Although the busiest portion of the spring and summer season events that take place at Mountain View Park have ended or are winding down, there are still plenty of activity and upcoming events taking place at the facility through the late summer and early fall months.

Some of the upcoming events to take place, as well as other matters, were discussed by the Rec/Park Board last Thursday evening, August 25 at its regular meeting with 10 board members on hand.

The board first approved the treasurer’s report, which revealed a fund amount of approximately $14,000 after the last infusion of funds from the City of Albany in its final allotment from last year’s budget appropriation. It was noted this would be the last significant amount of funding for the board until around the end of the calendar year.

Park Director Bobby Reneau then gave a brief buildings and grounds update, noting that the old Hopkins School had been painted recently.

Reneau also gave an update on the U.S. 127 Sale, noting the event had done a little bit better this year than last, bringing in around $10,000 (before expenses), compared to around 9,000 a year ago. He also noted there were about 70 vendors that had set up in the park for the 2011 sale.

The report on the 127 Sale also brought about a brief discussion on next year’s event, when it is expected the park itself won’t actually be on the official 127 Sale route, with that road number to be on the new Albany Bypass, just west of the park itself.

Although some park board members agreed the move may decrease some traffic to the park itself, most felt it wouldn’t be detrimental to the annual event held at the park, where between 60 and 70 vendors from all over set up to sell yard sale items each year.

Reneau said the board should petition the city and county to erect signs on both ends of the 127 Bypass area, directing yard sale shoppers to the park and informing them they were still open for business. “If we do a good job (promoting) the sale and the vendors do good, I don’t think the bypass will affect sales that much,” Reneau said.

Also in relation to the annual 127 Sale fundraiser, the board discussed possibly adding port-a-potties at each end of the park to allow vendors and customers closer access to a restroom facility and they also thanked the volunteers who came out to help during the sale last month.

Reneau then reported that the last church league softball games were to be played last week and that the co-ed league would start around the second full week in September. Some of the church league teams that participated in recent weeks are also expected to have teams in the co-ed league.

Entry fee is $300 per team and the days of the week in which games will be played may be left up to the teams themselves.

Anyone needing more information on the upcoming league or wishing to enter a team should contact Reneau at 688-4337.

The board also touched on some events that will be coming up at the park, including the upcoming Roller Coaster Yard Sale. Although the park board will not be selling concessions as another fundraiser, they will accept vendors who wish to set up booth spaces at the park during the sale.

Last year, around 10 vendors sold yard sale items during the Roller Coaster Sale and any vendor interested in obtaining a spot at the park is asked to contact the park director at the number listed above.

On Saturday, September 17, Porco Fertilizer, in conjunction with the Kentucky Agriculture Department, will be hosting an appreciation day with various events taking place throughout the day at the Farmers Market Building.

Also, coming up in October will be the Foothills Festival gospel singing on October 9. There will also be the second annual Health Fair in relation with the singing and the board also discussed some possible other events, such a cornhole tournament, that could be held the same day. Reneau noted that last year’s singing “saw a packed (park) and was very successful.”

Board member Junior Gregory, touching on the financial situation with local government entities that help fund the park, suggested that if the park board held its annual Christmas dinner this year, he and his wife would be willing to pay their own expense, not from park funds.

Without taking an official vote, the remaining members agreed to fund their own dinner.

Park Board Chairman Chris Lovelace then recommended to park board members who are also involved in the Little League baseball program, that if the group intends to ask the league be consolidated with the board in some way next season to help save money or save the program, they should come up with some type of plan by at least January.

Some members on the Little League board indicated they are considering dropping the official membership under the Little League Baseball charter, due to the expense to be a member, as well as shrinking numbers of children who have participated in the league locally over the past couple of years.

Those members indicated they would probably use the official Little League rules, but operate their own program in an effort to gain more participation and save on the costs of operating the league.

Beginning this fall and winter, the park board will now begin meeting every other month until late winter of 2012. The park board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for October 27.