Having Fun at Irwin Park is About to Get Easier

Town residents wanting to host recreational events at Irwin Park, such as picnics and wiffle ball games, will have a much easier time if the Parks and Recreation Commission get their way. The commission approved a special permit for Irwin Park Wednesday evening, a measure that will eliminate the difficult, multi-step process required by residents in the past.

"The special permit process is supposed to be less arduous," said Parks and Recreation Chairman Scott Gress. "[It will] streamline the ability to have events in the park."

Irwin Park tends to be a misnomer, as the park is still zoned as a residential area. This classification makes hosting recreational events require special permission from both the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Planning & Zoning Commission. The process of obtaining permits from both departments can be lengthy and inconvenient, according to Parks and Recreation.

Other issues discussed at Wednesday evening's meeting, were concerns about tree coverage, baseball backstops, size of bleachers, lighting and signage at Irwin Park.

"The deed to the property has restrictions to the number of signs at the park," explained town attorney Chris Jarboe. "Baseball backstops will be no higher than 10 feet… The town installed 34 trees to mitigate neighbors' views of the backstops."

Some residents feel there should be no bleachers. But for kids' baseball games, when many grandparents attend, seasonal bleachers with three levels of seats will be brought in.  Five-level bleacher seats will not be used since they would require fencing to ensure no one falls off.

Neighbors have also took issue with the level of shrubs, tree screening and the brightness of outdoor lights at Irwin Park. All of which are issues that go hand-in-hand with having a park, explained members of the Parks and Recreation Commission.

The next step for the special permit is to be discussed by the Town Council and open it up for public hearings in September.