Dormont Recreation Board Meeting Summary - September 14, 2026

The Dormont Recreation Board held a hybrid meeting. The agenda was dated July 13, 2026, but the meeting timestamp provided was September 14, 2026; this summary uses the provided date. Attendees included board members John Chomp, Sarah Foxman, Kirsten Hoskey, and Amber Leisure (online), borough staff member Melinda Szabo, and guests Danielle Ventreska (Dormont Council) and Joanna Bolden (online). The board reviewed summer events, agreed to partner with Bird Town on a Family Bird Night, adjusted the adult movie date, and advanced Dormont Dash planning.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Joanna Bolden, representing the Dormont Bird Town Committee, requested that the Recreation Board partner on a Family Bird Night. She stated the event would be Wednesday, August 5, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in Dormont Park, led by master birder Christine Best from Bird Lab, with bird bingo, pizza, water, snacks, journals, and stickers, rain or shine. Registration would be capped at 20 children. She noted a prior Bird Town library event drew about 30 children plus adults, roughly 60 people total, and asked for help promoting the event and financial support of about $125 to $150.
• Danielle Ventreska, Dormont Council and Bird Town Committee member, proposed coordinating a bird-themed Story Stroll with the Family Bird Night, citing a book titled 'Birds of My Backyard' by Lisa Donovan. She expressed support for using the event to get children excited about birding.
• Board members expressed support for the partnership and for coordinating the Story Stroll around the bird event.

Discussion Items

Approval of Minutes

• Minutes approval was deferred. No minutes had been submitted, and board members asked for access to the shared Google Drive so outstanding minutes can be reviewed and approved at a future meeting.

Bird Town Family Bird Night Partnership

• The event will use the large pavilion in Dormont Park and will be an all-weather event. If it rains, activities will move inside the pavilion.
• The board agreed to partner with Bird Town, provide $125-$150 for food and water, share the Recreation Board logo for promotional flyers, help publicize registration, and potentially have one or two board members assist on-site.
• The group agreed not to create a Facebook event because registration will be tracked through a separate registration link; the Borough of Dormont and Recreation Board can co-host promotions instead.

Story Stroll

• The board had previously planned a Story Stroll from August 1 through the end of August. It decided to use a bird-themed book for that window and planned to order two copies of 'Birds of My Backyard' by Lisa Donovan.
• New sign holders and lamination supplies were noted as needed. The board also discussed replacing worn yard signs.

Movies in the Park and Adult Movie

• The regular Movies in the Park was moved to that Friday because of rain. Board members discussed needing volunteers for the rescheduled date.
• The adult movie, '10 Things I Hate About You', was originally scheduled for July 23 but was moved to the July 30 rain date because it had not yet been advertised and was only about 10 days away.
• The food truck for the adult movie will be Yov's hot dogs. The board planned to list event arrival at 8:30 p.m., with the movie starting closer to 9:00 p.m., and to encourage walking or parking at the borough building due to limited parking at Hillsdale Park.
• Staff suggested holding the adult movie in the pool parking lot instead of the park because of pool staffing limitations; the board discussed equipment logistics, securing the screen, and coordinating with back alley and the food truck.

Yoga in the Park

• The board identified yoga dates needing coverage: July 18, August 1, August 8, August 15, and September 12. Some members offered to cover certain dates, and the group planned to resend the sign-up sheet.

Dormont Dash

• The Dash had 95 registrations, compared to roughly 70-something at the same time the previous year. The goal was still about 200 participants.
• Sponsorships were lower this year; members planned follow-up with past sponsors such as Castle Shannon and St. Clair Health and to send updated sponsorship letters including raffle basket options.
• Medals had been ordered, with designs selected for 2026, 2027, and 2028; the selected designs will not include the year on the medal itself, and years will go on the ribbons.
• The board chose true royal shirts for this year and discussed keeping the existing bib designs, with a tear-off piece for raffle entries.
• The group agreed to use SignUp Genius for volunteers and to publish the volunteer link immediately, about six weeks before the race, rather than waiting as in prior years.

Car Show and Future Events

• The car show was listed for September 27; the board understood it needed promotional and logistical support, with Jez serving as liaison. No financial request was noted.
• For future events, the board planned to repeat pumpkin painting at the kids zone during Street Fest, with Moonlit Burgers sponsoring the kids zone.

Board/Staff Updates

• Melinda Szabo announced that she had submitted notice; her last day would be August 24. She stated the borough is hiring for a similar position and a finance person, and that the board would receive a new staff contact.

Key Outcomes

• The board reached consensus to partner with Bird Town on the August 5 Family Bird Night and to provide $125-$150.
• The Story Stroll was set to use a bird theme with 'Birds of My Backyard', with two copies to be ordered.
• The adult movie was moved from July 23 to July 30.
• Yoga coverage needs and volunteer assignments were identified.
• The Dash volunteer sign-up through SignUp Genius was authorized to be posted immediately; true royal shirts and the selected medal designs were approved.
• Minutes approval was deferred until minutes are shared and reviewed.