4:34] end or

[4:36] >> is it only go on one side?

[4:38] >> The back might be nice.

[4:39] >> Yeah,

[4:39] >> we can worry about all that stuff. Okay.

[4:41] >> Later. We'll have

[4:44] a little putting together piecing

[4:47] session. Is that fine?

[4:49] >> I'm excited to see it.

[4:52] >> Um,

[4:54] what else was I going to say? The only

[4:55] thing we need now is the trailer. We

[4:57] want to use the one with the rails so we

[5:00] can hang stuff on it. Um, we need at

[5:03] least a day. I think we can do a lot of

[5:06] the fine

[5:08] detail stuff the day of the parade, but

[5:12] it would be nice to get in and see the

[5:15] trailer Thursday or Friday beforehand,

[5:19] >> put it all together. Um,

[5:22] >> yeah, the thing we need to worry about

[5:24] now is how to

[5:26] properly secure everything to the

[5:28] trailer, whether it be with zip ties or

[5:30] something stronger. Um,

[5:33] did respond to your email today.

[5:35] >> Yeah. That we can screw into it as much

[5:36] as we want. That that will be helpful.

[5:39] Um cuz we probably we we want to keep

[5:41] the flags that we had at the front last

[5:44] year just because we have so much space

[5:46] on the trailer that the flags will be a

[5:47] nice um way to take up the space because

[5:51] our turf only covers 6' by 8. That was

[5:55] the only size that we could get that

[5:57] would fit. So, we have a lot of

[5:59] additional space.

[6:01] Um yeah, that's it.

[6:03] We just need straps or something.

[6:06] >> Do you guys want me to ask Ian or Jeremy

[6:08] or one of our public works guys to drive

[6:10] again this year?

[6:11] >> Yeah.

[6:13] >> And then what kind of candy do we want

[6:16] to get that we can pass out that's not

[6:18] going to melt? Are you guys still the

[6:20] popsicles again? Cuz that was

[6:22] >> impossible.

[6:24] >> Why?

[6:24] >> They're It's impossible to keep them

[6:26] cold.

[6:27] >> We never by the end we're only giving

[6:29] out liquid

[6:30] >> no matter what we do. So Now they're

[6:32] projecting. It's supposed to be like 100

[6:36] >> neck. [laughter]

[6:38] Six neck things. Write that down.

[6:43] >> Um

[6:45] >> I don't know.

[6:47] >> If you do purchase, I'm guessing you're

[6:49] talking about the life guard things.

[6:51] >> Yeah.

[6:52] >> Uh [snorts]

[6:53] we'll reimburse you for that. Wearing

[6:56] something that represents the town. So,

[7:00] >> you like freeze some ice packs and put

[7:02] them in there with your

[7:04] >> The neck thing works pretty well. You

[7:06] put it in the freezer the night before.

[7:13] » Okay. [snorts] So, what do we want to

[7:14] do? Lollipops. Do we want to do

[7:16] Skittles?

[7:18] >> Skittles are pretty good for peanutree

[7:20] kids cuz it's not made in a factory with

[7:23] peanuts and it doesn't have peanuts in

[7:24] it.

[7:24] >> Dum dums

[7:26] >> dropped on the ground.

[7:28] You can't have the hand out.

[7:34] » I can get them from Costco. I can get

[7:37] Skittles and Dum Dums. Does anybody want

[7:39] to add anything else to that?

[7:43] >> That works for me.

[7:46] >> What do you guys pass? What is What did

[7:48] L decide [snorts] we're passing out?

[7:50] >> Oh, yeah. It's a bag with has candy in

[7:52] it and other things in there. Yeah.

[7:54] >> Okay.

[7:57] Um did you do we have volunteers to walk

[8:00] with the boat?

[8:01] >> Yes, it'll be a group of um Girl Scouts

[8:05] that will walk with us because we don't

[8:06] want them to ride this year

[8:09] >> because so that it's just sparking on

[8:11] the bench with all the trees and the

[8:12] signs of the park. So, they'll walk with

[8:14] us and help us get our candy.

[8:16] >> Okay.

[8:18] >> Um I think public works said that the

[8:20] trailer would be ready, they said

[8:22] Thursday, right?

[8:25] >> Do we want to set up a time Thursday to

[8:28] do like a a rough trial run.

[8:32] >> I can do that.

[8:35] >> Let's see. Thursday the second

[8:43] » and then I guess we can shoot an email

[8:45] out to kind of coordinate timing.

[8:49] >> Great. And public works can just have

[8:53] the trailer in that

[8:56] because there is

[8:58] >> there is an event on the uh line on the

[9:01] main that night. So

[9:02] >> yeah, I mean that's every Friday and

[9:04] Saturday. So

[9:04] >> well this is Thursday. There's an event

[9:06] on Thursday night.

[9:07] >> Really?

[9:08] >> Yeah.

[9:08] >> Okay.

[9:09] >> Um will that will the share have room

[9:12] with parking and cars? That was

[9:14] >> they'll probably have the trailer inside

[9:17] of the Sandoski building. Period.

[9:19] >> But I'll double check with them.

[9:20] >> Okay.

[9:23] I do still have the key.

[9:24] >> Okay. Should we just keep the key then?

[9:27] Is that fine?

[9:28] >> Um, do you need any help from me or

[9:32] volunteer council?

[9:35] >> I think Thursday we're okay, but as far

[9:37] as the actual parade day,

[9:39] >> yeah,

[9:41] >> okay.

[9:41] >> What time does it start? I should

[9:46] » wear spark shirts and everything.

[9:49] >> Alex always comes in American attire.

[9:53] I've seen I've seen pictures.

[9:56] >> What time do they start lining up at the

[9:59] middle school?

[10:01] >> People there like 8, right?

[10:05] >> They can

[10:06] >> I think we always got there.

[10:13] » I can talk to DSC.

[10:17] >> Okay.

[10:32] And then I can bring signs Thursday.

[10:42] » No, they do at the shop.

[10:52] else.

[10:55] » Yeah, public works doesn't have the the

[10:58] number that you need, then I'll I'll

[10:59] make sure I get to detail next week.

[11:02] >> Yeah.

[11:06] » Okay, I think we're good.

[11:14] » Okay. Anything else? Good.

[11:17] >> I think we should wear our scarf shirts.

[11:19] Yes. Well,

[11:25] » okay.

[11:28] >> Moving on to the outdoor nature

[11:30] classroom sign. Uh discussion on any

[11:33] brainstormed ideas for names and what

[11:34] materials and methods to be used in

[11:36] creating the sign.

[11:41] » This is something we talked about last

[11:42] week, last month.

[11:44] >> Yeah. Were we able to get any

[11:51] She's she's she's been going through

[11:54] some personal stuff. So,

[11:56] >> okay.

