Parks, Trails & Recreation Commission - Regular Meeting

Approval of January 8, 2025 Minutes

Scavenger Hunt Planning

Planning for the 2026 spring Scavenger Hunt event. The 2024 inaugural spring Scavenger Hunt was a success, and 2025 was similarly well-received by the community. Ideas and initial planning for the event are below. May 2nd falls between the April 26th Cherry Hills Land Preserve Earth Day event and the City's Spring Cleanup event on May 16th. Parks & Trails Scavenger Hunt: Sat., May 2nd 9am-noon. Timeline: 9am: Event start. Park Scavenger Hunt is open and running, registration is open for Trail Scavenger Hunt. 9:30 Start for individuals doing Trail Scavenger Hunt. 9:40 Start for teams doing Trail Scavenger Hunt. 11:45 Deadline to return (to be eligible for prize drawing). 11:50 Prize drawing. 12pm: Event end. Morning/Arrival: Table with food available for participants. Juice boxes, granola bars, fruit – bananas and oranges, water. Coffee Cart – staff has hired the same coffee cart for the event. Drinks will be pre-paid by the City and free to participants. Scavenger Hunts: Two options – short (park) or long (trail) scavenger hunt. Park Scavenger Hunt (shorter/small area for younger kids). Takes place only within John Meade Park and Alan Hutto Memorial Commons. One page sheet with simple items to locate in the park (a pinecone, a leaf, etc.) – kids color in the picture of each item as they find it. Continuously running (9am-noon). Table with blank sheets/crayons; return the sheet to the table to pick up a prize. Prizes – Choices of: kids binoculars (41 left over from last year), collapsible buckets (30 left over from last year) and notebooks with rustic pencils and stickers (38 left over from last year). Trail Scavenger Hunt: Appropriate for older kids and adults. Team category (can participate as a team of one). In the past, staff offered the option to pre-register online; however, this has proved unnecessary. We will have clipboards ready the morning of with registration forms on them. Trails around John Meade Park and in Cherrymoor (map on following page). Two hours, 8 stations to visit along the trails. Parks staff member on the Gator in Cherrymoor to provide help if needed. Staffed water station. Medallions attached to bollard or fence; participants create a rubbing on their sheet to prove they visited that area. Medallions will be in different locations from last year. Medallions are raised animal pawprints. Medallions will be painted bright colors to stand out. First three teams who visit all eight stations and arrive back at the registration table in John Meade Park will win major prizes. Team prizes and individual prizes (separate). Team – need to be able to use together (restaurants, froyo, or activities like movies). Movie gift card ($100). Pino's Pizza ($100). Little Man Ice Cream ($100). First place gets first choice, etc. Two drawings amongst all finishers of individual and team categories (outside of top three) for gift cards. Everyone will receive some small item for participating (a seedling). Fun & Games: Available at the park during the entire time frame: Lawn games (Spikeball/Slammo), bags, ladders – these don’t require staff/volunteers. Facepainters. Music through the sound system. Advertising: Advertise as a cup-free event for water stations – BYO water bottles. Advertise as no bikes/scooters allowed. Village Crier – March and April. Social media/email blasts. Staff/Volunteer Stations: Sign in tables – 3. Gator - 1. Runner - 1. Table on trail in Cherrymoor - 1. Food table - 1. Photographer - 1. PTRC Table - 1. Volunteers: The Commission should let staff know whether they are available to volunteer. Feedback Requested: Staff requests the following feedback from PTRC: Which Commissioners are available to volunteer during the event? Any last minute ideas? Budget Impact: $4,000.00 is available in the 2026 Special Events budget for the Scavenger Hunt. Staff Recommendation: Staff requests PTRC’s final feedback ahead of the event.

Public Works Survey Results

Reviewing the 2025 Public Works Survey results. At a previous meeting, Commissioner Greer asked to review the 2025 Public Works Survey results once they became available. The collected responses are attached as Exhibit A. The survey is published multiple times at the end of the year in the Village Crier newsletter. It is also available online through the City's website and posted on social media. Questions of particular concern to PTRC are 2 (parks and trails), 5 (recreation reimbursement), 7 (tree planting), and 8 (special events). This year we did receive a number of positive comments about the Scavenger Hunt, which is encouraging to continue the event as an annual one going forward. Winter Celebration and Movie Night generally received very positive feedback as well. There was at least one comment regarding a previous Trail Passport Program that the City ran one year as well – this is something that PTRC could consider implementing in 2027 if there is interest. It is a self-directed walk, run, or ride throughout City trails to stamp a passport at boxes located throughout the trails. It ran through the summer and participants that completed the passport could bring it to City Hall to receive a prize.

Chair

Commissioners

City Staff

a. Upcoming Business Items. b. Trail Map Redesign. c. Board & Commission Appreciation Event – May 6th 4-5:30pm.