(2/8) The Thurmont commissioners were briefed at their February 2 meeting on the municipal Parks & Recreation Commission ongoing review of improvements proposed for Eyler Road Park by the Catoctin Area Civitan Club.

The initial presentation of the proposed improvements was presented at the commissioners’ January 26 meeting, at which time the plan was referred to the municipal Parks & Recreation Commission (P&R) for further review and recommendations.

Ginger Malone, president of Catoctin Area Civitan Club (CACC), told the commissioners at their January 26 meeting that the club would like to install a "sensory trail" along Eyler Field for the use of children 2 to 12-years of age. Features would include interactive attributes keyed to appeal to sight, sound, tactile, fitness, and hand-eye coordination.

Malone said one of the purposes behind establishing such a trail would be to provide youths attending the sports-events at the park with additional fun and educational features to enjoy … as well as their siblings. The features would further be designed to be used by disabled children.

She also asked the commissioners if the board would consider pursuing a grant to help purchase the necessary equipment for the trail. Some of the expenses would be paid through the "sale" of dedicated ("in-memory-of") benches along the pathway.

In response to the proposal at the January meeting, Mayor John Kinnaird said that he thought it was "a great idea," adding, "The trail that is at Community Park has a lot of exercise stations … (and) a walkway that has a lot of small installations that were put in … for young children to do activities." The only issue Kinnaird said he could see is that the walking-trail proposed for Eyler Road Park does not yet exist.

Commissioner Martin Burns suggested the proposal be referred to the Parks & Recreation Commission.

Chief Administrative Officer James Humerick told the board at their February 2 meeting that the municipal Parks & Recreation Commission had been given the same presentation as had been previously given to the commissioners, and that the P&R commissioners "are in favor of the project."

He said a walk-through was arranged involving himself, members of the P&R commission, and the CACC … to review the proposed changes on-site and "to think about where the stations (features) will go."

Humerick said the proposed walking-trail would be three-quarters of a mile in length, and that the configuration of playing-fields and tree-plantings would have to be taken into consideration when selecting locations along the trail for the placement of the activity-stations.

The chief administrative officer said current plans call for the work on the town’s pathway in the park to be completed by July, which would permit the CACC to begin installation of the features by fall.