Local News – Wednesday, March 24th, 2021

The Salem Park and Recreation Board met Monday night at the Salem Community Center@The Armory. After the roll call and approval of the last meeting minutes, Park and Recreation Director Melissa Dubois gave her report on the pool operations last year, work that needs to be done this year in the pump room, the pump for the zero-entry features as well as needed repairs to the Zipline. Dubois said opening day for the pool is planned for May 22nd. She said the pool pass rates would remain the same as last year, but there will not be a discounted early signup rate. A family season pass will be $160 for four people and each additional person would be $45. Individual passes are still $75 and pool parties remain at $150 for an hour, $200 for 1.5 hours and $250 for two full hours. She also stated that the pool pavilion can be rented for $75 and that the other city pavilions are also available to be rented. Dubois said the pool and concession stand has already been staffed and they have a waiting list of potential staff. She stated that Jared Patterson will be the pool manager this year. There will still be swimming lessons, water aerobics and lifeguard certification classes. Dubois reported there were 141 participants in the flag football and cheerleading program last fall. She said there were 53 people that signed up for cheerleading with 88 flag football participants. Dubois reported the winter basketball season also had cheerleading and attracted 179 athletes with eight teams for the 1st and 2nd graders, four teams for the 3rd and 4th graders and three teams for the 5th and 6th graders. She said there were three cheer teams from the 1st and 3rd grade, and one team for the 4th through 6th graders. This was the first time the event was held at the Salem Community Center@The Armory gym which created a bit of a challenge with social distancing. Dubois said the soccer program is now underway with practice and the games will begin next week. There are 162 participants with four age 6 and under teams, four age 8 and under teams, four age 10 and under teams and two age 14 and under teams. The Smart Soccer program was held this year with ten participants as that was all that was allowed due to COVID-19 distancing rules. This may be offered more than once per year. The summer ball registration is now underway through April 9th for $25 per child with late registration from April 10th through the 19th for $35 per child. The Park and Recreation Department would prefer you register your child online through Teamsnap which then stores all the information about your child so the next program you sign up for won’t take very long. This also helps when the coaches draft the children for teams. Dubois said the first volleyball tournament at the Community Center Gym was successful and they will be looking at more dates to do that. She said a two-week camp will be held at a date to be determined at a cost of $100 per week. There must be a minimum of 12 people to support the staff. The camp would be held from 7:30 AM until 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. She also mentioned she is looking into starting a tennis camp. At the Salem City Park, minor repairs have been made to Billy’s Playground and splash pad, and the tennis courts need some court repair. This will be discussed when the upcoming budget is discussed. The city park ball fields will be getting new yellow home run caps and the Al Brown field will be getting new pole to replace the one that blew down. A new lighting configuration will be evaluated by Musco lighting. The board approved recommending to the Salem Board of Alderman the purchase of a new John Deere 2020 compact utility tractor with the trade in of three old tractors from Heritage Tractor in the amount of $10,721.50. They also approved to recommend the purchase of a Polaris 2021 Ranger UTV from Stahlman Power Sports for $19,319 with the Salem Park and Recreation Department paying half and Capital Improvements paying the other half. Dubois then reported on the Salem Civic Theatre and said the seats have been installed as well as the ceiling tile and LED lighting. Still working on a mock-up design to get bids for the concession stand and ticket booth. She also reported on the “Light up the Park” event from last fall which was a huge success. Dubois said there will be meetings soon to discuss this year’s event. Dubois said the city is still waiting to hear back on the LWCF grant application for the soccer field although she said she received a call from the MRPC to get more detailed information a couple weeks ago. Park Board President Stan Podorski then submitted his resignation from the park board to be effective April 5th. He thanked the board for all the Park and Rec Department was able to get accomplished in the last 4 ½ years and said it wouldn’t have been possible without them. The meeting was then adjourned.

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