***UPDATE***

PRAB will NOT meet on Thursday, November 21, as originally scheduled due to a lack of quorum. This committee is next scheduled to convene on Dec. 19.

***ORIGINAL POST***

Milton’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meets Thursday to discuss two policies – possibly amending one related to rentals and creating a new one on late-pickups – and other matters, such as mountain biking in the city.

The November 21 meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in City Hall’s Council Chambers. People can attend in-person or watch online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJgewWwaPp4.

Commonly referred to as PRAB, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is made up of seven members appointed by Milton’s Mayor and Councilmembers. Together, they share their insights, opinions, and expertise with City staff and leaders on Milton parks, facilities, events, recreational activities, as well as related policies and other matters.

Each PRAB meeting traditionally begins in earnest with “Committee Reports,” and Thursday’s edition will be no different. Committee members will hear updates on Milton-affiliated athletic, art, adult, and outdoor recreational programs, as well as the two summer camps that the City runs.

The first “New Business” topic relates to the Deerfield Implementation Plan, a dynamic and multi-faceted initiative to create a community-driven, sustainable, unique vision for part of southeastern Milton that includes areas in and around Highway 9, Deerfield Parkway, Morris Road, and Windward Parkway. You can learn more about this important project at www.miltonga.gov/Deerfield.

The plan’s project team has discussed creating a trail loop around Deerfield, potentially with amenities. The focus Thursday will be on potential recreational amenities and spaces across this corridor such as trails, pocket parks, and a possible linear park (and less about a new 24-plus acre active park off Deerfield Parkway, which will be discussed more at length later).

PRAB will then roll into a review and discussion of potential amendments to the policy for renting City fields and facilities. The majority of the proposed changes are housekeeping items like adding the Community Center and tennis courts at Milton City Park and Preserve plus updating policies around permitting alcohol at City facilities.

Shifting from spaces to activities, the Board will go over a new staff-proposed policy – and related fees – for those who pick-up their children late from Milton-affiliated programs.

The next two items pertain directly to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. The first is whether PRAB will continue to “adopt” the trail around Wolff Lake at Lakhapani Preserve. The second is to set the committee’s meeting schedule for the coming year.

The final part of Tuesday’s agenda is reserved for City staff reports and communications.

This will include an update on Milton’s Community Outreach efforts, which includes community events. Then comes a discussion of mountain biking in Milton.

Lastly, PRAB will hear the latest on construction at two of its parks. Legacy Park’s parking should be expanded and reconfigured likely sometime next year. The City is in the early stages of working with a consultant to design corresponding conceptual plans. And there are two projects in the works at Milton City Park and Preserve – one that’s underway in the passive section to expand the trail system and make stormwater improvements, and another slated to start late next year to makeover the parking lot, redo the tennis courts (adding two), and installing a playground.

After Thursday, Milton’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is next set to convene at noon on December 19.