WESTFIELD-Ken Diegel, president of Westfield Little League, was praised for the organization’s detailed plan for lighting the fields at the Paper Mill and Sadie Knox playgrounds at Monday night’s Westfield Parks and Recreation Commission meeting.
“This is a really ambitious and very nice plan,” said Ken Magarian, Park and Rec chair.
Diegel explained he was seeking input from the commission on how to proceed with the proposal which he compared to a “mini Fenway Park.”
Ken Diegel, president, Westfield Little League, discusses lighting for two playgrounds.
“We are not looking for funding from the city,” said Diegel. “We are fairly cash strong right now and the kids are raising the money so we want to spend it.”
Diegel added that the lighting at both parks would be done in steps so that fundraising could coincide with the projects.
Commissioner Sara Unger, Ward 1, shared her concerns about neighbors adjacent to the playgrounds, and Magarian noted a public hearing would be needed to ensure that the public had an opportunity for input.
“Lights can now be more focused and very directional,” said Magarian.
The board made a motion to approve Little League’s inquiry about starting the process of installing lights at both playgrounds and asked Dave Billips, director of Public Works, and Jim Blascak, Park and Rec program coordinator, to report back to Diegel after their initial look into the proposal.
Tom Sawyer, active with local arts and cultural committees, questioned whether he as an individual could host Open Mic Tuesdays and Performances for Families on Saturdays, both using Park Square as a backdrop.
“With the warmer weather I am proposing small scale bands and individual musicians for the open mic nights,” said Sawyer. “I would estimate that 20 to 30 people would attend.”
Sawyer noted that the proposal for Saturday performances for families was “less developed at this time.”
Unger noted she would be “hesitant” to allow one person to have access to all dates on a particular day of the week and instead would like to see a proposal with specific dates listed.
Sawyer acknowledged that this meeting was his first step in a fact-finding mission to determine if he may need a sponsor instead of coordinating the event on his own.
“I am just getting information tonight,” said Sawyer. “Let us know what we would need to do because I want to find a way to give artists more exposure in the city.”
During the commission’s discussion, Vincent Olinski, Ward 3, said if Sawyer follows all of the regulations and meets all criteria, he would be in favor of the proposals, adding that all liability issues have to be addressed.
Unger concurred with Olinski.
“The more we do on the Green is important but we also have to ensure all guidelines and procedures are followed,” said Unger, adding, “We could suggest to Mr. Sawyer to work with a group that has insurance.”
The commission made a motion on the Open Mic Tuesdays to have Sawyer sign an updated form addressing dates and liability issues, and tabled the Performance for Families on Saturdays proposal.
“The commission would like Mr. Sawyer to first work on the Tuesday events,” said Magarian.
Ed Phillips, president, Westfield Dog Bark Friends, second from left, addresses commissioners at the Westfield Parks and Recreation Commission meeting on Monday night.
Public participation during the 90-minute meeting also included Ed Phillips, president, and Mariah Strattner, treasurer, both board members of Westfield Dog Bark Friends, discussing two issues – water access inside the fenced area and signage.
Strattner questioned whether the commission could extend the dog park fence out to include the fire hydrant or add a pipe extension for water access, and Phillips requested a 36” x 10” directional sign on Lockhouse Road indicating to city residents the location of the dog park. Phillips added that the Friends group would pay for the signage.
Billips noted that fire hydrants should be outside of fencing and accessible at all times.
“It is not a good idea to have a hydrant inside a fence,” said Billips, adding he would take a look at the current situation and report back to the commission on his findings at the July meeting.
Billips was also asked to determine if the signage that is being proposed by the Westfield Dog Bark Friends would be on park and rec property and report back to the commission in July.
Commissioners Renee Wroth, pro-tempore, Ward 6, and Kimberly Irzyk, At Large, noted they are not opposed to putting more directional signage on the street.
“No matter which way you are coming on Lockhouse Road you will see it,” said Irzyk.
The board also tabled a proposal of the Westfield Kiwanis Park of Honor since the project appears to be “in flux” at this time.
The board’s next scheduled meeting is July 18 at 7 p.m.
