Parks and Recreation Committee Discusses Survey for Park Improvements - February 4, 2026
Parks and Recreation Committee Discusses Survey for Park Improvements - February 4, 2026
This meeting of the Millsboro Parks and Recreation Committee was held on February 4, 2026, at 9:30 AM. The committee reviewed a draft survey for community input on park improvements, consolidated redundant questions, and planned next steps for developing new park amenities. Public comments raised concerns about donor restrictions and fair market rent for donated properties.
Public Comments & Testimony
- A community member (identified as Monty Hall) stated that the ballpark was donated by Ollie Adkins on behalf of her husband and should include a sign and benefit the people, not a business. They also expressed concern about fair market rent for a property rented to a government agency for $600 per month. The member noted the dog park may also be from Ollie Atkins and requested verification of the will.
Discussion Items
- The committee reviewed a 34-question survey on park improvements. Members suggested reducing the length, combining duplicate questions, and using multiple-choice options to improve response rates and data sorting. Items such as demographics, frequency of park use, preferred amenities (playgrounds, sports fields, trails, pickleball, splash pads, gardens), and barriers (disability, distance, safety) were discussed.
- The committee decided to include descriptions of existing parks (Cupola Park, ballpark, dog park) in the survey to educate the public and to segment questions by park. Acreage, existing features, and restroom conditions at Cupola and the ballpark were reviewed.
- Future park concepts were explored, including a Zen garden, butterfly garden, water play area, veterans memorial park, and enhanced restroom facilities at Town Lakes property. Corporate sponsorships and a park and rec program were suggested.
- The committee agreed to invite representatives from USTA (Tennis Association) and Longwood/Brandywine Botanical Gardens to the next meeting for input on tennis/pickleball courts and garden design.
- Signage consistency across parks and wayfinding improvements were discussed. The committee also noted the need to examine the will for W. Blaine Adkins' donation regarding ballpark signage.
Key Outcomes
- The survey will be revised to approximately 14 park-related questions, with multiple-choice options and a final open-ended question for additional comments.
- The next committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 9:00 AM. USTA and Longwood/Brandywine representatives may be invited.
- Ashley Sander will send the revised survey to committee members in advance of the next meeting.
- The town will research the will of Ollie Adkins to confirm donation conditions for the ballpark and Chamber of Commerce building.
- The committee aims to incorporate a veterans memorial and consistent signage in future park development.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, it's 9 30. We'll call the meeting to order. Please join me in standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge your learning see the flag of the United States. Under God individual. Thank you. Thank you. Present. Assistant town manager Ashley Sander. Present. Mayor McKee. Present. Town Manager Jamie Burke. Present. Ron Mason present. And community member Monty Hall. All our intendants. Can I have a motion to adopt the agenda? As moved. I second that. All in favor? Agenda's approved. Public comments. Are there any public comments related to the parks? I didn't make time to go through all my records, my research. But the park, the ballpark was donated by Ollie Adkins on behalf of her husband. And there's supposed to be a sign, which there is. That came from Blaine Atkins as well for a dollar, but I haven't done the research on that. And what is now the Chamber of Commerce, there's supposed to be a plaque out front on that as well on the building, according to the will. And that's supposed to be for the benefit of the people, not a business. And then I'm also concerned about fair market rent. She was renting that place to a government agency for $600 a month. So the fair market value is off. And it should go to benefit the people. And then um the ballpark. I know that I think the dog park is also from Ollie Atkins. I'll have to confirm that. But basically, the ballpark was that land was given for the benefit of the people, not a segregation. And I'm for the kids. I am for kids. In an order, I would assume that what we should do is go through this questionnaire and and determine what questions are duplicates or what questions we need to we we want to ask and in what order. The nice thing about the questionnaire, which is one of the things I was going to recommend today is we question uh including the existing parts and air utilization in addition to the new park property that's uh being that is um then acquired um or through donation with plantation lakes. So let's start at the top and just go through if anybody has any uh comments. I guess we can go through one by one. With with with that in mind, um, as we go through them, I think it would be helpful to people filling out the survey if you had options under each number. It's easier to check off. Yes. Exactly. Some of the questions do have multiple choice uh answers condensed on here, and some uh do not. The other thing is we are we've got 34 um questions, which seems rather um lengthy for questionnaire.
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