Approval of the November 2, 2021 Parks and Recreation Minutes.

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PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 2, 2021
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Following a tour of the Veteran’s Memorial Field of Honor and a tour of the 
Environmental Education Center, Chairman Johnson called the meeting to order on 
Tuesday, November 2, 2021, at 5:31p.m.
a. Roll Call
Members in Attendance:
Chairman Tim Johnson
Vice Chairman Melanie Dykstra
Boardmember Jason Dawson 
Boardmember Cenalmar-Bruquetas 
Boardmember John David
Board member Shawn Hsu
Boardmember Jeff Reynolds
Members Absent:
None
Staff Members Present:
Joseph Petrella, Recreation Manager
Mickey Ohland, Community Services Planning Manager
Jeffrey Larsen, Parks Operations and Maintenance Manager
Mark Foote, Aquatics Supervisor
Sheila Parkinson, Customer Service Representative
Sandy Popovich, Recording Secretary
Others Present
None
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairman Johnson requested approval of the minutes for the October 5, 2021, Parks 
and Recreation Board meeting. Vice-Chair Dykstra made the motion to approve the 
minutes of the October 5, 2021, minutes. 
Boardmember Reynolds seconded the
motion.

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The minutes were approved 7-0 by all Boardmembers present.
3. ACTION ITEMS
a. None
4. BRIEFING ITEMS MEMBERS COMMENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS 
a. Veteran’s Memorial Field of Honor Tour by Mickey Ohland, Community Services 
Manager and Environmental Education Facility tour by Sheila Parkinson, Customer 
Service Representative.
Veterans Oasis Park is a 113-acre community park featuring an Environmental 
Education Center, a lake, an extensive network of trails, a Police Sub Station as well 
as numerous recharge basins.
The park’s name, Veterans Oasis Park, was submitted in 2005 by a Chandler 
resident and Veteran and approved by the Parks and Recreation Board and City 
Council to honor the Veterans of all wars.
Shortly after the completion of the park in 2008, City staff began meeting with 
several local Veteran’s Groups to develop a conceptual plan for a Veteran’s 
Memorial that would complement the park’s existing amenities.
After several workshops with the Veterans, in 2010 we completed the concept for 
the Memorial. The goal of the Memorial is to provide a space for remembrance and 
reflection. This plan integrates the ideas of the Veterans into the design, which 
represents six core values significant to the Veterans and their families: Freedom, 
Reflection, Recognition, Sacrifice, Family and Memories
The memorial is composed of two distinctive spaces, an upper level, which was 
completed in 2016 and a lower level. Through symbolism, each of the core works 
were incorporated into the design.
1. FREEDOM - The thought or idea of freedom was the guiding principle behind the 
monument’s layout. During the public input process, the United States Flag was 
consistently identified as a symbol of freedom. The lower level of the memorial was 
designed to match the exact ratio of the American Flag. It’s grid of lighted columns 
defines the stars and stripes of the flag while the rolling landform emulates the 
ripples of it blowing in the wind.
2. RECOGNITION - This design offers recognition not only for the City of Chandler’s 
Veterans, but also those within the State of Arizona and the rest of the nation.
3. REFLECTION – Providing a space that would offer individuals and groups an 
opportunity for personal reflection was also a goal of the design. Both the upper and 
lower levels of the memorial will be able to accommodate various group sizes and 
provides privacy from the adjacent land uses.

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4. SACRIFICE – The perfect grid that defines the stars and stripes is also meant to 
emulate soldiers marching in unison. The columns slowly disappear and reappear 
as they are enveloped by the rising landform which is meant to represent soldiers 
going off to war and then returning. Twenty-one of these cubes are completely 
submerged as a tribute or “twenty-one-gun salute” for those that did not return.
5. MEMORIES – Similar to the theme of recognition, this design offers an 
opportunity to record memories within the walls of the monument.
6. FAMILY – The elevated overlook and main plaza, which is existing, replicates the 
Arizona State Flag. From this star shaped “family” overlook, visitors can look down 
into the memorial and gain a feeling of watching over their family and country while 
their friends or loved ones are away.
The star also represents the Service Flag of War Mothers, which is hung in family’s
windows to display they have an immediate family member serving in the military.
In addition, the Memorial includes the integration of the F-86 plane that was on static 
display at the southeast corner of Chandler Boulevard and Delaware Street.
The project is scheduled to be completed and dedicated on Thursday, November 11, 
2021.
5. MEMBER COMMENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. Boardmember Dykstra asked if there could be a presentation about the Park 
Ranger program. Joe Petrella will look at the Park Ranger calendar to see about a 
presentation at a future meeting.
b. Boardmember Dykstra asked if there would be an update on the budget progress. 
Mickey Ohland replied that they may call a special meeting in January to discuss any 
updates.
6. CALENDAR ITEMS 
a. Next meeting will be Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at 5:00 p.m.
7. INFORMATION ITEMS 
a. Mickey Ohland requested the Board start thinking about CIP ideas and forward them 
to him.
b. Mickey Ohland requested the Board RSVP to the dedication of the Field of Honor 
event on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2021.

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8. ADJOURNMENT
With no further items, Chairman Johnson requested a motion to adjourn the meeting 
at 5:44 p.m.
Vice-Chair Dykstra made the motion to adjourn the meeting. 
Boardmember David seconded the motion. 
The adjournment was approved 7-0 by all Boardmembers present.  
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Tim Johnson, Chairman
Sandy Popovich, Recording Secretary