Trunk-or-Treat scheduled by South Fulton Parks & Recreation Board for Oct. 26

South Fulton Parks and Recreation Board discussed and decided on plans for the Community Trunk or Treat event scheduled for Oct. 26, during the board’s regular meeting Oct. 3 at South Fulton Municipal Complex commission room. 

Board members Mason Lee, Chair, Sherry Cook-Pyatt and Cody Caksackkar were present, as was City Manager Joyce Gray.

Following the approval of the previous meeting’s minutes from Aug. 13, Board member Sherry Cook-Pyatt recommended, for approval to serve on the board as a new member, Angela Kelly.

Cook-Pyatt said Kelly most often assisted her in community events and was willing to serve on the board. 

Board members voted to present Kelly as their recommendation to serve on the board, to the full City Commission for their approval.

Board financials were not available for review, however Gray said no funds had been spent since the previous financials presented.

Cook-Pyatt and Caksackkar updated the board on the Dessert Walk held at the recent Banana Festival which the Parks Board had decided to sponsor, with $1 tickets to be sold to participate in the Dessert Walk, and then the funds collected were to be given away during the festival.

Cook-Pyatt said the event raised $70, and she did not consider that amount to be successful. She said she had also learned that the Parks Board could not facilitate a raffle/collection of funds, so if the board chose to continue the event, it would need to be considered a Banana Festival event.

Caksackkar said he believed the time scheduled for the Dessert Walk could have played into the lack of participation, as the wrestling event ran long, then the Doggy Pageant was underway during part of the time frame designated for the Dessert Walk. 

Cook-Pyatt suggested a time frame to coordinate with the Rotary Car Show on Lake Street might be a better choice to consider. 

Gray provided an update on the application for a Parks/Playground Grant, with site visits to applicants to be made. Caksackkar suggested data designating the number of people who were in town during the festival would be a valuable tool, as approximately 21,000 people visited during the Banana Festival.

Gray and Caksackkar said City Finance  Officer Alex Hicks had collected information, letters of support, petitions and other information to provide for the application process. 

The board’s attention then turned to the annual Community Trunk or Treat scheduled for Oct. 26 from 5-8 p.m.

Activities will include trunk or treating for children, at stations displayed by local families, groups, churches and civic organizations, a chili cookoff, a candy drop, bump and jump, games, Halloween crafts, free hot dogs, chips and drinks. 

The event will also include assistance from the Fulton Parks Board.

The Board chose to include a collection of dog food and cat food, for those who come to the event to donate, and those items be given to the Fulton Pound. 

Caksackkar said Lynnita Pierce had offered to chair the chili cookoff, with crock pot entries to be dropped off by 4 p.m. the day of the Trunk or Treat at the Unity Park stage and judging at 5 p.m. Caksackkar said he would provide the engraved wooden spoon prizes and could secure judges.

Caksackkar also volunteered to speak with the schools regarding possible student volunteering for community hours at the Trunk or Treat game stations.

Gray said the Public Works Department had prepared an inventory of Halloween decorations the city had on hand, which includes the inflatables, signage and five game station sets.

The board asked that Gray direct the PWD to have the decorations up by Oct. 14.

Gray volunteered to order food from FoodRite for the event, the week prior.

She also said once it is determined how much is spent on the Trunk or Treat, she would submit the request to the county for the same grant the city received last year, to to used by the Park Board for events.

Gray said she could order the candy as well, to be given away at game stations. 

The Board determined the Shriners would need to be contacted about providing Train Rides during the Trunk or Treat, and a hayride would not be an activity at this year’s event.

Gray said she would touch base with Harry Hutcherson, who usually took care of the hot dogs.

In the event of rain, the Trunk or Treat is to be held at Kingdom Harvest Church Family Life gym on Forestdale in South Fulton.