May 14, 2025 • 34 mins
The fun in Milton is growing, and this episode gives you a peek at what’s coming next. Parks and Rec Director Tom McKlveen and Specialist Micaela Burke join host Christy Weeks to talk about two big projects: a long-awaited new park in Deerfield and major upgrades at Milton City Park and Preserve.
You’ll hear how community input, creative planning, and a lot of heart are shaping the future of recreation in our city. From ballfields to playgrounds to pool parties, this one’s packed with reasons to get outside and get involved.
You won't want to miss this one, it is packed full of information and of course includes your daily dose of laughter. It's Parks & Rec, how can you not?
Ready to get involved? Visit MiltonGA.gov and head to the Parks and Rec tab to discover upcoming events, register for programs, and stay connected with all the exciting developments happening in our parks. Your perfect "third place" is waiting!
With the community in mind, this podcast explores the stories, people, and initiatives that make our community unique. Each episode offers insights into local government, highlights Milton's history and future developments, and showcases the vibrant arts, culture, and sustainability efforts shaping our city. Join the conversation, celebrate our community, and discover how we're building a better Milton together.
Do you have an idea for an episode or would like to request a specific topic to be covered? Email Christy Weeks, christy.weeks@miltonga.gov
Learn more about the City of Milton at www.miltonga.gov.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Welcome to Milton and Maine, the official podcast for
the city of Milton.
We want to bring you closer tothe heart of our community
through stories that inform,inspire and connect.
Each episode offers abehind-the-scenes look at the
people, projects and prioritiesshaping Milton, covering
everything from local governmentand future development to arts,
culture, sustainability andpublic safety.
(00:28):
Whether you're a resident, alocal business owner or just
curious about our city, this isyour front row seat to what
makes Milton special.
Welcome back to Milton in Maine.
I'm your host, christy Weeks,the communications manager for
the city of Milton, and todaywe've got a great episode lined
up.
Joining me is someone who's nostranger to making things happen
in Milton, and not just regularthings, fun things.
(00:48):
I'm speaking, of course, of ourParks and Recreation Director,
tom McElveen, and whether you'veseen him at community events,
checking in on a youth programor walking a park or a trail,
tom plays a big role in helpingshape Milton's outdoor spaces,
as does our other guest we have,michaela Burke.
She is the Parks and RecreationSpecialist and I know for a
(01:08):
fact that she has her hands injust about all things park and
rec.
So thank you both for beinghere.
I'm really excited about thisand I know Tom is too.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Christy, thanks for having me.
It's going to be great.
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
It's going to be great, michaela, glad you could
be here.
So today's conversation couldgo just about anywhere and, to
be honest, with these two, itprobably will.
So we're just going to rollwith it.
But we're going to focus on acouple of exciting topics the
new active park plan for theDeerfield area and the updates
(01:44):
that are going on out at MCPP.
So all things are still in theearly stages, but there's a lot
of interest and a lot ofanticipation, so we'll dig into
what's being imagined, what'spossible and what's going to
happen next.
But first we are kicking thingsoff with a little game called
who Said what?
(02:06):
All right, yes, so I reached.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
I feel like Makayla already knows this was coming.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
No, I'm totally innocent.
I have no idea, you have noidea.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
So I reached out to your team and I can see you
trying to see my notes and Iknow you're tall and you can see
over everything.
Quit looking, I won't cheat,you're cheating.
And they gave me a few quotes,a couple of tidbits and some
behind the scenes gems.
So your job is to figure outwho said what.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
This will be easy.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Yeah, how well do you know your team?
All right, so the first one.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
We might need to edit this.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Maybe, maybe.
Let's see First one.
Short and sweet, I will saythat Matthew.
Yes, the next one.
Tom is the brother I never hadJen.
Ooh, good job, look at you.
Go this one For such a busy guy.
Tom always has time for hisstaff.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
My team, so I'm going to go with my team, your team
Dang it, you can hold off.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Hold off, let's listen to the next one.
This is a longer one, so you'vegot to pay attention.
My favorite fun fact about Tomis that he loves the feeling of
a low-grade fever.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Oh, this is Emily.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Being chilly but feeling warm under the covers
Weird fact, but it encapsulateseverything about Tom.
He's not afraid to say what hisfavorite things are like really
, who likes the feeling of alow-grade fever?
And he's never afraid to do thelittle jobs.
Need someone to handle trash?
It's Tom.
Need someone to grabethanol-free gas?
(03:48):
It's Tom.
Need someone to go to lunchwith?
It's Tom, which PS is hisfavorite meal of the day and,
while still a leader, he'salways available when you need
him, and he's an important partof the team.
Wasn't that lovely?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yeah, she's very infatuated with my low grade
fever thing.
Well, it is a little strangeshe talks about it all the time.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
I'm not going to lie that it is a little strange
because I hate a fever of anysort.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
The whole world's going to think I'm strange.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Well, you know, at least those here in Milton.
Well, you are, you're so go, go, go.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
I feel like maybe, if you get sick and you have an
excuse to like, take it easymaybe is that what you like, I
don't know, cause you're so busy.
Yeah, that's it, that's it,that's it.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Here we go.
Now I do have a couple ofextras.
Here's a quote provided by oneof your team members.
Taking on a challenge is a lotlike riding a horse, isn't it?
If you're comfortable whileyou're doing it, you're probably
doing it wrong, ted Lasso.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
I have no idea on this one.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Who provided that quote?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, I'll go, thomas , on that one.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Nope Jen.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Jen.
I was going to say Jen.
I already said Jen, though.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
And here's one from the mouth of babes, which is
only appropriate for a Parks andRec person.
Only appropriate for a Parksand Rec person.
He's getting so irritated withme.
He's like I'm so over this.
No, just that, I got too wrong.
The question was asked did youknow it's Mr Tom's birthday on
Thursday?
How old do you think he is?
Speaker 2 (05:20):
And the kiddo replied 61.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Oh, that had to be Max.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
That was Max.
That's my seven-year-old.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
I got a kick out of that one because we're going to
leave my age out of this.
So the other one.
Do you want to take a guess?
Say it again, I'll try one moretime For such a busy guy.
Tom always has time for hisstaff.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
I mean, it's true.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
It is true, they all say it.
And for this I feel, I feellike it is so obvious just by
the demeanor of it, Thomas.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Thomas, that was really fun for me.
Thank, you?
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Did you have to?
Did you send out an email toeveryone to give you the
questions she did?
Speaker 1 (05:58):
I did, you can blame me.
So, with all that, let's getinto the parks, let's talk about
some things.
So I'm going to let you give usa little history, short, on
Deerfield and what's coming andwhere we're at right now.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Well, I'm going to start by saying I'm not going to
give too much away.
This Thursday, at the Parks andRec Advisory Board meeting, we
are going to be revealing somefinal master concepts for the
park that are going toincorporate everything that
we've seen and heard from thepublic.
But that property was acquiredand was slated for the active
(06:33):
park.
It's a very unique shape, theway that the property is laid
out.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
So tell me again how many acres, 23 in all.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Two transactions, nice, two pieces of property, so
we are kind of limited on wherethings can go based upon the
shape of it.
However, there's still so manyoptions available to what we can
do with some of the other areasoutside of what we've
identified as the real need forthis park which is the baseball
slash, softball fields and themultipurpose rectangles that
(07:03):
we're going to put out there.
But then there was a lot ofinput from the community,
stakeholders to you know, help,guide us to.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
How many of those sessions did you guys hold?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
We had two public meetings, we had online surveys,
and then we've had parks andrec board meetings as well,
which I would count as publicopportunities as well, and you
had a lot of great response fromthose.
Yes, we did.
