Dormont Recreation Board Meeting: Dormont Dash Debrief and Fall Event Planning (August 19, 2026)

The Dormont Recreation Board met on August 19, 2026, at 12:00 UTC to debrief the Dormont Dash and plan upcoming fall and holiday events. No agenda or minutes were available, so this summary is based solely on the raw meeting transcript. Board members discussed race feedback, volunteer safety, Yoga in the Park staffing, the October 4 Halloween event, the Dormont Street Music Festival Kid Zone, holiday cookie outreach, and a board vacancy.

Dormont Dash Debrief

• Board members praised Sarah for organizing the Dormont Dash for the first time and Amber for coordinating; the event was described as successful and well run.
• Suggested improvements for next year included louder music at the start, a pre-race stretch led by Nova Care, stabilizing the backdrop that kept falling over, and better advertising of previous-year vintage T-shirt sales.
• Nova Care was expected to lead a stretch but did not; board members said nobody present knew it had been scheduled.
• One runner at the registration table asked about category/age-group awards; the board discussed a middle-ground approach such as top three male and female finishers instead of the previous age-group medal ceremony.
• Board members discussed making the Dash more of a community event, including encouraging residents along the route to cheer and decorate, adding a PR bell, and possibly creating a health/family fair in the parking lot.
• Danielle suggested a runner survey; the board agreed to collect question ideas by Friday, have Sarah and Amber pare them down, and send them to Melinda for distribution through SurveyMonkey. A Camp Bow Wow gift certificate was proposed as a raffle incentive for survey respondents.
• Volunteer coverage included four crossing guards and three to five fire department members, with the rest coming from KOEA or the community.
• The board discussed requiring volunteers to be over 18 or paired with a parent for intersection roles and will add age questions to the volunteer sign-up for next year.
• A member praised Cole for helping the board locate supplies and set up; the board agreed Cole was very helpful.
• A member agreed to look into purchasing a recreation board banner for parades and events after the usual banner could not be found.

Yoga in the Park

• The board confirmed Yoga in the Park is extended and continuing. Jesse volunteered to lead the next open date, the 13th, and another member will cover the 20th.
• Instructors are paid one total amount; Stacey will include the new instructor on invoices.
• The board agreed not to extend further into the fall this year; for next year, the plan is to schedule through the end of September.
• Future ideas included golden-hour yoga, goat yoga, and puppy yoga; members noted Tuesday and Thursday evening conflicts with other pay-what-you-can yoga offerings.

Halloween Trunk or Treat and Movie

• The board set the combined Halloween Trunk or Treat and movie event for Saturday, October 4, 2026. Some members raised concerns that this was early for costumes and planning, while others said families often have costumes and attend trunk-or-treat events in early October.
• The event name discussion landed on “Trunk or Treat Spooktacular featuring Coco,” with the movie title able to change in future years.
• Amber will design the flyer; Sarah will reach out to sports teams, including the KO Krakins swim team and DABA baseball, the fire department, and Millie’s. A member offered to share the El Cucho food truck’s contact information and noted El Cucho has a $1,000 minimum, so the board did not commit to guaranteeing that amount.
• The board discussed ordering candy and reducing the quantity from last year because much was left over. The borough parks department will supply the screen, barricades, and hooks; the rec board will provide trunks, games, and giant coloring sheets.
• Amber will be out of town October 4 through 7 and cannot set up a trunk, but other members offered to run trunks.

Dormont Street Music Festival Kid Zone

• The board planned the Kid Zone for the Dormont Street Music Festival, with the event running 1 to 5 p.m. and members volunteering for shifts, including setup around 12:30 p.m.
• The planned activity is decorating wooden birds to be used in the new castle-themed playground. Final placement on the playground tree is still a council decision, and the board agreed not to promise the tree.
• Hannah from Go Explore Create can no longer attend but will provide instructions and material specifications; a member will follow up with her and order supplies.
• The Kid Zone location will remain between Moonlit and Doorstop for this year because the prior proposed area was too close to the music stage.
• A face painter was discussed at a two-hour minimum for about $100; a member will confirm availability. The fire department may also attend and hand out items to kids.

Holiday Parade, Cookies, and Home for the Holidays

• The board revisited cookie outreach for the holiday parade and Jingle Jam event. Last year’s 15 dozen cookies were too many; members suggested 10 to 12 dozen and donating leftovers to the food pantry.
• Sarah will reach out to the Keystone Oaks family consumer sciences teacher about having students bake or donate cookies as a volunteer project.
• Northway’s Jingle Jam was expected to continue, with the borough providing Santa and the rec board handing out cookies.
• Holiday window painting was discussed as a possible future community event; no decision was made.

Board Vacancy and Recruitment

• A member reported that Valerie resigned; another member may also step down because of scheduling. The board discussed advertising the vacancy through the borough’s boards and commissions application page.
• Under the council-approved process, applications are sent to the board chair, board members can interview applicants and provide a recommendation, and council makes the final appointment.
• The board agreed to add a question about availability and commitment to a majority of the rec board’s roughly dozen annual events, plus monthly meetings, and to include a list of typical events on the application.
• Members noted the recreation page on the borough website is outdated and needs updating so applicants can understand the board’s event-based role.

Other Business

• Members discussed ideas for adult-focused recreation events, community surveys, bird-watching, adult kickball, and collaborating with the Human Relations Commission on events such as Porchmont.
• The board agreed to discuss a fuller event calendar and new event ideas at a future meeting rather than adding too many events at once.

Key Outcomes

• Dormont Dash runner survey: board members to submit questions by Friday; Sarah and Amber to finalize; Melinda to distribute.
• Yoga in the Park: Jesse covers the 13th; another member covers the 20th.
• Trunk or Treat and movie: date set for October 4, 2026; flyer, food truck, candy, and participant outreach assigned.
• Street Music Festival Kid Zone: contact Hannah for bird decoration instructions; order supplies; confirm face painter and fire department participation.
• Banner purchase will be investigated; volunteer sign-up language and board application availability question will be updated.
• Board vacancy will be advertised through the borough application process; the board will review applicants and make a recommendation to council.

The meeting was adjourned after a motion and a second.