[11:56] >> And they're really trying to fill a

[11:57] position before she is gone by the end

[11:59] of next month.

[12:01] >> Okay.

[12:05] » Shall we table it for the future?

[12:09] >> Yeah.

[12:11] >> Um, vacant seat open on commission.

[12:15] Spark currently has one vacant

[12:16] commission seat. Residents interested in

[12:19] parks, recreation, community events, and

[12:21] public spaces are encouraged to apply.

[12:24] Staff continue to share information

[12:26] regarding the vacancy and welcome.

[12:28] Recommendations of community members who

[12:30] may be interested in serving. Anyone who

[12:32] is interested in joining SMARK should

[12:34] email sparks at sitesville.net.

[12:38] There's our little advertisement.

[12:41] >> On to new business.

[12:43] >> Has a question actually on that. Okay.

[12:45] >> Any of you have recommendations

[12:48] >> for specific people?

[12:49] >> Yes.

[12:51] >> Kyle

[12:52] >> and he has not answered um direct

[12:55] message or email. So I don't think he's

[12:59] >> unless one of you want to reach out to

[13:01] him, but then again [snorts] that's kind

[13:02] of like

[13:04] >> Yeah,

[13:04] >> I was thinking maybe we could make a

[13:06] note to at the next movie night like

[13:08] announce it prior

[13:10] >> just to get the word out. I know a lot

[13:13] of people watch the news. And then

[13:15] something I forgot to have added to this

[13:17] was farmers market. Um so I talked with

[13:20] Sarah who manages the farmers market. Um

[13:24] there's not space for Spark to have like

[13:26] a formal tent.

[13:28] >> Um but there is space to have a table in

[13:31] the shade. So if there's availability

[13:34] for commissioners

[13:36] on Saturdays between now and October, we

[13:38] can also

[13:40] Yep. Sorry. I did the same thing in

[13:42] email on Sundays. Um, between now and

[13:45] October, we could maybe make an

[13:49] appearance there a couple times and kind

[13:51] of get the word out to people that we

[13:54] fill a seat

[13:58] and in the future. So,

[14:01] >> I like those ideas.

[14:03] >> Um, so I don't know if anybody has

[14:06] availability for July. I told Sarah I

[14:08] will let her know.

[14:10] Um

[14:13] July is a little tough for me. I I would

[14:15] be able to do August. Um August,

[14:17] September, October.

[14:20] Um but if anybody has availability and

[14:23] an interest in doing farmers market in

[14:25] July, Sarah said she could work with us

[14:28] on setting up.

[14:32] >> I can do can do July probably.

[14:37] Are we just going to do one time a month

[14:39] like we did last year?

[14:40] >> Is that what we did?

[14:41] >> Yeah,

[14:42] >> that's what we did last year. I I feel

[14:45] like it was a good balance. Um,

[14:48] somebody's really eager to do it more

[14:51] than that. I don't think it hurts. But

[14:53] at the same time, most of our events I

[14:55] feel like are any in the summer. That's

[14:59] why it's hard. It's a lot.

[15:03] Nick, I know this is back to back, but

[15:05] do you want I can do the 12th if you

[15:07] want to do the 12th, but that's right

[15:08] after the movie on the 11th.

[15:10] >> That's fine.

[15:11] >> Okay.

[15:13] >> I can email Sarah and copy both of you

[15:16] guys.

[15:17] >> July 12th.

[15:20] >> Is that what you said? July 12th.

[15:21] >> Yes. If that works for you.

[15:28] » So, Drew, could you bring

[15:32] the tablecloth and a box and a flyer so

[15:36] that we can put them on the table to the

[15:38] movie on the 11th.

[15:39] >> Yeah, I bring it to every every movie.

[15:42] So,

[15:43] >> okay, great. And then I'll just keep it

[15:44] in my car and then bring it back to you

[15:46] when we're

[15:49] >> Okay, thank you.

[15:50] >> Yeah, you're welcome.

[15:52] >> Nick, is it okay with you if we roll up

[15:54] at 9 when it starts?

[16:00] » Yeah, especially because there will be a

[16:04] Yeah.

[16:07] >> And it'll be right in the area of the

[16:09] fountain, she said.

[16:16] [laughter]

[16:19] » Nick will never be at the table.

[16:21] [laughter]

[16:22] >> Here we go.

[16:23] >> Um, if it pleases the commission before

[16:25] we move or you guys move on to the new

[16:27] business as it were, um, would you like

[16:29] me to go over the budget or is it

[16:31] speaking for itself.

[16:34] Are there any questions?

[16:36] >> You can go over I wouldn't mind me going

[16:38] over it.

[16:39] >> Okay. So, pretty much what you're seeing

[16:41] is the uh one page um for uh parks under

[16:45] the line 570.

[16:48] >> Um so that is Spark and Parks and

[16:51] Recreation. Um [snorts] the maintenance

[16:54] and all of that side of things is kept

[16:56] in another line um that almost

[16:59] exclusively is used by uh either me for

[17:02] maintenance work or public works when

[17:04] they're need to do a swing new chains

[17:07] and stuff like that. Um so you can see

[17:10] the percentage of the budget we've used

[17:12] uh a lot out of advertising which is

[17:14] great. Um concert bands that's a line

[17:17] right now. I'm not

[17:21] uh a line next year as we go forward. Um

[17:25] I I think that Joe has taken it out. Uh

[17:28] but I I haven't seen it. Uh then we've

[17:31] got uh the miscellaneous holiday events.

[17:34] Uh that mainly is Christmas stuff, but

[17:38] we also had the out uh the added um

[17:42] charge of around $700 for uh the uh

[17:47] lighting of the Manora. [clears throat]

[17:49] and that was to help out with food and

[17:52] their budget there. Then concessions, um

[17:55] that speaks for itself. Movies in the

[17:57] park, uh that is just for the purchase

[18:01] of the rights to play the movies. It

[18:03] doesn't include um any of the crafts or

[18:07] anything like that. Uh pre-event

[18:09] activities. Um we've got uh we we went

[18:13] over this here, but uh I I think that

[18:16] that's going to be added on to

[18:19] mainly because we're getting more active

[18:21] into what we want to do. And then uh the

[18:25] last thing we have is under volunteer

[18:28] supplies. Um which as you can see we've

[18:32] gone through a lot of that too. So

[18:34] >> is that like gloves and

[18:38] >> products?

[18:38] >> No, that's all going to be under public

[18:40] works the public works side of parks and

[18:47] [clears throat]

[18:47] >> so like for instance if Lauren Merrill

[18:52] needed to uh purchase something and

[18:54] wanted to be reimbursed for it, that's

[18:56] what that line item would be.