We even had public comment atcouncil meetings too.
That's awesome.
So we feel like we gotwell-rounded results out of all
those different methods ofgathering information.
(07:35):
Now we're kind of in the finalstage here of releasing what the
park really could look like.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
It goes into pretty good detail.
We have exact number of parkingspots it could have if parks
and rec advisory board andcouncil would approve this plan.
It goes down to that level ofdetail.
So we haven't seen that yet.
We've had estimates on parkingand how high we think walls
could be in different areas,things like that.
But it's every step of the wayit gets more and more real and
we get real tighter informationon what it could look like.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
It's really exciting from this side.
I was going to say that's gotto be really cool to take a
concept that you know thecommunity needs and be able to
inch your way through creatingthis vision and making it start
to come to life.
I think that's super cool.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Yeah, yeah, our community is so engaged and we
got great input in the publicmeetings even.
Um, sometimes, you know, youdon't really know what to expect
, but we had good turnout inboth of them, and it was wide
varieties too, it wasn't justone group or supportive, you
know.
Oh yeah, you know we're going tocome out and we're going to
(08:44):
push for this splash pad andwe're going to have a hundred
people show up.
There was a wide variety and itwas great to see that the
community cared so much.
We got an online.
Results were really good.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
And you had to sort through all those.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we did, we did, and thankfully we
have great consultants that helpwith that and kind of pump out
all the information to us for usto look and see, and so you
know what was reflected is inthe plans.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
That's awesome and that comes out Thursday, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Yes, and I think the community is going to be happy
to see what it looks like.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
So I do kind of have a question, just because I'm
relatively new out on this sideand sorry folks who have
listened to me blather on aboutthis in every single podcast,
about how new I am to the city.
It's true, and until they hiresomebody after, me, I'm still
the new person.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Is that the rule?
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Apparently, until you stop saying it.
(10:00):
What triggered it?
I know fields were busy, I knowwe're packed to the brim on a
lot of things, but thisparticular location, was it
because?
Speaker 2 (10:11):
this was a great location mainly due to the
density in that area and there'sreally no active park over on
that deer field side of townwhere we have really it is our
greatest density in the wholecity Bell Memorial Park.
While it's not far from there,it's not in Deerfield.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
And it's busy.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Bell Memorial.
Yeah, oh, absolutely,absolutely, no matter where this
park got put both are going tobe busy, correct?
But just due to the locationand how many people can now walk
to this park from their house,it was a no brainer and we're
going to get more foot trafficthrough this park probably than
any of our parks we have justfrom folks.
I mean even Freedom Park.
You know, I go to Freedom Park.
I always see a couple of peoplethat pass through Freedom.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
I really like that park.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Yeah, well, now that there's all these other
amenities at this parkplayground fields.
There is going to be a trailloop there that's going to
generate some use.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
You betcha and with that being paired with
destination deer field in thesame yeah, it will, it's an idea
benefit that side of thecommunity.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
You bet so much more yep, yep and now and now the
destination deer field, you know, can plan around what this park
has.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
Right.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
To round out the other features, if we're talking
parks, yeah.
In that plan there's going tobe, you know, small pocket parks
and things like that.
So now we can kind of shapewhat those look like based upon
what this park has.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
And parks are so important.
And I still cling to the onecomment that Emily made in our
very first podcast that we alldid together, when she started
talking about the third place.
Everybody's got that thirdplace.
It's not home, it's not work,it's that third place in your
life, that where you spend yourtime and for so many parents I
mean your life is driven.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
My personal life is driven by spending Monday
through Thursday at a park.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Yeah, yeah, your kids are that age Me too.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Yeah, monday, wednesday till 630 and Tuesday,
thursday till eight.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Yeah, that's.
That's a lot.
I do remember that I miss thosedays at the park.
I mean I suppose I could go anddrop in on y'all and go, hey,
I'm here to enjoy your kids atthe at the park, but it sounds a
little creepy if you ask me.
So what else do you want totell us about that park, as as
to what's going on and whathappens after we go through
Thursday?
Speaker 2 (12:37):
So Thursday we will hopefully get the guidance we
need from the Parks and RecAdvisory Board, then we'll tee
it up to council for them toalso approve that plan and then
the next step after that wouldbe going into contract for
construction documents,something that we can physically
bid out to build the park.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
And in the perfect world, if I can ask, what's a
timeline like that look like.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
If I can ask, what's a timeline like that look like
To get the contract put together?
We're probably looking at ninemonths, six to nine months for
doing the construction documentsand then another 12 to 16
months to construct the park.
There's a lot of earth thatneeds to be moved for this
project.
The topography is there's a lotof drop from one side of the
(13:24):
park to the other.
It can be done.
It's just a little more complexthan your typical park for
fields would be a lot of treesout in that area.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the propertyis very treed.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Yes, pretty typical georgia.
Y'all have a lot of trees outhere.
I mean I love them, but you doCool, you got anything you want
to drop in that, Michaela.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
I'm just looking forward to it, because my kids
are in sports and then it'll beso nice to oh, take them to
their practice or game.
Fill up the car, grab dinner,drop into Target for the 80
things I feel like I have to buyevery week.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Target is great for that Cool.
What else we got going on withthe park?
Anything that we need to knowabout at this point?
Or is there just more comingour way?
Speaker 2 (14:07):
More coming our way.
We are definitely, I'm morecomfortable at this point
pushing the concepts forward.
Yeah, we do have an agreementin place with one of the
neighboring properties to helpus with the parking shortages
that we have now, oh, right on.
A little sneak peek forThursday Some of that shortage
of parking is solved within theplan, which is great, but we do
(14:27):
have an agreement that we'll begoing in front of council in the
next couple of meetings thatwill relieve that parking
concern that we had.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Was there a part of this process that you hard to
say that you enjoy puttingtogether the things like this,
but I mean there had to havebeen something really cool about
this project that got you allexcited, just besides the need.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
It was the need, though.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
It really was.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
We've had.
We've had the master plan in2017, said that this park was
needed in 2017.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Oh wow.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
So the fact that you know the land and the right
location was identified and wewere able to pull the trigger on
it and put the park there.
That's what got me all giddyinside Like, oh my gosh, this is
going to happen.
You know, I've been with thecity since 2015.
You know this was a long timecoming.
Now I'm also excited at theprospect of pickleball being in
Milton.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Pickleball yeah, Are you a pickleball player?
I'm good at pickleball onlybecause of my length.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
I was going to say you're like um and I was, and I
was a tennis player as a as akid, and I played through
college.
But cause you're not, not, notas a collegiate athlete but I
played while I was in college.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
You're six, five, yeah, our digits are completely
opposite.
I'm literally five, six alittle vertically challenged
over here.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Yeah, so I'm a much better pickleball player now
than I am a tennis player, justdue to the fact that I don't
have to move as much.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
My arms can cover like the whole field, without
the whole court without evenlike taking but two steps.
Tom's reading his text on onehand and he's hitting the ball
with the other Oops.
Christy would be running oneside running to the other side.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Have you played pickleball?
Speaker 1 (16:12):
No, why not?
It seems like a team sport itdoesn't have to be first of all.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
I can play pickleball by myself.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Oh well, you have to play with somebody, okay, I can
play pickleball by myself.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Oh well, you have to play with somebody, okay.
Okay, well, tom can teach ushow to play.
When this new park is built,then.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Listen, I chose independent sports coming up.
I mean cheer is technically anindependent sport.
I mean you are relying uponyour team for certain things,
but overall it just terrified mebecause I never wanted to let
anybody down Like worstvolleyball player on the planet.
