Representatives of the Green Hills Recreation Association were at a meeting of the Trenton Park Board on Wednesday, seeking some changes in the agreement between the two entities.
Cara McClellan spoke to the board about the current agreement involving ball field usage during the summer ball season. At this time, the non-profit GHRA pays $25 per game for games played on Johnson, Griffin and Burleigh Grimes fields with no charge for games played at either of the two fields at Moberly Park or at the t-ball field at Van Meter Park. The other part of the agreement includes the park board paying the GHRA $35 per night to operate the concession stands at the ball fields. At the end of the 2019 season, the GHRA had paid $1,800 in field fees. With the amount owed to the GHRA for operation of the concession stands, the park department actually ended up owing the GHRA $650. It was noted that the GHRA is the only organization within the Harrison County League, in which Trenton competes, that pays a fee in addition to taxes to use the fields.
In response to a question from Park Board member Curtis Crawford, Taya Ray shared some statistics, including that 25 teams comprised of 275 athletes and 65 coaches played for the GHRA in the 2019 season, a number that has stayed pretty consistent since 2017. A larger number, 34 teams representing 352 athletes, was involved in 2016, the first year of the GHRA’s existence. Since 2016, 1,163 youth have been involved in the organization’s summer ball program. GHRA representatives discussed the economic impact the program has since each team plays at least six home games, bringing teams to Trenton from Princeton, Jamesport, Mercer, Pattonsburg, Gilman City, Galt, Cainsville, Ridgeway, Eagleville, Bethany, Winston and Leon, IA.
What the GHRA proposed to the park board on Wednesday is that the entity pay the $25 per field per night, rather than per game, since there are often multiple games per night on the field. In addition, the GHRA would like to end its agreement to operate the concession stands because it is difficult to find parents to run them. It was also mentioned there could be some improvement in the offerings for the concession stand. GHRA representatives also suggested that the park board keep the $650 owed to the GHRA for the 2019 season and use it to improve the Lower Moberly Field, which has a drainage issue.
The park board was without a quorum on Wednesday and didn’t take any votes, but Board President Duane Helmandollar said the board is currently looking at all costs and fees within the park system and while the board was not prepared to make any decisions at this time, the proposal will be considered.
Also meeting with the park board was Alexis Whitney, who has served as manager of the Trenton Family Aquatic Center for the past several years. Ms. Whitney gave a report on the 2019 season, telling board members the 2019 season was 13 days shorter than the 2018 season, partly because school got out later. Total income was $67,000, down from about $73,000 in 2018 and attendance was 11,925 this year, down from 12,912 in 2018. The average daily attendance, however was 163 in 2019, up from 150 in 2018.
Ms. Whitney told board members that increasing the price of family passes by $10 and single passes by $15 did not seem to affect their sale, noting that 81 family passes and 40 single passes were sold. A total of 23 lap and senior passes, which saw $5 increases, were sold. Ms. Whitney praised her group of lifeguards for their work this summer and said there were 34 saves (when a lifeguard has to get off the stand to help a swimmer) a number t hat is one less than in 2018. Ms. Whitney, who has indicated she will not return as manager next year, suggested the board look at placing padding under the high dive ladder to help prevent injuries if a swimmer falls while climbing the ladder. The board will be looking into that option.
In his report, Park Superintendent Jason Shuler and board member Gary Schuett said trees have been replaced at Moberly Park that had been damaged (many by deer) and new trees have been planted at Gladys Grimes Park. Tree guards have been installed to help protect the trunks from further deer damage. Shuler discussed the current middle school, high school and college softball and baseball seasons, noting that Trenton will host the District 16 High School Girls Softball Tournament Oct. 16, 17 and 19, with the final game to be played during the Missouri Day Festival. Shuler told the board that an additional swing frame has been ordered to accommodate a wheelchair swing, with the frame to arrive this month. Construction on that part of a handicapped accessible playground will start after the frame is here. The swings for that area were purchased with funds from the Trenton Rotary Club.
The next meeting of the park board is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at city hall.
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