Residents deliver petitions, raise parade and accessibility concerns as parks master plan advances

More than 240 residents delivered petitions to the Livingston City Commission asking the city to delay a vote on the parks and trails master plan and to improve public outreach and survey design, speakers said at the commission’s public comment period.

The petitioners asked the commission to hold off on any vote until 2026 so “all citizens have a say on the parks and trails master plan,” Linda Tang, a resident at 1327 West Montana, said while submitting a packet of signatures. Tang told the commission she and others collected roughly 240 signatures so far and had more pages to turn in later.

The petition centered on three points: visibility of the parks plan and public recruitment, problems with the mailed and on‑line survey, and preservation of historic sites and mature trees. “The survey that the city handed out to the public we found was not adequate… it wasn’t user friendly,” Tang said, adding that many seniors and non‑smartphone users needed help at the library or the chamber to complete it.

Several speakers said the parks plan shows new parking lots and road closures that were not clearly disclosed on the survey. Barbara Britt, who lives at 919 West Crawford, said she measured proposed lots and believes a new 51‑space lot would be large — “a 100 feet wide and 160 to 180 feet deep” — and that closing McGree Drive for additional parking would actually reduce overall parking capacity at Sacajawea Park.

“On Sacajawea Park, plans to close McGree Drive and turn it into a parking lot leaves you with 61 parking spaces. I measured McGree Drive and came up with room for at least 80 parking spots,” Britt said. She told commissioners she found no survey questions asking specifically about the McGree Drive closure.

Downtown merchants and residents repeatedly raised objections to proposed bulb outs on Main and Second streets, calling them a threat to parking and to turning geometry for large downtown events. “I just really don’t think we need bulb outs. They took out two, four, six, eight parking spaces,” Linda Gilson of 304 South Second said, noting downtown already has stressed parking. Multiple commenters said the bulb outs could prevent the July Independence Day parade from making required turns on Second Street.

Commissioners and staff responded during the meeting that the parks master plan remains in a draft and public process. City Manager Mister Gager told the room the parks master plan “still has not come before this commission,” and said the plan would receive further public review and a formal commission discussion before any binding decisions.

Commissioners and staff also said some outreach gaps identified by commenters — especially limited access for seniors and those without internet access — would be taken into account as the process continues. Commissioner comments and staff responses emphasized that the plan is a guidance document, not a fixed prescription; any specific construction, tree removal, or parking changes would require additional public hearings, permitting steps or separate approvals.

Residents who opposed parts of the plan said they would continue collecting signatures and ask the commission to pause final action until outreach and survey methodology are improved.

The commission did not take a formal vote on the parks plan during the meeting; staff directed questions about the plan to the upcoming agenda items and public meetings on the project.

Ending: The parks and trails master plan will return for additional public engagement and formal review before the commission. Residents who submitted petitions said they will deliver additional signatures at the meeting where the plan is scheduled for a vote, and staff said it would continue to refine outreach and ensure the commission sees all public input before taking action.