Badminton, not my thing, I dosuck at ping pong.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
I do suck at ping pong, you might not have a lot
of hope in pickleball yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
I'm guessing that's not my sport, because I've never
played tennis.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Well then she can cheer us on on the sideline and
then we can play and you canbeat me, since you have a really
long wingspan and I don't.
Let's shrink the court.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
And tie one of Tom's hands behind his back.
I don't need both.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
We'll do an employee appreciation event.
Oh yeah, we'll do a uh employee.
We'll do an employeeappreciation event.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Oh yeah, we'll do a tournament trying to eliminate
me right off the top, aren't you?
Let me tell you at the olympicsthing that y'all did when I was
brand new to the city and I hadto jump rope in front of
everybody, I killed it I mean, Icould jump rope.
I don't even know who won that,but I was a little upset.
It wasn't me.
But anyway, another one ofthose fun Parks and Rec things
(17:54):
that we do.
What do we got going on over atMCPP.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
We won a grant for $500,000, and we are going to
redo the parking lot and put inmore parking spots.
We have four tennis courts andwe will have six new tennis
courts and then we will have aplayground behind the building.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Right on, so we have a cool grant going on.
Any other details?
The playground, big, one littleone.
What are we looking at?
Speaker 2 (18:21):
I guess you're looking at me now.
It's going to be small.
It's just going to accommodateour summer camp and give them
another activity to do, and thefamilies that go to the pool
there's really not room backthere and we really don't want
to get rid of that view shedwhen you look out the back patio
and see that meadow back there,so we don't want to take away
from that.
(18:41):
We get a lot, lot of rentalsthere and I know that view is
part of it, part of the reasonyou would want to utilize that
space, but, that being said,it's still a spot to have a
playground and it woulddefinitely get utilization.
It would be in the.
It is going to be in the backof the building, but it's really
the only spot we have.
The back of the building,meaning Behind the like,
essentially behind the pool, solike if you're looking at the
(19:02):
back doors to the right oh, Igotcha yeah okay, I gotcha yeah
well, that's cool.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
You guys have a lot of programming going on out
there and y'all are gettingready to come into summer season
, where the entire parks and recfloor is going to be vacant up
here because y'all are going tobe other places.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
So yeah, yeah, the summertime is our wild time
really, in parks and recreation.
Your break time is maybe a weekduring the holidays, yeah, and
then you transition from oneseason to another season to
another.
We just wrapped up our spring.
Well, we were supposed to wrapup spring baseball this past
weekend, oh, canceled.
Yeah, well, we got arespectable amount of games in
(19:43):
before the rain just finallytook the fields out of
commission, but they, I thinkabout one o'clock is when we
called the game.
So half of our championshipsare over.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
I'm about done with the rain now.
We can switch.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
I don't even know why the sun's out right now.
It's kind of weird.
Shh, leave it alone.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
Sorry, I like it.
Okay, I like it.
This is all kind of coolbecause, if I remember correctly
, when we first chatted, y'alltold me that up until about two
years ago, it was literally justyou and Thomas.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
It was me and Thomas.
In 2020 and in 2021, aboutsummertime, we became three and
then we were three for a longtime.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
So just until a couple of years ago, we were
three then me and thomas and meand thomas did it ourselves and
prior to thomas, it was just toalso me and the previous
director.
So when I was researching stuffon milton's website before um I
came in for my interview and Iwas looking at the parks and rec
page and it just had tom andthomas.
I was oh, I was just assuming,there was like an army of, like
(20:47):
you know, other people orpart-time yeah, underneath them.
When I came in for my interviewand Tom was like no, it's just
us two, I was flabbergasted,like you guys do all this stuff
with two people.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
You all have expanded the programming.
I mean that's true, yep.
Hand over fist.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Yes, you know what I mean.
Every year we get increases inour participation.
It has not declined once.
I love that, and you guys justare wrapping up.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
as we're kind of closing this conversation out, I
think it's really important tolet everybody know that y'all
are wrapping up the activitiesguide for fall and winter and
that's coming out this month.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
This month yes for sure.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
So if you're interested, if you haven't
already snagged thespring-summer one, which is
available on the websitewwwmiltongagov, under the Parks
and Rec tab, you will find allthe good stuff going on, because
the amount of programs and coolstuff, everything from rafting
camps, fishing camps, we've got.
(21:51):
Michaela runs the book clubMahjong.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
You guys really read a book a month.
My goal every year is to readone book a week.
I never meet that goal, maybewhen my kids are older, you have
children.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
I was looking to get my teeth brushed, let alone read
books, lord.
So Toddler Tuesday, everyTuesday-ish.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
We'll bring it back August 12th.
That's when we start for thenext school year.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
That's awesome.
The cutest photos came out ofthe Earth Day one.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
That was really cute.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
Y'all did some good programming for that.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
That was a good Toddler Tuesday.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Love that.
And then Mahjong, and then, ifyou're looking for exercise,
there's yoga.
We've now got romans kicks andtricks that's very cool.
I'm excited about that onenon-contact martial arts well,
you know what?
I will tell you a little secret.
(22:52):
I used to take kickboxing class.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
And.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
I used to teach like a turbo kickboxing class, which
is non-contact, but I used totake an actual kickboxing class
from my son's wrestling coach athis gym when we were in
California.
It was Mark Munoz.
He was the Filipino wreckingmachine in the UFC Amazing
fighter, one of the nicest guysyou will ever meet in your life.
(23:17):
So it is contact.
And I am holding pads for thisvery petite, pretty blonde and I
have my pads up guarding myface and she's supposed to punch
them.
Well, I didn't realize she wasgoing to hit that hard and it
popped back and caught me in thenose before I had a family
(23:37):
reunion type thing.
So I roll in, I got a big oldblack eye.
It's like, yeah, this cutelittle blonde did it to me.
I couldn't even go.
Oh, you should see her.
It wasn't even like that.
I was so humiliated.
And she's like, oh, I'm sosorry.
It's like it's fun, though I dolike kickboxing, it's a great
sport, one of those things.
(24:00):
What else do we have?
I think we have water aerobicsthis summer.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
We are working on it.
We're working on getting wateraerobics at the pool.
We are.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Cool.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
The pool is opening.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
What's the day?
Memorial Day, weekend dayweekend.
That saturday do we have anevent?
Speaker 3 (24:19):
going on at the pool?
Sure do, christy.
We have opening day.
Uh, the pool opens at 11 am andthat's when the event kicks off
.
It's from 11 am to 2 pm.
We'll have two inflatable waterslides.
Kid create, one of our programproviders will be there with a
craft table.
Yeah, uh, play well.
Technologies is another programproviders.
We'll be there with a crafttable.
Yeah, playwell Technologies isanother program provider and
they'll be there with Legos.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
I love all their themes that they come up with.
Yeah, that's awesome.
I would hate to be the one tohave to clean up all those Legos
.
Yeah, cause you know I'm goingto step on them.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
I'll have the toddler Tuesday toys out.
We'll have hamburgers on thegrill.
Fun, a DJ at the pool.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Is there registration for any of this, or is this
open?
Just show up, just show up.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
No charge.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
Ooh, that's great.
Everything except, oh, Kona Icewill be there from noon to two.
That's the only thing that youwould have to pay for.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Cool, everybody likes Kona Ice.
What else?
Speaker 2 (25:10):
we got.
I always give my kids a hardtime about Kona ice.
I'm like it's just sugar andwater.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
Right, exactly, I'll make you some at home.
I got some vanilla extract.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
You know, I bought one of those like the cranks for
the ice, and I did it one timefor my kid's birthday party
because I was trying to savemoney.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
And then I was like you know what.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
I still have it somewhere, but I don't know.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Fun fact about Michaela she is literally the
best baker.