[18:59] or like if we decided on our own craft

[19:03] that would be another

[19:07] » um this is always available if you go to

[19:10] uh the town's website and go to um one

[19:15] of the meetings uh uh that they've been

[19:18] on the agenda for that meeting if it has

[19:21] treasures report there's a URL code that

[19:23] will take you directly to this Cool.

[19:28] >> When people or when we get uh sponsors

[19:31] for movies, where does that does that

[19:34] just go overall?

[19:35] >> I think that's

[19:37] Yeah.

[19:38] >> And if it [snorts] worked against like

[19:39] the

[19:40] >> $2,500 movie budget or whatever,

[19:43] >> right? Yeah. in whatever way

[19:46] treasurer have it figured out is it goes

[19:50] into the same pot as say donations for

[19:53] um the gate house and then it's all

[19:56] reallocated in each different fiscal

[19:59] year

[19:59] >> and that's just how they've worked it

[20:02] >> makes sense just curious

[20:03] >> I don't know about

[20:12] Cool.

[20:17] » First time I've ever seen a number

[20:21] >> in six years.

[20:23] So, it's cool to know.

[20:27] » And the sponsors that we did get this

[20:29] year that did cover the license of all

[20:32] the movies. So, we were even with that.

[20:34] >> Yeah.

[20:34] >> Great.

[20:35] >> Maybe a little bit over even. So,

[20:37] >> a little better. Okay. Good.

[20:44] So, all of our sponsors covered the

[20:46] money for our movie licenses.

[20:48] >> What do we spend? $2,000.

[20:50] >> So, that's still the expense, but

[20:51] >> there's they they record the income

[20:53] somewhere. That's just Okay.

[20:57] >> Mhm.

[20:57] >> Again, I can bring that next meeting too

[21:00] if you guys want to go over revenue as

[21:01] well.

[21:03] >> Cool. Cool. Cool.

[21:09] Okay.

[21:12] Shall we?

[21:13] >> Mhm.

[21:13] >> How about the recap? How'd it go?

[21:17] >> I thought it was great.

[21:19] >> Auxiliary police counted 70 attendants.

[21:23] >> 70. That's really really good for our

[21:26] first

[21:27] >> Yeah. June movie is the hardest one.

[21:29] >> It was

[21:31] >> What else was happening? There was like

[21:32] a school function.

[21:33] >> The carnival.

[21:34] >> Carnival. Carnival.

[21:36] >> Music night. There was the carnival. It

[21:38] was the last

[21:39] >> It was the last night of carnival.

[21:42] >> Yeah, we heard them at the

[21:43] >> at the end of the movie.

[21:45] >> So 70 was gold mine then for us if we

[21:48] were competing against all of that.

[21:50] >> I don't know when the auxiliary counted

[21:55] >> 15

[21:57] seriously

[21:58] >> I thought it was more

[22:01] >> honestly I didn't skimp or anything.

[22:04] >> Yeah,

[22:05] >> just make it 200. That's pastor's

[22:07] numbers.

[22:12] » Yeah, I thought it was more than 70,

[22:13] too.

[22:14] >> You got 170?

[22:15] >> No, no, I thought it was more than 70.

[22:16] >> Okay.

[22:17] >> But I didn't count. It felt like more

[22:19] than 70.

[22:20] >> I mean, I also counted the kids that

[22:22] were on the swings playground and

[22:24] watching from there. So,

[22:26] >> I think that counts.

[22:28] >> They were there.

[22:30] >> Um, do you know I'm curious if you know

[22:32] how much money you made from the QR code

[22:34] for this time?

[22:35] >> Yes. uh $37.66.

[22:38] >> Okay. Yeah.

[22:41] >> Most of which uh was from our very own

[22:44] Eric.

[22:45] [laughter]

[22:46] >> It's my kids. They're

[22:49] I need I need to tell them to chill with

[22:51] ice cream and pop.

[22:54] >> How did the um

[22:58] >> what was their name? The um the pine rum

[23:01] >> basil. Basil.

[23:02] >> He said that it was phenomenal.

[23:05] He said lots of kids work excited. He

[23:07] said he did a um I thought he was great.

[23:11] He did a little um walk around of the

[23:14] park first to find bugs so that he knew

[23:17] it would be good for the kids to go and

[23:18] he brought little boxes for the kids. Um

[23:22] he said they were very excited and found

[23:25] lots of things and he taught them lots

[23:26] of things and then I was watching some

[23:28] of the kids just run around and catch

[23:30] the bugs on the side of the snack shack.

[23:32] So I think they have a brilliant time.

[23:34] >> Cool.

[23:35] >> Do we know has the donation check been

[23:37] sent to Pin?

[23:38] >> Not yet.

[23:39] >> Okay. [snorts]

[23:45] [clears throat]

[23:47] Um the popcorn machine cleaning it after

[23:51] the movie was very very very very

[23:54] difficult. The drawer underneath that

[23:56] holds the kernels couldn't come out.

[23:59] >> It was jammed. It was bent underneath.

[24:02] So I reached out to Billy and he and I

[24:05] met at the snack shack the Tuesday after

[24:08] the movie and we jerry rigged it. I

[24:11] didn't know that the popcorn machine was

[24:14] not bolted to the cart

[24:16] because Billy said, "How are we going to

[24:18] get this off?" And Billy lifted and he's

[24:20] like, "It's not connected to the" and I

[24:22] could see the hole falling off of the

[24:24] cart again. So um that made me very very

[24:29] nervous. But It's not an easy machine to

[24:31] clean

[24:32] >> at all.

[24:33] >> And I never want to unplug that thing in

[24:36] the roof because I couldn't get it back

[24:37] in at all. It's very difficult how to connect it in. But it selfcleans

[24:43] once you put the water and the chemicals

[24:45] in it and then you just have to wipe it

[24:47] out. But um

[24:49] >> we were able to fix the drawer and that

[24:51] all came out and it's clean. Do we need

[24:54] to still put the

[24:57] packets inside?

[24:59] packets. Um,

[25:01] >> the Russian packets.

[25:03] >> Oh, I think that would be

[25:05] good. Probably.

[25:07] >> Okay. [snorts] Because I did not put

[25:08] them in there,

[25:08] >> but they

[25:10] I know the pot is what? Like Teflon or

[25:14] nonstick something?

[25:16] >> I think so.

[25:17] >> Right. Um, is the What's the top the

[25:21] inside top of the machine? That's the

[25:22] part that

[25:24] >> What is that made out of?

[25:25] >> No.

[25:26] >> You know, do you know?

[25:27] >> Yes. off the top.

[25:30] >> I mean, it couldn't hurt to put that

[25:31] stuff in there, especially as it gets

[25:33] more humid.

[25:35] >> Um,

[25:36] >> Lauren and I will be there.

[25:37] >> Get too dry.

[25:38] >> Lauren and I will be there the week

[25:40] before the movie restocking it. I did

[25:42] inventory last week on the day of the

[25:45] school.

