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Recreation staff to route programming through Rec Commission after resident concerns about learn-to-skate events
Summary
Recreation staff said temporary learn-to-skate sessions are proposed for three parks; residents raised concerns about notification, parking and liability, and staff told the committee it will require appropriate insurance, clearances and waivers before programs begin.
Parks and Recreation staff told the committee on March 11 they plan to route programming approvals through the borough Recreation Commission and to report approvals to the borough manager monthly after residents raised questions about a proposed learn-to-skate program.
Keith (Parks and Recreation staff) said the proposed activity “is not about a skate park. It's not about a skate spot. This is a program of learning how to skate.” He said the program would use temporary equipment at three parks on different days and would require registration rather than drop-in attendance.
Residents and neighborhood representatives raised concerns about notification and parking. Sue Veil of Penn State (attending as a neighborhood representative) said the events “are on Facebook already. The neighbors were not invited first. They have no notification of this,” and added that small, congested parks have limited parking.
Committee members and staff discussed liability and safety requirements. One council member said head injuries are the principal worry and asked how the borough would protect itself and children in the event of serious injury. Staff replied that the borough first manages hazards by maintaining safe facilities and then requires contracted programmers to carry insurance and criminal-background clearances for adults supervising children. Staff summarized the borough’s current general-liability policy limits as $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate and said programmers would need to carry at least the borough-required limits and sign waivers as part of registration.
The Recreation Commission did not meet in February, staff said, because of illness; Parks staff asked whether council had objections to moving forward with several youth programs (learn-to-skate, science-explorer summer camp, Soccer Shots, a yoga camp and Brandywine School of Wizardry). One staff member agreed to provide council a list of the programs on Tuesday night for review ahead of any final approvals and advertising.
Ending: Staff said final vendor agreements, insurance certificates and criminal-clearance documentation will be required before events proceed and that program details will be circulated to council for review.