So if there's anybody aroundhere and she has cooked more
personal cakes and cookies andthings for people's birthday,
even mine- Awesome, and thecoolest thing about it is she's
not afraid to do something she'snever done before for your
(25:59):
birthday.
Are you looking at?
Are you looking at me?
Because I won't play pickleball, Cause I'm afraid to play
pickleball.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
I feel like that was directed.
I'm just saying, oh, I likethis very weird obscure dessert.
She'll be like, okay, I'll makeit, and she's never made it
before, and then it turns outamazing.
That's awesome, you know a lotof people like have their one
special thing and they can bakeit up and it's great every time.
Well, it doesn't matter.
With Michaela she can just doanything.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
I attempt.
I have no patience for cooking,though.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Oh me neither.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
My husband's a cook, I'll bake.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
And there is a difference between cooking and
baking.
Yeah, a hundred percent.
Yeah, like I'm a terrible cook,but I used to be able to bake
when I wanted, all that stuff inmy house when my kids were
around.
And now they're not around andnobody eats it, and then I eat
it and it's a whole thing, andthen I have to play pickleball
to balance things out and Idon't play pickleball, well,
ball.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
So we'll then just come to water aerobics then.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Oh, it sounds like it's an individual sport but I'm
not sure We'll think about that.
I'll come, I'll get back to youon that one.
So anything else you guys wantto throw in there that everybody
needs to know that's going on.
If I can tell you anything,take a look at the website.
Go over to the parks and rectab and if you're interested in
(27:13):
any programs, if you go down tothe register for a program tab
underneath Parks and Rec, youare going to get transferred
over to something called CivicRec where everything is.
You can pick your tab if you'relooking for arts or sports or
camps.
It's all there.
Take a look, because there isliterally something for everyone
(27:37):
.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
That's true.
That's true Even.
Even our program providers thatare take the registration
outside of Civic Rec.
There's still a link to get youto their website and see what
they've got to offer.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
Yes, for sure.
So take a look at it.
It could be a great summer.
Keep your kids busy, keepyourself busy, if you're looking
for something like that.
But head on over www.
I'll say it again MiltonGAgov,check out our Parks and Rec
Department, because when I tellyou they're awesome, they
literally are, and they do somuch.
Speaker 3 (28:07):
We know we're awesome , Christy.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
I know I don't know why I had to throw that in there
, but I felt like it was my duty.
I don't know why I had to throwthat in there, but I felt like
it was my duty.
But yeah, no, it's.
It's fun sharing a floor withy'all.
They allow me to sit in ontheir meetings and chime in when
I have nothing to really input.
Speaker 3 (28:23):
But we'll have the time where, like, oh my gosh, we
have to remember to tellcommunications this or that, and
then it's convenient.
Hey, christie, oh yeah.
I'm sitting there.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
We are really rude and we do our staff meetings in
this open space that's about 10feet from Christy's desk.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
I'll hear my name.
What?
Speaker 2 (28:41):
She'll hear her name and she'll like slide back in
her chair and look over and belike do you want to join us?
Speaker 1 (28:48):
And half the time she's like okay, well, you know,
I do get to contribute a littlebit and help with some flyers
and signs.
Which is the very cool partabout my job is getting to do
that stuff.
So I do appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
Does that mean that you want us to send you more?
No, I'm good, I'm just curious.
I'm good.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Matthew has me busy until like next.
July seriously with all hisprograms, but it's really a
great opportunity for me andit's fun.
I mean, you never not laugh.
So while we're talking aboutParks and Rec, I will go ahead
and push out there that we dohave a Wildlife 101 webinar
(29:28):
coming up y'all this week.
We had Yesterday's which was onfrogs.
If you want to see the frog one, go ahead head over to the
website.
It is there.
You can view it for free atyour leisure.
The webinar for June is bears.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
There's going to be some interesting facts about
bears that come out.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
I just I love bears, the frogs.
Frogs are amazing.
I find them hilarious, I don'tknow why, because there's always
a little tree frog that snugsup on my window, so then you get
to see the bottom of his feet.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
I'll make sure I get one on my kitchen window and
I'll just eat it while I'mwashing dishes.
It drives my cat nuts.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
He's like I just want the frog.
But yeah, we've got bearscoming up.
I cannot recall at this momentwhat July is, but August will be
.
Albeit it's not wildlife, it isvery fascinating and it is
about mushrooms, and we havesome previous webinars also
listed on our website If you'reinterested in any of them.
All very interestinginformation and fun.
(30:27):
So there's my parks and recpush.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
This was fun too.
Speaker 1 (30:32):
See, I told you, I told you it was fun, I had to
convince him.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
I like to make her nervous.
You are the last person thatmakes me nervous Like she's like
oh God, why are you have such astraight face, tom?
Speaker 1 (30:46):
Oh, he did.
He came in here he looked justbaffled and I was like oh Lord,
now I got to get him talking andhe was fine.
But I do remember.
I think I said this in theinterview.
I just remember laughingbecause Tom was sitting to my
left in my interview.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
Yes, I was.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
And I'm not sure at this point, if the HR person at
that time said your last name,right, and you were like sure,
yeah.
And I was like are you surethat's your name?
And I was like what made methink that was funny in my
interview?
I left there going, oh, christy, in your mouth.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
Anytime I'm in my car and he calls me, it says it's
from Tom McElveen.
I like it, cracks me up.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
Well, there are a lot of consonants.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Five in a row.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Someone did not know how to spell someone as soon as
you said that, I started likecounting in my head.
Is that even legal?
Someone got off the boat andit's misspelled it, and then
that's just what it was for therest of time, and now we have
tom mickleveen mcleven oh is itmcleven.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Mcleven is the most common miss it's mackElveen.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
Yes, okay, there's missing an A and like another E
or an I or something, but I gotit.
I did have to ask a few times,I'm not going to lie he finally
saw his new nameplate for hisoffice after a month.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
Oh, was that the?
Speaker 1 (32:08):
oh, that was the After I had.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
David change his nameplate as his April Fool's
little gag.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
And then he didn't notice.
Speaker 3 (32:16):
What did it say?
Speaker 2 (32:18):
What did it say, or what does it say what?
Speaker 1 (32:19):
does it say oh, is it still hanging?
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Huh.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
It's still up.
Yeah, I didn't change it.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
Well, it used to say King of Parks, and then she
changed it to the Mac Daddy ofParks, because at a Hall of Fame
fame ceremony.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
A council member called it, so that's what I
changed it to oh I'm gonna startaddressing you as that in all
my emails.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
Thank you for that mr mac daddy dear mac daddy, this
is how it's going every day fromnow on.
I'm just going to think ofthings to email you now, just
for fun.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
This conversation has turned parks and rec.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
It has, it has and it is on my left.
After attending y'all's lastmeeting, it is on my new watch
list that I do.
In order to understand 90% ofwhat y'all are talking about, I
have to watch parks and rec.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
The fun fact about me is I have not watched.
I mean, I've seen episodes hereand there, but I have not like
that is illegal.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
That is illegal to be in the way that parks and
recreation and have not watchedshow.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
I feel like it's a prerequisite that needs to be on
the job descriptions at thispoint.
But anyway, thanks so much forjoining me today.
It was a lot of fun, as I knewit would be, despite Tom's face
when he walked in and sat down,and I may share that picture
later on.
We'll never, you never knowwhen it'll pop up.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
Can that be like the podcast cover for today?
Oh, it can.
It absolutely can.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
That's a great idea.
I can work wonders with that,but I appreciate y'all being
here, thank you, christy, youbet.
Absolutely not the last timeyou'll be here, so stay tuned.
I will email you probablysooner than later.
