(PHOTO BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
NEW PRESS BOX … Montpelier’s new girls’ softball press box stand is completed, with a dedication plaque to honor its local commissioners and donors.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Montpelier Park Board gathered Wednesday evening, May 7th, following a girls’ softball press box dedication. The meeting opened at 7:13 p.m. and included reports from department heads, discussions on community contributions, and the announcement of a few upcoming additions to the Montpelier area.
The new press box included a plaque thanking the commissioners and the generous donors. However, a major topic of discussion pertained to adding an additional bronze plaque to the building.
Funded by the Softball Commissioners, this plaque would honor the volunteers who physically helped build the structure.
With plans to already etch “Montpelier Eagles” into the original donor plaque by the end of the week, these additions took the board by surprise. They refrained from approving the motion and requested to see any additives in person.
Matt Reid presented a proposal to develop a nine-hole disc golf course along the Iron Horse River Trail. The course would begin near the entrance of the Senior Center, with the first hole positioned by the riverbank.
The layout around the river would resemble a horseshoe. The estimated construction cost is $1,000 per hole. Board members expressed interest in continuing to plan this big project, and while things are subject to change, they could see groundbreaking as soon as August 6th.
Nick Ramos, head of Park and Pool Maintenance, reported on several key maintenance tasks, including pool preparation ahead of summer openings.
The pool has been emptied of its winter fill, herbicide applied, and a new pitcher’s mound installed at the baseball diamonds. The new pool manager, Amy Riggenbach, is set to begin on May 16th. Ramos also thanked the staff, including Jeff Hepner, for their ongoing work until additional seasonal help arrives on May 22nd.
Recreation Director Sandy Gordon shared highlights from the April report, which included:
-Finalization and distribution of Summer Program Guides.
-Landscaping projects, including transplanting and planting at Kids Garden markers.
-Early opening of the concession stand on April 28th, following a successful health inspection.
-Ongoing event planning and Summer Program coordination, including “Lunch and Learn” sessions and collaborations with the Chamber of Commerce.
Gordon also requested approval for six new park banners and relayed updates on civil landscaping efforts.
The library’s “StoryWalk” installation was announced for the summer, offering an interactive reading experience along the trail.
Plans are also underway for memorial trees and plaques in honor of loved ones, with final prices and details to be hammered out in next month’s meeting.
The meeting concluded at 8:35 p.m., with several action items, such as plaque approval procedures, disc golf logistics, and banner installations, all set to continue at the next June meeting.