(PENSACOLA) --- Attendance matters.
Pensacola Parks, Recreation Chair Kirwan Price made this point clear at the May 19 meeting: you have to show up to serve.
(Photo: Parks, Recreation Board Chair Kirwan Price pointing out attendance issues at the May 19 meeting)
OpGov.News first reported the board's lack of quorum in February, and it apparently worsened, prompting the chair's message. Price's new post as chair accompanies the swearing-in of two new board members at the last meeting on April 21.
"I thought it would be a good opportunity for me as your new chair to set the tone for what I'm going to accomplish," Price said, adding that while Robert's Rules of Order are not his strong suit, he believes his message is in line.
(Photo: Parks, Recreation Board Members at the May 19 meeting)
Price pointed directly to the consequences of non-attendance in a recent matter.
"It went to the city council, and it got turned down," Price said, without specifically naming the item.
"It's easy for those council members to turn those things down when they think that they haven't really heard from the full board here or the full board wasn't present when we discussed those matters," Price said.
(Photo: Parks, Recreation Board Members at the May 19 meeting)
The chair pointed to the Parks and Recreation Board "mantra" on the website, telling his peers, "it's our guide; it's what we should be doing on this board."
Admittedly, it's not an easy task, according to the new board leader, who calls the Pensacola park system "massive."
"The more I look into it, the more intimidating it is," Price said. "The idea is that the eight of us now, and hopefully the 9th when that position gets filled, can be the eyes and ears for the average Joe who can't make it to a 10 o'clock meeting on a Tuesday, or probably can't even navigate the city website to lodge their concerns."
(Photo: Parks, Recreation Board Members at the May 19 meeting)
Bottom line, "please make sure you're here," Price said.
Picking up from the April 21 meeting, Sherri Myers got right to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) recreation, beginning with thanking Parks and Recreation Director Tonya Byrd for meeting with her regarding inclusive playgrounds.
Myers brought a great deal of information to the table, starting with Miracle Recreation.
"So one of the things that is mentioned on the Miracle Recreation site is when you have children who have certain types of disabilities, you don't want them running off of the playground and into traffic," Myers said, adding Corrine Jones playground has a fence, but is not inclusive.
"There's nothing in that playground that has accessible equipment for any children with any kind of disabilities, Myers said. "These are the kind of issues you need to talk about."
Price agrees, pointing out that Tippin Park is the place to foster inclusivity.
"The first thing I would suggest we do is ask for the moon and hope we get it all," Price said.
Shooting for the moon entails full accessibility.
"We should ask for equipment that would serve the neediest of disabilities," Price said. "I think that's going to be pretty much the package we send to the city council, and we ask for that and see what we get."
Board member Kristin Brown recalled a parent survey, with results showing concern for a disabled child who lacked easy beach access, assuring Myers also gets a copy of the survey.
Myers commended the board for discussing park access, noting "how children get to school and get to playgrounds is critical." Myers informed officials at Debug Mobility, a company that began after the founder's wife became wheelchair-bound due to a car accident.
"I would really like to ask her to go out to Tippin Park and give us some ideas on what it would take to create a park that she can use," Myers said.
(Photo: Miracle Recreation website)
Price agreed.
"The more we can make this park inclusive, the better," Price said. "Obviously, that would satisfy not only your desires, but the desires of those who are disabled."
Other key takeaways include Hunter Pool opening this weekend, with water slides following soon after, and the Roger Scott pool bathroom building is expected by the end of July.
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