Thanks so much for joining ustoday.
I appreciate y'all tuning inand listening to what's going on
around Milton and stay tuned,there's more coming your way.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
Have fun out there.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
Thanks for listening to Milton in Maine.
We hope this episode gave youfresh insights into what makes
our city so special.
Stay connected and don't missan episode by subscribing to
this podcast on your favoriteplatform and following us on
social media for all updates.
And following us on socialmedia for all updates.
And, of course, if you want tolearn more about the city, visit
(34:40):
us online at wwwmiltongagov forresources, news and upcoming
events.
Until next time, thanks forbeing part of the conversation
and we'll see you on the nextMilton in Maine.
Welcome to Milton and Maine, the official podcast for
the city of Milton.
We want to bring you closer tothe heart of our community
through stories that inform,inspire and connect.
Each episode offers abehind-the-scenes look at the
people, projects and prioritiesshaping Milton, covering
everything from local governmentand future development to arts,
culture, sustainability andpublic safety.
(00:28):
Whether you're a resident, alocal business owner or just
curious about our city, this isyour front row seat to what
makes Milton special.
Welcome back to Milton in Maine.
I'm your host, christy Weeks,the communications manager for
the city of Milton, and todaywe've got a great episode lined
up.
Joining me is someone who's nostranger to making things happen
in Milton, and not just regularthings, fun things.
(00:48):
I'm speaking, of course, of ourParks and Recreation Director,
tom McElveen, and whether you'veseen him at community events,
checking in on a youth programor walking a park or a trail,
tom plays a big role in helpingshape Milton's outdoor spaces,
as does our other guest we have,michaela Burke.
She is the Parks and RecreationSpecialist and I know for a
(01:08):
fact that she has her hands injust about all things park and
rec.
So thank you both for beinghere.
I'm really excited about thisand I know Tom is too.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Christy, thanks for having me.
It's going to be great.
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
It's going to be great, michaela, glad you could
be here.
So today's conversation couldgo just about anywhere and, to
be honest, with these two, itprobably will.
So we're just going to rollwith it.
But we're going to focus on acouple of exciting topics the
new active park plan for theDeerfield area and the updates
(01:44):
that are going on out at MCPP.
So all things are still in theearly stages, but there's a lot
of interest and a lot ofanticipation, so we'll dig into
what's being imagined, what'spossible and what's going to
happen next.
But first we are kicking thingsoff with a little game called
who Said what?
(02:06):
All right, yes, so I reached.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
I feel like Makayla already knows this was coming.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
No, I'm totally innocent.
I have no idea, you have noidea.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
So I reached out to your team and I can see you
trying to see my notes and Iknow you're tall and you can see
over everything.
Quit looking, I won't cheat,you're cheating.
And they gave me a few quotes,a couple of tidbits and some
behind the scenes gems.
So your job is to figure outwho said what.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
This will be easy.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Yeah, how well do you know your team?
All right, so the first one.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
We might need to edit this.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Maybe, maybe.
Let's see First one.
Short and sweet, I will saythat Matthew.
Yes, the next one.
Tom is the brother I never hadJen.
Ooh, good job, look at you.
Go this one For such a busy guy.
Tom always has time for hisstaff.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
My team, so I'm going to go with my team, your team
Dang it, you can hold off.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Hold off, let's listen to the next one.
This is a longer one, so you'vegot to pay attention.
My favorite fun fact about Tomis that he loves the feeling of
a low-grade fever.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Oh, this is Emily.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Being chilly but feeling warm under the covers
Weird fact, but it encapsulateseverything about Tom.
He's not afraid to say what hisfavorite things are like really
, who likes the feeling of alow-grade fever?
And he's never afraid to do thelittle jobs.
Need someone to handle trash?
It's Tom.
Need someone to grabethanol-free gas?
(03:48):
It's Tom.
Need someone to go to lunchwith?
It's Tom, which PS is hisfavorite meal of the day and,
while still a leader, he'salways available when you need
him, and he's an important partof the team.
Wasn't that lovely?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yeah, she's very infatuated with my low grade
fever thing.
Well, it is a little strangeshe talks about it all the time.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
I'm not going to lie that it is a little strange
because I hate a fever of anysort.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
The whole world's going to think I'm strange.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Well, you know, at least those here in Milton.
Well, you are, you're so go, go, go.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
I feel like maybe, if you get sick and you have an
excuse to like, take it easymaybe is that what you like, I
don't know, cause you're so busy.
Yeah, that's it, that's it,that's it.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Here we go.
Now I do have a couple ofextras.
Here's a quote provided by oneof your team members.
Taking on a challenge is a lotlike riding a horse, isn't it?
If you're comfortable whileyou're doing it, you're probably
doing it wrong, ted Lasso.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
I have no idea on this one.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Who provided that quote?
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, I'll go, thomas , on that one.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Nope Jen.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Jen.
I was going to say Jen.
I already said Jen, though.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
And here's one from the mouth of babes, which is
only appropriate for a Parks andRec person.
Only appropriate for a Parksand Rec person.
He's getting so irritated withme.
He's like I'm so over this.
No, just that, I got too wrong.
The question was asked did youknow it's Mr Tom's birthday on
Thursday?
How old do you think he is?
Speaker 2 (05:20):
And the kiddo replied 61.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Oh, that had to be Max.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
That was Max.
That's my seven-year-old.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
I got a kick out of that one because we're going to
leave my age out of this.
So the other one.
Do you want to take a guess?
Say it again, I'll try one moretime For such a busy guy.
Tom always has time for hisstaff.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
I mean, it's true.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
It is true, they all say it.
And for this I feel, I feellike it is so obvious just by
the demeanor of it, Thomas.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Thomas, that was really fun for me.
Thank, you?
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Did you have to?
Did you send out an email toeveryone to give you the
questions she did?
Speaker 1 (05:58):
I did, you can blame me.
So, with all that, let's getinto the parks, let's talk about
some things.
So I'm going to let you give usa little history, short, on
Deerfield and what's coming andwhere we're at right now.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Well, I'm going to start by saying I'm not going to
give too much away.
This Thursday, at the Parks andRec Advisory Board meeting, we
are going to be revealing somefinal master concepts for the
park that are going toincorporate everything that
we've seen and heard from thepublic.
But that property was acquiredand was slated for the active
(06:33):
park.
It's a very unique shape, theway that the property is laid
out.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
So tell me again how many acres, 23 in all.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Two transactions, nice, two pieces of property, so
we are kind of limited on wherethings can go based upon the
shape of it.
However, there's still so manyoptions available to what we can
do with some of the other areasoutside of what we've
identified as the real need forthis park which is the baseball
slash, softball fields and themultipurpose rectangles that
(07:03):
we're going to put out there.
But then there was a lot ofinput from the community,
stakeholders to you know, help,guide us to.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
How many of those sessions did you guys hold?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
We had two public meetings, we had online surveys,
and then we've had parks andrec board meetings as well,
which I would count as publicopportunities as well, and you
had a lot of great response fromthose.
Yes, we did.
We even had public comment atcouncil meetings too.
That's awesome.
So we feel like we gotwell-rounded results out of all
those different methods ofgathering information.
(07:35):
Now we're kind of in the finalstage here of releasing what the
park really could look like.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
It goes into pretty good detail.
We have exact number of parkingspots it could have if parks
and rec advisory board andcouncil would approve this plan.
It goes down to that level ofdetail.
So we haven't seen that yet.
We've had estimates on parkingand how high we think walls
could be in different areas,things like that.
But it's every step of the wayit gets more and more real and
we get real tighter informationon what it could look like.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
It's really exciting from this side.