[25:46] >> And um and so I'll throw them in there

[25:49] real quick.

[25:52] » We have a lot of ice cream.

[25:55] >> Yes. So, we should not need to buy I

[25:58] think that it's a lie to me. I don't

[26:00] think we should be at all,

[26:04] >> but I don't know. I I might be wrong.

[26:07] >> I feel like it was hard to gauge it last

[26:09] movie. There was a lot a lot of people

[26:12] and then by the time I ran down and

[26:13] bought it, then after that, nobody,

[26:16] of course.

[26:21] So, I don't know what everyone's

[26:23] feelings are. I feel like it's kind of

[26:25] nicer to have the smaller various

[26:27] flavors.

[26:28] >> Agreed.

[26:28] >> Versus like one giant like one flavor.

[26:35] » So, we have enough for July for sure.

[26:36] >> I think so. And if not, I mean,

[26:38] Firehouse is like it's 5 minutes down

[26:41] the street.

[26:42] >> They have them in stock.

[26:44] >> Yeah.

[26:45] >> I don't know. I did the math. It's not

[26:46] that much cheaper to buy it in a giant

[26:49] one than it is to buy the smaller ones.

[26:52] >> Um,

[26:53] so worst case, you know, if we run out

[26:56] Someone could just buy more again.

[26:59] >> Can I Can I call Alex or do you have to?

[27:02] [laughter]

[27:03] >> Do you also think it's possible that

[27:05] there was more ice cream purchase than

[27:07] normal because of the ice cream truck?

[27:12] » It got into all the kids minds. That was

[27:14] more ice cream than we've ever sold. I

[27:16] think

[27:17] >> it was a lot of ice cream. Yeah, there

[27:19] were people coming up and ordering like

[27:20] five or six

[27:22] >> time. Well, it didn't sound like

[27:23] >> play the music like at a certain point.

[27:27] >> Okay.

[27:28] Um, but I mean maybe with having the QR

[27:31] code, people could buy it more, but

[27:33] didn't sound like it was like that much

[27:34] we got in the QR code either. So

[27:36] >> that's also brand new now. So maybe

[27:37] >> Yeah. So I think people Yeah.

[27:40] >> Unfort you add now it's you can actually

[27:42] buy whatever you want,

[27:43] >> right?

[27:44] So maybe next movie we with with our

[27:47] announcements right before the movie, we let people know that you can use QR

[27:52] codes. There's ice cream. Like you can

[27:53] just tell people there's ice cream,

[27:54] kids, tell your parents. I don't know.

[27:57] [laughter] We can do that. But

[28:00] >> I would get another two things of the

[28:02] selfare because there's only half of one

[28:04] left.

[28:06] >> That's

[28:21] I can take care of that.

[28:23] >> But I thought it went well and I think

[28:25] we started the movie as early as we

[28:26] could have where you could see it enough

[28:28] but it wasn't so late where we were

[28:30] there forever.

[28:31] >> So in the past we've started at like 9.

[28:34] >> That's brutal.

[28:36] >> I think we started at 8:30 45.

[28:40] >> Yeah.

[28:41] So you could see the ad. I mean, it was

[28:42] a little hard to see some of the ads,

[28:43] but by the end, you could definitely see

[28:45] them all. And then the movie was it was

[28:48] dark enough.

[28:49] >> Good.

[28:49] >> It was good enough for the future for

[28:50] June to like

[28:51] >> Mhm.

[28:52] >> Right. Was there anything that we needed

[28:54] that we didn't have? Like did did we

[28:57] need to buy the pins?

[28:58] >> Yeah, just if we got extra ones of the

[29:00] speaker pins,

[29:02] >> we found like a rusted thing that we

[29:04] that worked.

[29:04] >> Yeah.

[29:05] >> But those those get lost so easily. So,

[29:07] like,

[29:09] however many you want us to lose, just

[29:11] buy that. We'll lose that. But they they

[29:13] go quick cuz it's where it is.

[29:16] >> I think that was the only thing I can

[29:17] remember that.

[29:18] >> Yeah.

[29:20] All the equipment worked.

[29:22] >> Oh, the little vacuum. Can we get a

[29:24] little vacuum?

[29:24] >> Yes. Thank you for reminding me.

[29:27] >> Shark

[29:29] things.

[29:33] Um, kind of segueing into Princess

[29:36] Bride. Sunset is again similar. 8:27

[29:40] p.m.

[29:42] >> That's earlier.

[29:45] >> Sunset in June was like 8:50. We never

[29:47] We didn't see it. We started earlier.

[29:53] » I know. We're doing

[29:55] uh a shield craft or something, I think.

[29:58] Are we doing sword craft or something?

[30:00] Yeah,

[30:01] >> you guys are providing shields that the

[30:03] kids can mark up and stuff like that.

[30:05] Uh, and then I bought uh boatload of

[30:11] inflatable swords, pirate cutless

[30:14] swords.

[30:15] I used to be in a group called SCA,

[30:17] which stands for Society for Creative

[30:19] Magism. I'm a giant nerd, as you know.

[30:22] Uh, I have an actual like rap here with

[30:26] the cage around her hand and everything.

[30:29] So, I figured I'll bring that. Kids will

[30:32] not be playing with that, but I'll do a

[30:35] sword play school of sorts where really

[30:39] all I'm teaching them is you say, "My

[30:41] name is and

[30:44] you killed my fairy princess or dinosaur

[30:47] or whatever their favorite thing is,

[30:49] prepare to die." And then you have to

[30:51] wear a mustache. So, we might get

[30:53] mustaches out. And then the last thing

[30:55] will be like, "And then in the middle of

[30:57] your duel, you have to a chance. So,

[30:59] >> perfect.

[31:00] >> Amy, I know it's all going over your

[31:02] head. You'll

[31:03] >> I Well, so I'm really bummed. I can't

[31:05] make the July movie. We're on

[31:09] >> I'll be there for Dog Man in August.

[31:11] >> That's I

[31:14] >> You have to watch it on vacation.

[31:16] >> I do. Yeah. Um Yeah, I'm bummed about

[31:19] that one. Um I can get the ice cream

[31:22] ahead of time, though. And then I don't

[31:24] know. I saw the the advertisement on

[31:26] Facebook. It looked great. I don't know

[31:29] if we want to do more pre movie events

[31:33] if anybody has ideas.

[31:35] >> I had a couple, but I don't know that

[31:37] there I reached out to um

[31:41] uh there is a like birds of prey person

[31:45] who like will bring falcons and that

[31:47] kind of thing, but they said no loud

[31:48] noises.

[31:50] >> Um so I don't know that like a

[31:51] [laughter] screaming is the best

[31:53] environment. So that was kind of a dead

[31:55] end.

