The results from a community survey have come at an opportune time as the town’s Parks and Recreation Department begins the process of developing a new master plan. A report detailing the results from an online survey conducted by the Friends of Bethlehem Parks and Recreation was released in mid-October. Residents were asked to take the survey over a three-month period, ending in July. “The purpose of the survey was partly to help us decide what to focus on as a group but also a service to the Parks and Rec Department,” said Friends of Bethlehem Parks and Recreation President Joan Gavrilik. The findings from the survey were reported to the Friends group at its last meeting, and members are now deciding which project to tackle first. Nearly 350 residents participated in the survey, but not all questions were answered by all participants, and depending on answers, participants may not have seen every question. Gavrilik also stressed the survey was not done scientifically by using a sample of the entire community but only relied on volunteers. Overall, participants had a positive view of the town’s parks, recreational activities and facilities. However, a large number of people wanted to see more funds allocated to facilities upkeep and the development of new trails. Many people also said the Friends group could best support the department by raising additional money for upkeep and sponsoring additional activities. Gavrilik said she was not surprised by any of the answers but found the responses interesting.
“I think it showed we have very good parks, but they could be better,” Gavrilik said.
Director of Parks and Recreation Nan Lanahan said she was amazed at the number of people who were not aware the town had smaller parks, such as those in Selkirk and South Bethlehem, and more could be done to promote those areas. “Everyone knows Elm Avenue because they raised their kids at the pool, but we have some other great ones people don’t seem to now about,” said Lanahan. “If you live in the neighborhood, you might know them, but if you live in Delmar, it’s different.” Both Friends members and town officials were expecting there to be comments about facility upgrades. Lanahan said the lockers and bathrooms at Elm Avenue Pool are more than 40 years old and no longer meet the standards of what a newer complex would have. She said work has begun to convert a bathroom by the splash park into a family changing area and bathroom to accommodate the needs of all community members. Councilman Bill Reinhardt, who has a daughter with disabilities, mentioned the need for such a bathroom during this year’s budget discussions. A number of participants also talked about wanting to be able to bring their dogs to more of the town’s parks. Some also wanted to see a section for small dogs added to the town’s dog park. The results come as the town begins to create a Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The Town Board already approved the use of $25,000 from Parkland Set-aside funds to hire consultants, while another $25,000 will be used from the state efficiency grant money the town received last year. Lanahan said a master plan is needed to help better prepare the department for the future. It will not only help officials prioritize which projects to work on, but having one also helps the town become more qualified to receive additional grant money. “The timing of the survey was great because many times one is done as part of the process, but this will save us time and money with the consultants,” said Lanahan. Other means will now be used to reach out to residents for feedback.
While creating the master plan, public workshops will be held with discussions from office staff, interest groups and stakeholders. They will also be using some additional online tools for input. “We can talk internally all day about things we think we should do, but it’s useless unless we learn what others think we should do,” said Lanahan. One main goal is to find funding to build a new playground at Elm Avenue Park, but many of the local elementary schools just did similar fundraising, so staff members hope to find grant money instead of looking to the community for support. Some residents also expressed interest in a canoe and kayak launch at Henry Hudson Park. The Friends group is potentially looking into this request as their first project. Gavrilik said the Friends want to look into sponsoring some additional special event for adults and have talked about possibly installing an amphitheater at one of the parks. For the master plan, analysis will be done on the conditions of each of the parks to identify particular needs. Lanahan said then, from a maintenance standpoint, the department will know how to proceed with improvements. The entire process is expected to take eight to 10 months before the plan is complete. Those wishing to read the survey report can do so by visiting www.friendsofbethlehemparks.org.