I was going to say that's gotto be really cool to take a
concept that you know thecommunity needs and be able to
inch your way through creatingthis vision and making it start
to come to life.
I think that's super cool.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Yeah, yeah, our community is so engaged and we
got great input in the publicmeetings even.
Um, sometimes, you know, youdon't really know what to expect
, but we had good turnout inboth of them, and it was wide
varieties too, it wasn't justone group or supportive, you
know.
Oh yeah, you know we're going tocome out and we're going to
(08:44):
push for this splash pad andwe're going to have a hundred
people show up.
There was a wide variety and itwas great to see that the
community cared so much.
We got an online.
Results were really good.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
And you had to sort through all those.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we did, we did, and thankfully we
have great consultants that helpwith that and kind of pump out
all the information to us for usto look and see, and so you
know what was reflected is inthe plans.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
That's awesome and that comes out Thursday, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Yes, and I think the community is going to be happy
to see what it looks like.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
So I do kind of have a question, just because I'm
relatively new out on this sideand sorry folks who have
listened to me blather on aboutthis in every single podcast,
about how new I am to the city.
It's true, and until they hiresomebody after, me, I'm still
the new person.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Is that the rule?
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Apparently, until you stop saying it.
(10:00):
What triggered it?
I know fields were busy, I knowwe're packed to the brim on a
lot of things, but thisparticular location, was it
because?
Speaker 2 (10:11):
this was a great location mainly due to the
density in that area and there'sreally no active park over on
that deer field side of townwhere we have really it is our
greatest density in the wholecity Bell Memorial Park.
While it's not far from there,it's not in Deerfield.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
And it's busy.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Bell Memorial.
Yeah, oh, absolutely,absolutely, no matter where this
park got put both are going tobe busy, correct?
But just due to the locationand how many people can now walk
to this park from their house,it was a no brainer and we're
going to get more foot trafficthrough this park probably than
any of our parks we have justfrom folks.
I mean even Freedom Park.
You know, I go to Freedom Park.
I always see a couple of peoplethat pass through Freedom.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
I really like that park.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Yeah, well, now that there's all these other
amenities at this parkplayground fields.
There is going to be a trailloop there that's going to
generate some use.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
You betcha and with that being paired with
destination deer field in thesame yeah, it will, it's an idea
benefit that side of thecommunity.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
You bet so much more yep, yep and now and now the
destination deer field, you know, can plan around what this park
has.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
Right.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
To round out the other features, if we're talking
parks, yeah.
In that plan there's going tobe, you know, small pocket parks
and things like that.
So now we can kind of shapewhat those look like based upon
what this park has.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
And parks are so important.
And I still cling to the onecomment that Emily made in our
very first podcast that we alldid together, when she started
talking about the third place.
Everybody's got that thirdplace.
It's not home, it's not work,it's that third place in your
life, that where you spend yourtime and for so many parents I
mean your life is driven.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
My personal life is driven by spending Monday
through Thursday at a park.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Yeah, yeah, your kids are that age Me too.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Yeah, monday, wednesday till 630 and Tuesday,
thursday till eight.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Yeah, that's.
That's a lot.
I do remember that I miss thosedays at the park.
I mean I suppose I could go anddrop in on y'all and go, hey,
I'm here to enjoy your kids atthe at the park, but it sounds a
little creepy if you ask me.
So what else do you want totell us about that park, as as
to what's going on and whathappens after we go through
Thursday?
Speaker 2 (12:37):
So Thursday we will hopefully get the guidance we
need from the Parks and RecAdvisory Board, then we'll tee
it up to council for them toalso approve that plan and then
the next step after that wouldbe going into contract for
construction documents,something that we can physically
bid out to build the park.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
And in the perfect world, if I can ask, what's a
timeline like that look like.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
If I can ask, what's a timeline like that look like
To get the contract put together?
We're probably looking at ninemonths, six to nine months for
doing the construction documentsand then another 12 to 16
months to construct the park.
There's a lot of earth thatneeds to be moved for this
project.
The topography is there's a lotof drop from one side of the
(13:24):
park to the other.
It can be done.
It's just a little more complexthan your typical park for
fields would be a lot of treesout in that area.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the propertyis very treed.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Yes, pretty typical georgia.
Y'all have a lot of trees outhere.
I mean I love them, but you doCool, you got anything you want
to drop in that, Michaela.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
I'm just looking forward to it, because my kids
are in sports and then it'll beso nice to oh, take them to
their practice or game.
Fill up the car, grab dinner,drop into Target for the 80
things I feel like I have to buyevery week.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Target is great for that Cool.
What else we got going on withthe park?
Anything that we need to knowabout at this point?
Or is there just more comingour way?
Speaker 2 (14:07):
More coming our way.
We are definitely, I'm morecomfortable at this point
pushing the concepts forward.
Yeah, we do have an agreementin place with one of the
neighboring properties to helpus with the parking shortages
that we have now, oh, right on.
A little sneak peek forThursday Some of that shortage
of parking is solved within theplan, which is great, but we do
(14:27):
have an agreement that we'll begoing in front of council in the
next couple of meetings thatwill relieve that parking
concern that we had.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Was there a part of this process that you hard to
say that you enjoy puttingtogether the things like this,
but I mean there had to havebeen something really cool about
this project that got you allexcited, just besides the need.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
It was the need, though.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
It really was.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
We've had.
We've had the master plan in2017, said that this park was
needed in 2017.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Oh wow.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
So the fact that you know the land and the right
location was identified and wewere able to pull the trigger on
it and put the park there.
That's what got me all giddyinside Like, oh my gosh, this is
going to happen.
You know, I've been with thecity since 2015.
You know this was a long timecoming.
Now I'm also excited at theprospect of pickleball being in
Milton.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Pickleball yeah, Are you a pickleball player?
I'm good at pickleball onlybecause of my length.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
I was going to say you're like um and I was, and I
was a tennis player as a as akid, and I played through
college.
But cause you're not, not, notas a collegiate athlete but I
played while I was in college.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
You're six, five, yeah, our digits are completely
opposite.
I'm literally five, six alittle vertically challenged
over here.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Yeah, so I'm a much better pickleball player now
than I am a tennis player, justdue to the fact that I don't
have to move as much.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
My arms can cover like the whole field, without
the whole court without evenlike taking but two steps.
Tom's reading his text on onehand and he's hitting the ball
with the other Oops.
Christy would be running oneside running to the other side.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Have you played pickleball?
Speaker 1 (16:12):
No, why not?
It seems like a team sport itdoesn't have to be first of all.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
I can play pickleball by myself.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Oh well, you have to play with somebody, okay, I can
play pickleball by myself.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Oh well, you have to play with somebody, okay.
Okay, well, tom can teach ushow to play.
When this new park is built,then.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Listen, I chose independent sports coming up.
I mean cheer is technically anindependent sport.
I mean you are relying uponyour team for certain things,
but overall it just terrified mebecause I never wanted to let
anybody down Like worstvolleyball player on the planet.
Badminton, not my thing, I dosuck at ping pong.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
I do suck at ping pong, you might not have a lot
of hope in pickleball yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
I'm guessing that's not my sport, because I've never
played tennis.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Well then she can cheer us on on the sideline and
then we can play and you canbeat me, since you have a really
long wingspan and I don't.
Let's shrink the court.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
And tie one of Tom's hands behind his back.
I don't need both.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
We'll do an employee appreciation event.
Oh yeah, we'll do a uh employee.
We'll do an employeeappreciation event.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Oh yeah, we'll do a tournament trying to eliminate
me right off the top, aren't you?
Let me tell you at the olympicsthing that y'all did when I was
brand new to the city and I hadto jump rope in front of
everybody, I killed it I mean, Icould jump rope.