[31:56] >> And then there's somebody who comes to

[31:57] the farmers market who occasionally has

[31:59] a pony like a miniature horse which I

[32:01] thought could be fun but I haven't heard

[32:04] back from them yet.

[32:06] >> Um and I don't know how much of a I

[32:09] think it would be cool but I also don't

[32:10] know how much like logistically that

[32:12] would entail to be able to get them

[32:15] there.

[32:17] >> Um for Dogman in particular, uh I think

[32:21] I've said this before, but just to

[32:23] remind you, Park Books did a release

[32:27] last year where they had a dress up dog.

[32:30] >> So I could always reach out to Emily who

[32:34] put that on last year and ask her.

[32:36] >> I think that would be great.

[32:38] >> Dog came to Christmas. So at Christmas

[32:47] » is it there? Do they just have it at the

[32:49] bookstore?

[32:50] >> No, I think they go through like a

[32:51] superhero costume.

[32:53] >> Okay.

[32:55] >> Yeah, that' be good. So it would be

[32:57] asking how much.

[32:59] >> So that's one of those

[33:01] >> that whole kids would love that.

[33:04] >> Yeah. My other idea for Dog Man was

[33:06] because he's [snorts] like a dog

[33:09] policeman. We could have like meet and

[33:12] greet with baby police, but I have not

[33:15] reached out to them yet about that. And

[33:17] I don't know.

[33:18] >> I know that there used to be I don't

[33:21] know if there still is a K9 unit if they

[33:23] do still have the dog.

[33:24] >> We do. Um, but that could also

[33:27] potentially be really cool if they're

[33:28] open to it and that's something that

[33:30] they could bring the dog along for dog.

[33:32] >> So freaking cute.

[33:34] >> But again, I had that was just an idea I

[33:36] had. I haven't reached out to anybody

[33:37] about it yet.

[33:38] >> Would you like me to?

[33:39] >> That would be great.

[33:44] » Okay. That's a great idea.

[33:47] >> Um, Lauren Barl, who was a good idea,

[33:50] also posited, uh, Howard County does

[33:52] something of like a pirate chest,

[33:56] uh, thing in parks. She said, "What if

[33:59] she just buys like really cheap Amazon

[34:02] treasure chests uh and then have the

[34:05] kids go throughout the park finding

[34:06] clues and then go back and they have to

[34:10] tell you the slogan or something and at

[34:12] the snack check and uh you hand them a

[34:16] little treasure chest full of like candy

[34:18] or something."

[34:20] >> You remember like the gold chocolate

[34:21] coins?

[34:21] >> Oh yeah, those be fun.

[34:24] >> So Hanukkah, that's A huge thing is the

[34:28] dropping of of the chocolate coins. And

[34:30] I will say they are a biohazard

[34:33] nightmare.

[34:34] >> They they will be opened. They will be

[34:36] smashed into everything. But we could do

[34:40] that. Just that's a fair warning.

[34:43] >> We'll have you guys come and help me

[34:45] pick them up. [snorts]

[34:46] >> Would that be for Princess Bride or

[34:49] >> Goonies? For Yeah.

[34:52] >> Could we fill it with Probably not.

[34:54] Could we fill it with popcorn? But maybe

[34:56] not.

[34:57] Why not

[34:58] >> souvenir popcorn?

[34:59] >> Yeah. I mean it's clean, right?

[35:01] >> Yeah.

[35:01] >> Like they're

[35:02] >> Well, they are wooden too, so the oil

[35:04] will stain it, but I mean it's their

[35:06] [laughter]

[35:07] >> get some splenders as they're eating it.

[35:08] But

[35:10] >> but popcorn be easy because just fill it

[35:12] up.

[35:13] >> Yeah.

[35:13] >> A little bit of free popcorn.

[35:15] >> I think that's a great idea.

[35:18] >> That's good news is when? September.

[35:20] Yeah. Okay.

[35:23] >> We're ahead of the game now.

[35:27] I was thinking while I'm thinking about

[35:29] orders at the snack shack, we could say

[35:31] something like as you wish or something

[35:34] from the movie. And then I was really

[35:36] trying to figure out how could we make

[35:37] Miracle Max's mostly dead pills. Like

[35:40] what could we

[35:41] >> raise an ass?

[35:43] >> What?

[35:44] >> Raise an ass.

[35:46] >> That could work. And they we could give

[35:49] them out.

[35:51] I do think for movies if we had like a

[35:55] special movie thing whether it's a a

[35:57] special drink or whatever it's very easy

[35:59] to theme a

[36:00] >> drink or a candy

[36:01] >> reame the

[36:04] but if we have a little theme and people

[36:06] could buy like a certain drink that

[36:08] would go with something I don't know

[36:10] >> that'd be fun but

[36:11] >> I don't have an idea but besides that

[36:14] the general

[36:15] >> just yeah just throwing it out there

[36:17] I'll ask Lauren

[36:19] Um I will not be at the July movie.

[36:22] Lauren will be there when our when

[36:24] church is in but

[36:25] >> okay

[36:25] >> for setting up the movie.

[36:28] >> I will be there. So do we have enough

[36:29] people?

[36:31] >> I can be there.

[36:35] » Okay.

[36:36] >> And I have two volunteers.

[36:38] >> Okay. So we'll be all right.

[36:41] >> Won't be as much fun without Amy and I,

[36:42] but be fine.

[36:47] » As kind of a preemptive thing. As we get

[36:51] more

[36:52] news articles and more greatest small

[36:55] town, greatest downtown and all the

[36:58] accolades that comes with that comes a

[36:59] lot of attention. Uh, our funds have

[37:01] been blowing up for SSL hours because

[37:04] they know how much or how many

[37:07] volunteers or they think they know how

[37:08] much volunteer opportunities there are.

[37:11] >> Um, so kind of letting you know, but

[37:14] like really letting you know,

[37:16] >> um, there might be

[37:19] is coming.

[37:20] >> But this is this is the hard part

[37:22] though. We can only have two volunteers

[37:25] in this action,

[37:26] >> right?

[37:27] >> And I don't I I feel bad bringing them

[37:30] to help set up the movie and then that's

[37:32] all they can do and then they just have

[37:34] to sit. Now they can enjoy the movie but

[37:37] and then they can help with cleanup but

[37:40] I don't know what kind of volunteers

[37:42] that movie equipment is heavy and

[37:45] expensive.

[37:47] >> Um I'm afraid if I got too many

[37:49] volunteers, they would just be in the

[37:51] way because I know you guys have it down

[37:53] to a system, but we can only really have

[37:55] two people in the Snapchat

[37:57] >> and all my slots are all of mine and

[37:59] Lauren's slots are full.

[38:01] >> So,

[38:02] >> which is a good thing, but I feel bad

[38:04] that I'm still getting emails and I

[38:06] don't have

[38:06] >> the whole summer already. Yeah,

[38:08] >> that's amazing.

