Metro East Sun

City of Edwardsville Recreation, Arts, & Special Events Board met June 3

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

I. Meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Janet Haroian. The meeting was held in person at City Hall. Members in attendance at City Hall were Tony Green, Suzanne Weiss, Jeanette Mallon, Tanner Alexander, and Lauren Szakielo.

Parks staff in attendance at City Hall included Nate Tingley, Steve Van Berckelaer, Grace Pellock, and Lydia Bond.

Krista Kell, Jeremiah Goltz, and Piper Goltz were also in attendance.

II. There were no public comments.

III. Minutes read from April meeting -

Jeanette Mallon motioned to approve the minutes as written, and Suzanne Weiss seconded the motion. The minutes were approved as written.

Events and Facilities Requests:

United to Revive Edwardsville - United to Revive (Thursday, July 31):

Jeremiah Goltz presented the United to Revive Edwardsville special event application on behalf of United to Revive.

United to Revive Edwardsville will feature the Beverly Farm Choir, live music with sign language, and inspiring stories. The event is free and open to all ages and designed to create a welcoming atmosphere and community connection. The event does not need street closures, has no alcohol and no food vendors. They will use the bandstand, electricity, restrooms, and trash cans from the city. This event is expected to go from 6 PM to 7:30 PM on July 31st, 2025.

Motion to approve (Mallon) United to Revive Edwardsville, seconded (Alexandar) and voted all ayes to forward to ACS.

IV. Recreation Report

Nate Tingley gave the Recreation Report.

a) We have 26 teams across 3 divisions in our adult softball season.

b) Youth softball has 226 girls in the league this season. Games are being played at Vadalabene Park and Plummer Family Park.

c) We are in week three of Pee-Wee T-ball. We have 134 kids learning all about t-ball.

d) We have 77 beach volleyball teams between youth and adults. They can play their games at Plummer Family Park now. Court rentals are starting to pick up, and we hope to host a tournament soon.

e) Adult kickball season is midway through. We have a total of 16 teams.

f) Practices for NFL Football will begin in June. We have 331 kids registered this season.

g) Construction at Plummer Family Park is about 95% complete.

V. Program Report

Grace Pellock gave the Program Report.

a) We're still hosting our local Yoga instructor, Donna Bartley, at the Wildey Theatre on Tuesdays. On average, about 20 people attend these classes.

b) Our annual doggie Easter egg hunt took place on Saturday, April 26th. Even with the rainout and a new date, we still had over 100 dogs in attendance and raised $615 for the Humane Society.

c) We held our annual fishing derby at Leclaire Park on Saturday, May 17th. We had around 35 kids in attendance this year. The Cub Scouts came out and gave a safety presentation beforehand.

d) All of the movies in the park are set and have sponsors for the summer. The movies are Hercules on June 28th, Jumanji on July 26th, 101 Dalmatians on August 23rd, and Wicked on September 20th.

e) The concerts are also set for the summer. We will be showcasing Steve Ewing on June 13th, Dueling Pianos on June 20th, LustreLights on June 27th, Blue Suede Crew on July 11th, Hudson and the Hoo Doo Cats on July 18th, and Dirty Mugss on July 25th.

f) Route 66 is this weekend. This event includes bands, car show/cruise, market vendors, food/alcohol vendors, trolley tours, kid zone, history, and more.

g) Edwardsville Zip Code Day is set for Friday, June 20th. We have the Dueling Pianos concert that evening, and other activities surrounding the concert.

VI. Wildey Theatre Report

Nate Tingley gave the Wildey Theatre Report.

a) Some acts we had in April/May include Jimmy Vivino, Arena Rock Show, Albert Cummings, and Carolyn Wonderland.

b) The theatre hosted free yoga classes, Columbus School DARE Graduation, and a Great Rivers & Routes meeting.

c) We also hosted two weddings and eight parties, including SIUE Wrestling Fundraiser and Together We Learn Pre-School Graduation.

d) We have DK Harrell, Peter Mayer, Vanilla Fudge, Toronzo Canon, and two nights with Taylor Made.

e) We have eleven private parties coming in June, including one wedding.

VII. R.P. Lumber Center Report

Steve Van Berckelaer gave the R.P. Lumber Center Report.

a) The Center's current Learn to Skate session has a total of 34 participants enrolled.

b) We have 8 registered for the next round of Hockey Initiation, but we are expecting more to register closer to the end of the current season.

c) We are starting our new Power Skating class and currently have 8 skaters signed up.

d) The Rookie League has 12 ice skaters and 4 goalies signed up.

e) Monday Night Midwest League has a new team joining the next season, making 5 teams altogether.

f) We will be putting on our very first summer ice show. It will be an exhibition, and we already have 13 skaters signed up. 

VIII. Directors Report

Nate Tingley gave the Directors Report.

a) The laborers are setting up the new shop.

b) We have finished hiring our seasonal workers.

c) The laborers have been installing new signage at Plummer Family Park, repairing flag poles, setting out downtown flowerpots, demoing the playground surface at Leclaire Park as well as Springer Woods, and mowing lots of grass.

d) Our horticulture coordinator has been coordinating our irrigation start up, dead tree and stump removals, organizing flowerpot and landscape bed plantings at Vadalabene Park, City Park, and downtown flowerpots.

e) Plummer Family Park phase II is in its final stages with infill coordination, storage shed concrete, parking lot seal and striping, install of waterlines for beach volleyball, install of additional gates, etc.

f) Our parks superintendent has been coordinating the startup of parks water fountains, prepping for sunflowers at Gerber and Governor's Parkway site, and overseeing Watershed levee repairs. He's been coordinating electrical, ductwork, and plumbing at the ice rink for a new washer and dryer.

g) We've been reviewing plans for waterproofing at Children's Museum.

h) We're doing infield repair work at Leclaire Field, Hoppe Fields, Vadalabene Fields, and Winston Brown Fields.

i) Our director has been working on PEP grants, playground replacement contracts, YMСА user agreements, plans for Benton Street and Gerber and Governors' Parkway properties, and a proposal for the Leclaire Park wall reconstruction project.

Haroian adjourned the meeting at 5:40 PM.

The next meeting is scheduled for July 1, 2025.

https://www.cityofedwardsville.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_06032025-3746