I don't even know who won that,but I was a little upset.
It wasn't me.
But anyway, another one ofthose fun Parks and Rec things
(17:54):
that we do.
What do we got going on over atMCPP.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
We won a grant for $500,000, and we are going to
redo the parking lot and put inmore parking spots.
We have four tennis courts andwe will have six new tennis
courts and then we will have aplayground behind the building.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Right on, so we have a cool grant going on.
Any other details?
The playground, big, one littleone.
What are we looking at?
Speaker 2 (18:21):
I guess you're looking at me now.
It's going to be small.
It's just going to accommodateour summer camp and give them
another activity to do, and thefamilies that go to the pool
there's really not room backthere and we really don't want
to get rid of that view shedwhen you look out the back patio
and see that meadow back there,so we don't want to take away
from that.
(18:41):
We get a lot, lot of rentalsthere and I know that view is
part of it, part of the reasonyou would want to utilize that
space, but, that being said,it's still a spot to have a
playground and it woulddefinitely get utilization.
It would be in the.
It is going to be in the backof the building, but it's really
the only spot we have.
The back of the building,meaning Behind the like,
essentially behind the pool, solike if you're looking at the
(19:02):
back doors to the right oh, Igotcha yeah okay, I gotcha yeah
well, that's cool.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
You guys have a lot of programming going on out
there and y'all are gettingready to come into summer season
, where the entire parks and recfloor is going to be vacant up
here because y'all are going tobe other places.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
So yeah, yeah, the summertime is our wild time
really, in parks and recreation.
Your break time is maybe a weekduring the holidays, yeah, and
then you transition from oneseason to another season to
another.
We just wrapped up our spring.
Well, we were supposed to wrapup spring baseball this past
weekend, oh, canceled.
Yeah, well, we got arespectable amount of games in
(19:43):
before the rain just finallytook the fields out of
commission, but they, I thinkabout one o'clock is when we
called the game.
So half of our championshipsare over.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
I'm about done with the rain now.
We can switch.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
I don't even know why the sun's out right now.
It's kind of weird.
Shh, leave it alone.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
Sorry, I like it.
Okay, I like it.
This is all kind of coolbecause, if I remember correctly
, when we first chatted, y'alltold me that up until about two
years ago, it was literally justyou and Thomas.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
It was me and Thomas.
In 2020 and in 2021, aboutsummertime, we became three and
then we were three for a longtime.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
So just until a couple of years ago, we were
three then me and thomas and meand thomas did it ourselves and
prior to thomas, it was just toalso me and the previous
director.
So when I was researching stuffon milton's website before um I
came in for my interview and Iwas looking at the parks and rec
page and it just had tom andthomas.
I was oh, I was just assuming,there was like an army of, like
(20:47):
you know, other people orpart-time yeah, underneath them.
When I came in for my interviewand Tom was like no, it's just
us two, I was flabbergasted,like you guys do all this stuff
with two people.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
You all have expanded the programming.
I mean that's true, yep.
Hand over fist.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Yes, you know what I mean.
Every year we get increases inour participation.
It has not declined once.
I love that, and you guys justare wrapping up.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
as we're kind of closing this conversation out, I
think it's really important tolet everybody know that y'all
are wrapping up the activitiesguide for fall and winter and
that's coming out this month.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
This month yes for sure.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
So if you're interested, if you haven't
already snagged thespring-summer one, which is
available on the websitewwwmiltongagov, under the Parks
and Rec tab, you will find allthe good stuff going on, because
the amount of programs and coolstuff, everything from rafting
camps, fishing camps, we've got.
(21:51):
Michaela runs the book clubMahjong.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
You guys really read a book a month.
My goal every year is to readone book a week.
I never meet that goal, maybewhen my kids are older, you have
children.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
I was looking to get my teeth brushed, let alone read
books, lord.
So Toddler Tuesday, everyTuesday-ish.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
We'll bring it back August 12th.
That's when we start for thenext school year.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
That's awesome.
The cutest photos came out ofthe Earth Day one.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
That was really cute.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
Y'all did some good programming for that.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
That was a good Toddler Tuesday.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Love that.
And then Mahjong, and then, ifyou're looking for exercise,
there's yoga.
We've now got romans kicks andtricks that's very cool.
I'm excited about that onenon-contact martial arts well,
you know what?
I will tell you a little secret.
(22:52):
I used to take kickboxing class.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
And.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
I used to teach like a turbo kickboxing class, which
is non-contact, but I used totake an actual kickboxing class
from my son's wrestling coach athis gym when we were in
California.
It was Mark Munoz.
He was the Filipino wreckingmachine in the UFC Amazing
fighter, one of the nicest guysyou will ever meet in your life.
(23:17):
So it is contact.
And I am holding pads for thisvery petite, pretty blonde and I
have my pads up guarding myface and she's supposed to punch
them.
Well, I didn't realize she wasgoing to hit that hard and it
popped back and caught me in thenose before I had a family
(23:37):
reunion type thing.
So I roll in, I got a big oldblack eye.
It's like, yeah, this cutelittle blonde did it to me.
I couldn't even go.
Oh, you should see her.
It wasn't even like that.
I was so humiliated.
And she's like, oh, I'm sosorry.
It's like it's fun, though I dolike kickboxing, it's a great
sport, one of those things.
(24:00):
What else do we have?
I think we have water aerobicsthis summer.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
We are working on it.
We're working on getting wateraerobics at the pool.
We are.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Cool.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
The pool is opening.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
What's the day?
Memorial Day, weekend dayweekend.
That saturday do we have anevent?
Speaker 3 (24:19):
going on at the pool?
Sure do, christy.
We have opening day.
Uh, the pool opens at 11 am andthat's when the event kicks off
.
It's from 11 am to 2 pm.
We'll have two inflatable waterslides.
Kid create, one of our programproviders will be there with a
craft table.
Yeah, uh, play well.
Technologies is another programproviders.
We'll be there with a crafttable.
Yeah, playwell Technologies isanother program provider and
they'll be there with Legos.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
I love all their themes that they come up with.
Yeah, that's awesome.
I would hate to be the one tohave to clean up all those Legos
.
Yeah, cause you know I'm goingto step on them.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
I'll have the toddler Tuesday toys out.
We'll have hamburgers on thegrill.
Fun, a DJ at the pool.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Is there registration for any of this, or is this
open?
Just show up, just show up.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
No charge.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
Ooh, that's great.
Everything except, oh, Kona Icewill be there from noon to two.
That's the only thing that youwould have to pay for.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Cool, everybody likes Kona Ice.
What else?
Speaker 2 (25:10):
we got.
I always give my kids a hardtime about Kona ice.
I'm like it's just sugar andwater.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
Right, exactly, I'll make you some at home.
I got some vanilla extract.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
You know, I bought one of those like the cranks for
the ice, and I did it one timefor my kid's birthday party
because I was trying to savemoney.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
And then I was like you know what.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
I still have it somewhere, but I don't know.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Fun fact about Michaela she is literally the
best baker.
So if there's anybody aroundhere and she has cooked more
personal cakes and cookies andthings for people's birthday,
even mine- Awesome, and thecoolest thing about it is she's
not afraid to do something she'snever done before for your
(25:59):
birthday.
Are you looking at?
Are you looking at me?
Because I won't play pickleball, Cause I'm afraid to play
pickleball.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
I feel like that was directed.
I'm just saying, oh, I likethis very weird obscure dessert.
She'll be like, okay, I'll makeit, and she's never made it
before, and then it turns outamazing.
That's awesome, you know a lotof people like have their one
special thing and they can bakeit up and it's great every time.
Well, it doesn't matter.