[38:09] >> Yeah.

[38:10] If if you're still getting emails,

[38:12] maybe um

[38:14] >> you're sending them to me. You're in

[38:15] charge of email now, right?

[38:17] >> Yeah.

[38:17] And I got one. I have I was going

[38:19] to reply to them that we have fall clean

[38:22] up.

[38:22] >> Yeah.

[38:23] >> Because the movies are full.

[38:26] >> So that might be up to you guys to start

[38:29] brainstorming on where other manpower

[38:33] can be placed and stuff like that.

[38:36] >> Like I'm sure they could have been

[38:37] helpful when you were building the float

[38:39] and stuff this past weekend.

[38:46] But I mean, say you have a kid who's in

[38:48] the AV club or what have you, um, and

[38:51] wants to help set up stuff like that,

[38:55] like that's that's a good place to have

[38:58] a a volunteer to help. So maybe if we're

[39:01] doing more crafts besides what we're

[39:03] offering, like who's running those? Like

[39:06] we could have maybe volunteer help with

[39:07] crafts, too. Right.

[39:09] >> If we have more and I think the more

[39:11] down there the better. Make it more of

[39:12] an event things to do.

[39:15] >> I agree with that. I just just let me

[39:17] know and I can um I can reach out to

[39:20] find more.

[39:21] >> You are the um the volunteers that we

[39:24] have coming to the July movie. Have they

[39:26] worked with us before?

[39:28] >> I know.

[39:28] >> Do you think it's

[39:29] >> Oh, no, no, no, no. They they're

[39:31] running.

[39:32] >> Okay.

[39:33] Do you try to

[39:36] like when you select volunteers, do you

[39:37] always try to pick as many new people as

[39:40] possible to give everybody some hours or

[39:42] do you try to pick

[39:44] recurring

[39:46] kids like kids that we've already

[39:47] trained in the snack shack? Do you

[39:49] >> both? Okay.

[39:51] >> Both. The girls that we had in June were

[39:54] phenomenal volunteers at Easter.

[39:56] >> Yeah.

[39:57] >> And I said, I would like for you guys to

[39:59] come back and do the movies. So, they're

[40:01] June and September. And then this mom

[40:04] reached out and they're July. And then I

[40:07] have somebody from August that did last

[40:10] Easter

[40:11] >> the year before. And then September is

[40:14] somebody else. And then

[40:16] >> um I have them until October.

[40:20] >> Okay.

[40:21] >> But I I I just I send it to the high

[40:24] schools. They send it out and then

[40:27] people just come.

[40:28] >> If we have a lot of people, we can

[40:30] always have one or two for setup and

[40:32] tear like it won't be that much help but

[40:34] at least it's hours and like carry this

[40:36] up like

[40:37] >> right

[40:37] >> it's it's something

[40:39] >> won't hurt

[40:40] >> uh

[40:42] with uh impact

[40:45] >> uh once the crafts are all put away and

[40:47] stuff like that how many actually end up

[40:50] staying

[40:51] >> uh whoever's kid stays

[40:53] >> okay

[40:54] >> so

[40:55] >> and I know you have some where I'm

[40:57] getting here is like maybe they could

[40:59] help out this July since we're kind of

[41:02] skeleton crewing in um with with tear

[41:04] down. I know you have some young

[41:06] >> Oh, with tear down. Yeah. Um let me see

[41:08] who is going to be signing up for it and

[41:10] I can let you know.

[41:11] >> Okay.

[41:12] >> That part because most of the times

[41:13] people that stay don't

[41:14] >> Thank you. You guys do so much already,

[41:17] but like I figured no harm in that.

[41:19] >> Yeah, I can let I can let you know who

[41:20] signs up and see if it's There's some

[41:23] people that could help and some people

[41:24] you don't want to help. So, I'll let you

[41:27] know.

[41:28] >> Sorry.

[41:36] And we'll we can find out if Billy will be there. He can help it

[41:39] through us. He knows how to do it.

[41:46] » Cool.

[41:48] All right. Is that all for that?

[41:52] >> We covered Aud's life. We covered the

[41:54] new movies.

[41:55] >> I won't be there, but what time leaving

[41:59] for 7.

[42:01] >> Same. Yeah.

[42:03] >> And then I always have the volunteers

[42:05] come at 7:30.

[42:06] >> Yeah.

[42:13] » And Dog Man is 8:15 p.m.

[42:16] >> Nice.

[42:18] Don't rush away.

[42:25] » Um, the last thing we have is open ideas

[42:29] and visions, but

[42:32] >> sorry, signs.

[42:34] >> Signs.

[42:36] >> For Princess Bride.

[42:37] >> Oh. Oh,

[42:38] >> yeah. Last time we forgot and Drew did

[42:40] it for us, which was great. But do we want

[42:47] signs. This time

[42:48] >> I can do signs.

[42:52] » Um I can place signs cuz I don't go out

[42:54] of town until

[42:56] >> Saturday morning.

[42:57] >> I think whoever places them should also

[43:00] just makes it easier. I can put them

[43:01] out.

[43:06] So you'll come out Thursday

[43:10] >> like midafter afternoon get

[43:14] >> Thursday people come coming home from

[43:16] work and then Friday to and from and

[43:18] then it's been advertised.

[43:20] >> Can you set them can we set them up

[43:21] earlier than Thursday? It hurt.

[43:23] >> No.

[43:24] >> Yeah. Like it says movie this Saturday,

[43:27] right?

[43:27] >> Yeah. So it can't be before set but like

[43:29] I think as early as you set it up the

[43:31] better.

[43:32] >> I think the

[43:32] >> whole week of people seeing it as better

[43:34] than two days.

[43:35] >> The theory behind it before was that if

[43:38] they sat out too long people would start

[43:42] ignoring them and then would forget by

[43:44] the time the weekend came.

[43:46] >> Yeah. But Yeah.

[43:49] >> But I don't either.

[43:51] >> If you don't see it on Thursday then you

[43:53] don't see it like you can see it on

[43:55] Tuesday. See, Friday or say Monday,

[43:57] Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and

[43:58] Friday, which really remind me.

[44:00] >> How about Wednesday?

[44:02] >> I mean, it's I'm not set up. So, I feel

[44:04] bad even saying, but

[44:06] >> I don't I don't personally think it hurt

[44:08] to set it really want to set it up. I

[44:10] don't see how hurt personally.

[44:15] » Do you want me to reach out to my friend

[44:17] again who can make the movie topper?

[44:19] >> Oh,

[44:22] yeah. That would be helpful.

[44:25] Well, how much is she charging?

[44:28] >> The last time that we did it, I believe

[44:30] it was $50.

[44:32] She won't make 20. She'll make 10. And

[44:35] we put those five those 10 in key areas.

