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Richmond committee reports progress on Brown's Court: trees, pickleball group and parking RFP; funding questions remain
Summary
The Volunteer Parks Improvement Committee reported volunteers planted and watered new trees at Brown's Court, heard a mission statement from an ad hoc 'friends of pickleball' group, accepted a community thank‑you for the minutes, and moved toward issuing an RFP for a 30‑space parking lot while awaiting FEMA reimbursements and boundary adjustments.
At a meeting of Richmond’s Volunteer Parks Improvement Committee, members reviewed recent work at Brown’s Court and advanced several implementation steps while flagging outstanding procurement and funding questions.
Committee members said volunteers planted trees (committee tallies ranged from “30–40” to a count of 46) and established a regular watering rotation; Kathy Gruber reported volunteers and town crews had watered twice and recommended continuing twice-weekly watering until colder weather. The committee agreed to include the front‑porch forum “thank you” listing volunteers in the meeting minutes; Fran moved the motion, it was seconded and the motion passed.
An ad hoc group of pickleball volunteers presented a written mission statement describing voluntary court maintenance, scheduling assistance, and serving as a liaison to town staff. Jane Sheridan, speaking for the group, said they were assembling a budget and would submit it to town staff (Duncan) in time for winter planning. The committee discussed temporary locking of the courts for the initial season, future fee schedules for tournaments or exclusive court rental, and possible in-kind or monetary donations — Richmond High School alumni donated about $800 and a local bank offered to underwrite a possible spring fundraiser.
Members discussed amenities and funding: proposed benches, a picnic table or kiosk are under consideration; the committee flagged a potential conflict if conservation funds were used for benches that donors expected to name. The group agreed to clarify funding sources with town staff before committing donations to specific amenities.
On parking and construction: members reviewed plans for a 30‑space gravel parking lot with two accessible spaces and a vehicular turnaround. They agreed to prepare an RFP with detailed specs, meet with public‑works staff (Pete Gosselin) to finalize requirements, and solicit bids (committee mentioned including Vermont Recreation among bidders). Timing for construction depends on FEMA reimbursement progress and the town’s project queue; staff reported some FEMA funds were starting to arrive but that select‑board approval would be required to use reimbursements.
The committee also reviewed a survey and boundary adjustments needed with neighboring owners (McCarthy and Oliver) to resolve a shed location and finalize site extents; members said signatures were expected by month’s end. The group scheduled its next meeting for Nov. 20 and planned a 5‑minute update to the select board.
The meeting also recorded routine procedural actions: motion to approve prior minutes (passed) and a motion to adjourn (passed).