With Michaela she can just doanything.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
I attempt.
I have no patience for cooking,though.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Oh me neither.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
My husband's a cook, I'll bake.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
And there is a difference between cooking and
baking.
Yeah, a hundred percent.
Yeah, like I'm a terrible cook,but I used to be able to bake
when I wanted, all that stuff inmy house when my kids were
around.
And now they're not around andnobody eats it, and then I eat
it and it's a whole thing, andthen I have to play pickleball
to balance things out and Idon't play pickleball, well,
ball.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
So we'll then just come to water aerobics then.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Oh, it sounds like it's an individual sport but I'm
not sure We'll think about that.
I'll come, I'll get back to youon that one.
So anything else you guys wantto throw in there that everybody
needs to know that's going on.
If I can tell you anything,take a look at the website.
Go over to the parks and rectab and if you're interested in
(27:13):
any programs, if you go down tothe register for a program tab
underneath Parks and Rec, youare going to get transferred
over to something called CivicRec where everything is.
You can pick your tab if you'relooking for arts or sports or
camps.
It's all there.
Take a look, because there isliterally something for everyone
(27:37):
.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
That's true.
That's true Even.
Even our program providers thatare take the registration
outside of Civic Rec.
There's still a link to get youto their website and see what
they've got to offer.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
Yes, for sure.
So take a look at it.
It could be a great summer.
Keep your kids busy, keepyourself busy, if you're looking
for something like that.
But head on over www.
I'll say it again MiltonGAgov,check out our Parks and Rec
Department, because when I tellyou they're awesome, they
literally are, and they do somuch.
Speaker 3 (28:07):
We know we're awesome , Christy.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
I know I don't know why I had to throw that in there
, but I felt like it was my duty.
I don't know why I had to throwthat in there, but I felt like
it was my duty.
But yeah, no, it's.
It's fun sharing a floor withy'all.
They allow me to sit in ontheir meetings and chime in when
I have nothing to really input.
Speaker 3 (28:23):
But we'll have the time where, like, oh my gosh, we
have to remember to tellcommunications this or that, and
then it's convenient.
Hey, christie, oh yeah.
I'm sitting there.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
We are really rude and we do our staff meetings in
this open space that's about 10feet from Christy's desk.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
I'll hear my name.
What?
Speaker 2 (28:41):
She'll hear her name and she'll like slide back in
her chair and look over and belike do you want to join us?
Speaker 1 (28:48):
And half the time she's like okay, well, you know,
I do get to contribute a littlebit and help with some flyers
and signs.
Which is the very cool partabout my job is getting to do
that stuff.
So I do appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
Does that mean that you want us to send you more?
No, I'm good, I'm just curious.
I'm good.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Matthew has me busy until like next.
July seriously with all hisprograms, but it's really a
great opportunity for me andit's fun.
I mean, you never not laugh.
So while we're talking aboutParks and Rec, I will go ahead
and push out there that we dohave a Wildlife 101 webinar
(29:28):
coming up y'all this week.
We had Yesterday's which was onfrogs.
If you want to see the frog one, go ahead head over to the
website.
It is there.
You can view it for free atyour leisure.
The webinar for June is bears.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
There's going to be some interesting facts about
bears that come out.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
I just I love bears, the frogs.
Frogs are amazing.
I find them hilarious, I don'tknow why, because there's always
a little tree frog that snugsup on my window, so then you get
to see the bottom of his feet.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
I'll make sure I get one on my kitchen window and
I'll just eat it while I'mwashing dishes.
It drives my cat nuts.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
He's like I just want the frog.
But yeah, we've got bearscoming up.
I cannot recall at this momentwhat July is, but August will be
.
Albeit it's not wildlife, it isvery fascinating and it is
about mushrooms, and we havesome previous webinars also
listed on our website If you'reinterested in any of them.
All very interestinginformation and fun.
(30:27):
So there's my parks and recpush.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
This was fun too.
Speaker 1 (30:32):
See, I told you, I told you it was fun, I had to
convince him.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
I like to make her nervous.
You are the last person thatmakes me nervous Like she's like
oh God, why are you have such astraight face, tom?
Speaker 1 (30:46):
Oh, he did.
He came in here he looked justbaffled and I was like oh Lord,
now I got to get him talking andhe was fine.
But I do remember.
I think I said this in theinterview.
I just remember laughingbecause Tom was sitting to my
left in my interview.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
Yes, I was.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
And I'm not sure at this point, if the HR person at
that time said your last name,right, and you were like sure,
yeah.
And I was like are you surethat's your name?
And I was like what made methink that was funny in my
interview?
I left there going, oh, christy, in your mouth.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
Anytime I'm in my car and he calls me, it says it's
from Tom McElveen.
I like it, cracks me up.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
Well, there are a lot of consonants.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Five in a row.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Someone did not know how to spell someone as soon as
you said that, I started likecounting in my head.
Is that even legal?
Someone got off the boat andit's misspelled it, and then
that's just what it was for therest of time, and now we have
tom mickleveen mcleven oh is itmcleven.
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Mcleven is the most common miss it's mackElveen.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
Yes, okay, there's missing an A and like another E
or an I or something, but I gotit.
I did have to ask a few times,I'm not going to lie he finally
saw his new nameplate for hisoffice after a month.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
Oh, was that the?
Speaker 1 (32:08):
oh, that was the After I had.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
David change his nameplate as his April Fool's
little gag.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
And then he didn't notice.
Speaker 3 (32:16):
What did it say?
Speaker 2 (32:18):
What did it say, or what does it say what?
Speaker 1 (32:19):
does it say oh, is it still hanging?
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Huh.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
It's still up.
Yeah, I didn't change it.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
Well, it used to say King of Parks, and then she
changed it to the Mac Daddy ofParks, because at a Hall of Fame
fame ceremony.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
A council member called it, so that's what I
changed it to oh I'm gonna startaddressing you as that in all
my emails.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
Thank you for that mr mac daddy dear mac daddy, this
is how it's going every day fromnow on.
I'm just going to think ofthings to email you now, just
for fun.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
This conversation has turned parks and rec.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
It has, it has and it is on my left.
After attending y'all's lastmeeting, it is on my new watch
list that I do.
In order to understand 90% ofwhat y'all are talking about, I
have to watch parks and rec.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
The fun fact about me is I have not watched.
I mean, I've seen episodes hereand there, but I have not like
that is illegal.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
That is illegal to be in the way that parks and
recreation and have not watchedshow.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
I feel like it's a prerequisite that needs to be on
the job descriptions at thispoint.
But anyway, thanks so much forjoining me today.
It was a lot of fun, as I knewit would be, despite Tom's face
when he walked in and sat down,and I may share that picture
later on.
We'll never, you never knowwhen it'll pop up.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
Can that be like the podcast cover for today?
Oh, it can.
It absolutely can.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
That's a great idea.
I can work wonders with that,but I appreciate y'all being
here, thank you, christy, youbet.
Absolutely not the last timeyou'll be here, so stay tuned.
I will email you probablysooner than later.
Thanks so much for joining ustoday.
I appreciate y'all tuning inand listening to what's going on
around Milton and stay tuned,there's more coming your way.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
Have fun out there.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
Thanks for listening to Milton in Maine.
We hope this episode gave youfresh insights into what makes
our city so special.
Stay connected and don't missan episode by subscribing to
this podcast on your favoriteplatform and following us on
social media for all updates.
And following us on socialmedia for all updates.
And, of course, if you want tolearn more about the city, visit
(34:40):
us online at wwwmiltongagov forresources, news and upcoming
events.
Until next time, thanks forbeing part of the conversation
and we'll see you on the nextMilton in Maine.
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