[44:42] >> I mean, your best call. Me personally

[44:45] though, like I I feel like that's we've

[44:48] got Facebook and Google now, and if they

[44:50] can't find the movie night and what

[44:52] movie is playing based off of that,

[44:54] They're not really interested to begin

[44:56] with.

[44:56] >> And I I agree and I disagree.

[45:00] >> Um, when you drive by and you see it

[45:03] says Princess Bride, you're like

[45:04] Princess Bride. And when you drive by

[45:06] and say, "Let me check that when I got

[45:08] when I get home." And then you're making

[45:10] dinner, there's laundry, kids are

[45:12] streaming, there's homework, there's

[45:13] this, and then you forget, and then you

[45:16] do it again. If it's instant, then you

[45:19] know what the movie is.

[45:20] >> Yeah.

[45:21] >> That's what I was asking you the other

[45:23] week. how she did them because to me

[45:26] >> she's a cricket and there's paper.

[45:28] >> To me, it seems like there should be a

[45:30] way that's easy enough for us to just do

[45:34] that. But

[45:35] >> Billy made them first and he would cut

[45:38] it out and spray paint it and it took a

[45:41] long time to dry and it took a long time

[45:43] to make.

[45:44] >> Right.

[45:45] >> Is she going to Is she just going to

[45:47] print us out the stickers or is she

[45:48] going to make the actual thing that's

[45:50] >> She printed out the stickers and then I

[45:53] old signs

[45:55] >> and put on signs and then put them in

[45:57] the signs.

[45:59] >> I'm not sure if she can do it. I can

[46:00] reach out and ask.

[46:02] >> I think it might be nice to try,

[46:04] especially for a movie like this.

[46:05] >> Yeah, I think this is a big one.

[46:07] >> It's a memorable movie.

[46:10] >> But Amy still has

[46:17] [laughter]

[46:18] >> It's a good movie.

[46:19] >> I was going to defend myself.

[46:28] Do we have to vote on that? Is that

[46:29] something we have to vote on? Because

[46:31] there's money involved.

[46:32] >> Oh, yeah.

[46:34] >> Possibly money involved.

[46:37] >> What's the decision? Yes. Go for it.

[46:40] >> To Yes. To

[46:41] >> Yes, it needs to be.

[46:43] >> All right.

[46:43] >> Okay.

[46:45] A motion to

[46:47] approve the spending of

[46:50] $50 or less. Is that right for

[46:55] movie advertisement sign toppers? Movie

[46:58] sign. Yeah.

[47:00] >> I'll second

[47:02] >> discussion.

[47:04] All in favor?

[47:07] Any opposed?

[47:12] Yeah.

[47:16] Is that enough?

[47:17] >> You did it.

[47:18] >> Did great.

[47:22] » Um,

[47:24] >> that's actually

[47:26] >> okay. No open ideas and visions.

[47:35] » Updates.

[47:36] All right.

[47:37] >> There's a lot of them.

[47:39] >> Yeah. Yeah. Um so uh splash hat updates.

[47:44] The Miller Cooper Park splashback

[47:45] continues to experience strong

[47:47] attendance and remains a popular

[47:48] destination for residents and visitors

[47:50] throughout the region. Um the staffing

[47:52] adjustments have been made to support

[47:54] operations through the remainder of the

[47:56] season and routine water quality

[47:58] monitoring and facility inspections

[48:00] continue. We got an A+ from the health

[48:02] board. So

[48:04] >> good. Uh staff are also documenting

[48:06] operational observations and visitor

[48:08] trends to help inform future grant

[48:10] writing and planning efforts. Um so I've

[48:13] been taking pictures of the buses,

[48:15] talking to the people, seeing where

[48:16] they're coming from and stuff so that

[48:18] when it comes time to um write grants

[48:22] for stuff like that, we have that

[48:24] information. I'm also going to start uh

[48:26] one day out of the week doing field days

[48:28] where I pretty much pick a picnic table,

[48:30] sit down, and every half hour I'm

[48:33] counting how many people in the park and

[48:35] taking pictures and stuff like that

[48:36] because that's the kind of data grants

[48:39] want. So,

[48:41] uh, Little Sykes update, Little Sykes

[48:44] has continued to see excellent

[48:45] participation and community support

[48:47] throughout the season. Ridership and

[48:49] donations remain very strong, and the

[48:51] attraction continues to serve as a

[48:53] popular family activity within the town.

[48:56] Staff continue to coordinate with

[48:58] volunteers to ensure safe and successful

[49:00] operating days. And I just learned today

[49:03] they're going to um paint the metal

[49:07] gates uh the black parts of those. Uh so

[49:11] fresh.

[49:14] We had some zipline repairs at Miller

[49:16] Cooper. um two weeks ago. Uh the

[49:20] mechanical failure was that the cable

[49:23] itself started to bunch together so that

[49:27] the swing part itself uh it just

[49:30] wouldn't move. Um so uh Derek was out in

[49:36] uh Alaska for the past two or three

[49:38] weeks. I think three weeks. Um, so the

[49:41] um the rest of the guys were able to get

[49:44] together and they learned a thing or two

[49:45] and they were able to put everything

[49:47] back. Um, I did have to tell a a young

[49:50] boy 10 11 years old today. Um, do not

[49:53] stand on the seat and do not jump as you

[49:56] go down because he will break it.

[50:00] >> That is definitely how you break it.

[50:03] >> Uh, rain infrastructure. Uh, I gave a

[50:06] tour to

[50:07] >> a question. Are there rules posted for

[50:10] the zipline?

[50:11] >> No.

[50:13] >> Should we think about posting?

[50:16] >> We would have to get those rules

[50:17] directly from Game Time.

[50:20] >> Game time doesn't make that zip line

[50:21] anymore.

[50:22] >> So, I I I will reach out because I think

[50:26] that's a great idea. Um, but at the same

[50:29] time, I know that they will charge us an

[50:31] arm and a leg for those rules since they

[50:34] don't print them on the regular anymore.

[50:36] We can't make our own rules

[50:39] >> because it's not we didn't manufacture

[50:41] the equipment

[50:43] like common sense rules.

[50:47] >> Need to be posted.

[50:48] >> I love where your head's at. I

[50:50] unfortunately am living in government

[50:53] world.

[50:55] >> Could we figure out or could we find the

[50:58] rules and then make it ourselves or no?

[51:00] >> Yeah. Uh that's actually an idea.

[51:03] >> Yeah. Yeah. supposed we just make it.

[51:07] >> But there's also we have holes for the

[51:10] splash pad and I'm still finding food

[51:13] containers.

[51:13] >> Yeah, I mean it's all

[51:15] >> I'm just thinking liability, [snorts]

[51:17] >> you know.

