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Votes at a glance: parks board approves event permits, Bristol Blues contract and donation
Summary
The Parks Commission approved a special event application for the New England Auto Museum, accepted a $5,000 donation for Pigeon Hill Preserve, and approved the Bristol Blues 2026 schedule and a three‑year contract that sets a $16,000 contract fee (three years) with standard concession and sponsorship terms.
The Board of Parks Commissioners approved several routine and programmatic items by voice votes during its March meeting.
New England Auto Museum special event: The board moved to bring up and approve the New England Auto Museum’s special event application for its 12th annual auto show on Veterans Memorial Boulevard (Aug. 8). Event organizer Scheidel described plans to use the Boulevard and the Rockwell Theater parking lot after the show’s long history on North Main Street. Scheidel told the board he received a recent planning commission invoice for $3,800 that he believed was sent in error; staff agreed it looked like a clerical error (site plan vs. event application) and recommended a coordination meeting with other departments and the Board of Education to confirm parking, barricade and permitting logistics. The motion to approve the event application was carried by voice vote.
Bristol Blues schedule and contract: The board approved the Bristol Blues’ 2026 game schedule and then approved a three‑year operating agreement (2026–2028) under which staff recommended a $16,000 overall contract fee for the three‑year term, with annual concession fees remaining at $2,500 and a 5% sponsorship share. Staff estimated direct staffing costs around $14,000 and said a higher holistic number would more fully cover utilities and other soft costs; still, staff characterized $16,000 as a reasonable fee given the value the Blues bring to the community. The contract added restrictions on off‑season facility key‑fob access (May 1–Sept 30), required the Blues to maintain 501(c)(3) status and liability insurance, and allowed a 60‑day written termination notice with current‑year charges owed.
Donation: The Parks Commission accepted a $5,000 donation from Jim Cleveland toward the Wildflower Field at Pigeon Hill Preserve. Staff said Cleveland has provided multiple checks now totaling $25,000 and that partner contributions bring the broader project to roughly $125,000 in pledged funds.
Other approvals: The board also approved an event schedule that includes fireworks dates and referred the Bristol 250 tree/garden request back to use the city’s Memorial Tree program rather than adding a new garden bed at Rockwell Park. All motions noted in this summary were carried by voice vote; roll‑call tallies were not recorded in the meeting transcript.
