Limerick Parks and Rec Setting Up for Limerick Community Day

The Limerick Township Parks and Recreation Department met for its regular committee meeting on Thursday night at the . Among the topics discussed were recaps of Playground Fun Daze, the Hot Summer Night 5K Run, a fundraising proposal and an update on Limerick Community Day.

Limerick Community Day will be held on Sept. 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at . The event is an annual fun day for members of Limerick Township to enjoy the weather and great games, music and food.

The board discussed some schematics to putting the event together as September approaches, including vendors, food and activities.

Parks and Recreation Director Karen Hegedus announced that Exelon is the platinum sponsor, giving $7,500. will also hold an Alex's Lemonade Stand at the park that day.

As for music, Joe Plesh, a classic rock performer, will be playing from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and The Rifters, a family/cover band, is scheduled to play between 2 and 4 p.m.

Ice cream, , , , regular concessions, a taco vendor from Berks County and funnel cake will all be at the event, as well.

Activities include pony rides, carnival games by the Rotary Club, a 50/50 and Smash-a-Car. The basket raffle will not be returning this year.

In its review of , which took place on June 12, the committee was satisfied overall, as it raised over $800 for the playground at Manderach Park, selling over $200 in concessions unofficially.

"The dunk tank and slide were great," Hegedus said. "The silent auction and DJ were good, too."

The committee also praised the quarter carnival. Vice chair Melissa Dougherty had a few ideas for next year's event after seeing a "Country Carnival" in Vermont with her family. The committee liked the ideas and will consider them for future events, as well.

The other event review on the agenda was the , which was a little more hectic than Fun Daze. The 5K took place on July 14. Hegedus noted that she brought 200 safety pins and it still wasn't enough.

"We had 55 walk-ins," Hegedus said. "I was prepared for 30 walk-ins, but not 55!"

The committee had a lengthy discussion about needing more volunteers for the event for setup and possibly letting kids help with the water table to make things easier for the competitors grabbing water. Dougherty suggested a sprinkler for runners to jet through during the race, as well.

Despite the setup hardships, the event raised $1,200. Next year, the committee wants to recruit more volunteers, bring more safety pins and reroute the course so runners aren't running over cobblestone. They are thinking about moving it closer to the pavilion near the same location.

"We're living and learning," Hegedus said. "This is only the second time I've done a race."

There was also a proposal from Blomstrom Consulting Network, which is a company that works with several local municipalities to raise money for various organizations and causes. The company approached the department at the June meeting and presented a proposal to raise more funds for Manderach Park. The committee is considering the proposal, but would like to talk to township manager Dan Kerr and the Board of Supervisors first.

The committee also administered a survey to local residents about their park-visiting frequency, as well as their desires for certain types of amenities and parks to be added to town. Those results will be finalized for the September meeting.

The committee is working on "MNP" stickers or magnets for vehicles to be sold a Limerick Community Day. "MNP" represents Manderach Park.

There will be a in the park at on Aug. 7 by Vintage Country. On Sept. 4, Movie Under the Stars will have a double feature of Toy Story 3 and Soul Surfer at Limerick Community Park.

The next Parks and Recreation meeting has been moved from Sept. 1 to Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.