[51:18] >> So in playgrounds in playgrounds there

[51:20] is um I forget the use that term

[51:23] inferred um liability so that if you do

[51:27] get harmed it's at your own risk. So

[51:30] we're we're covered by that already

[51:32] through legit

[51:34] So

[51:35] >> yeah,

[51:37] >> it's it's only to hope that we don't

[51:38] have to fix the zip line too many times.

[51:40] >> Right.

[51:41] Breaks a lot

[51:42] >> and that's if they meet it and then

[51:43] follow it.

[51:44] >> Right.

[51:44] >> Yeah.

[51:45] >> That's what I was saying.

[51:46] >> Is that just typical zipline? Like do

[51:49] other parks experience the same.

[51:51] >> So I'm telling you right now of all the

[51:52] parks I've been to and people I'veworked

[51:54] with and talked to, nobody has a zipline

[51:57] like that.

[51:59] >> I wonder why. Because of that, you will

[52:01] find the zip lines are lowered to the

[52:04] ground. They are metal and you oil them

[52:07] up once a week and shuffle through and

[52:10] that's it. The zip line itself is

[52:13] I very much dislike it.

[52:18] » Makes sense.

[52:19] Uh so green infrastructure uh I gave a

[52:22] tour to a couple of guys from Alliance

[52:24] for the Chesapeake Bay um so that they

[52:27] could learn all about us and what some

[52:29] of the practices we already have um like

[52:31] drainage and stuff like that and what

[52:33] else we could be doing. Um so they're

[52:36] going to write up a report but they

[52:38] already came out of the park swinging

[52:44] whatever the saying is. Uh they had some

[52:47] great ideas like for instance um getting

[52:51] a bird watchers uh kind of area uh right

[52:54] off the linear path or Mr. Trail um

[52:57] especially where that huge reservoir

[53:00] lake is.

[53:01] >> So I thought that was pretty cool.

[53:05] >> Uh MML summer conference uh staff and

[53:09] some council members uh attended the

[53:11] Maryland Municipal League summer

[53:13] conference and participated in and I

[53:15] participated in the parks and recreation

[53:17] association booth. Um the conference

[53:20] provided assoc opportunities to connect

[53:22] with municipal leaders from across the

[53:24] state, discuss emerging trends in parks

[53:26] and recreation and share ideas related

[53:28] to community engagement programming,

[53:31] public spaces and municipal operations.

[53:34] So with the PLA branch, um pretty much

[53:39] what we're trying to do through MML is

[53:43] let township smaller than Sykesville

[53:46] know that there are professionals that

[53:47] do it 247 um that they can reach out to

[53:50] us and ask questions. We can we can tell

[53:53] them the people that we work with um

[53:55] through playgrounds or through the

[53:58] county state level, all that good stuff.

[54:01] So, and then of course I was repping in

[54:04] Sykesville the whole entire time. So,

[54:06] people got to hear about Sykesville an

[54:08] awful lot.

[54:11] Uh park maintenance and safety updates.

[54:14] Uh the staff continues to work closely

[54:16] with public works to address routine

[54:18] maintenance needs, safety concerns, and

[54:20] infrastructure improvements throughout

[54:22] the park system. Uh recent efforts have

[54:25] included ongoing coordination related to

[54:27] a proposed sidewalk connection serving

[54:30] South Branch Park. So that'll be the

[54:32] connector between the bridge and the

[54:34] park itself. Uh in which uh

[54:40] it's not on here, but Joe and I were

[54:42] actually in Westminster earlier this

[54:44] week uh when they had open session and

[54:47] we answered some questions from the

[54:50] county council on

[54:52] uh the grant that we wrote and why Carol

[54:57] County money um is going on a Howard

[55:00] County uh land and just economically

[55:05] it's it's going to help Carol County

[55:07] sites go out in the long run. Um Seth

[55:11] have continued to the project through

[55:13] planning discussions and grant

[55:14] application efforts aimed at improving

[55:16] pedestrian accessibility. Um I didn't

[55:20] write all that. Uh the project was

[55:22] wellreceived and staff appreciate the

[55:24] support shown by county leadership. Um

[55:26] additional efforts have included tree

[55:28] maintenance, playground inspections,

[55:30] facility monitoring, and response to

[55:32] resident concerns. Um which we've had a

[55:36] few but nobody yelling at us about just

[55:39] like trim this tree. Um,

[55:42] please stop yelling at my kid to get off

[55:44] the zipline, stuff like that.

[55:47] Uh, and last thing I have is um through

[55:49] [snorts] professional development uh and

[55:51] community engagement. Uh, I was recently

[55:54] elected to serve as the secretary of the

[55:56] friends of Fort Frederick board of

[55:58] directors. um participation in that

[56:01] organization uh I think is going to

[56:03] provide me with opportunities to gain

[56:05] more experience uh and better serve you

[56:08] guys as a secretarial role. Um I look

[56:11] forward to applying the lessons learned

[56:13] through this role and that's all I got.

[56:19] >> Nice.

[56:20] >> Um

[56:21] does little sites need volunteers

[56:24] because if an email comes through you

[56:26] can send it to them. They're booked.

[56:27] They're good. They get booked pretty

[56:29] much January 1st.

[56:31] >> That's what I thought. That's what I

[56:33] thought. Um, could you ask Public Works

[56:37] because they did this for the last

[56:39] movie. They cut the grass on a Tuesday.

[56:42] It was perfect.

[56:43] >> Okay.

[56:44] >> The Tuesday before the movie,

[56:46] >> the grass was gone. There wasn't any

[56:49] extra stuff flying in there. It was It

[56:52] Tuesday was perfect. And the splash

[56:54] pad's gone. you know,

[56:56] >> that's usually the day that they'll cut the grass there. Um,

[57:00] >> it's raining,

[57:01] >> right? But it was just it was just

[57:03] perfect because other days I think

[57:04] because of the rain and they've cut it

[57:06] Friday there's a lot of grass and it's

[57:09] just messy. But Tuesday was perfect.

[57:11] >> Would we rather just tell public works

[57:14] that on Friday it's a little bit long

[57:16] because at that point it's just going to

[57:18] be way too muggy.

[57:19] >> Yeah.

[57:20] >> Okay.

[57:20] >> Yes, please. Speaking of that, is the

[57:23] screen good to go? Did it need dried out

[57:26] or clean?

[57:27] >> The tarp was a little damp, but we just

[57:28] folded it up.

[57:29] >> Okay.

[57:37] » Count uh council updates.

[57:41] I can't think of any updates for you.

[57:44] Anything from me or the council?

[57:46] >> I don't think so.

[57:50] >> Okay.

[57:52] Shall we?

[57:54] >> Anybody care to do the honors?

[57:56] >> I motion to adjourn.

[57:59] >> All in favor? I don't think

Sykesville Parks and Recreation Commission (SPARC) Meeting 6-25-2026

Transcript