Residents press commission to slow parks, downtown pilot projects; call for more outreach

Dozens of Livingston residents used general public comment on Sept. 16 to press the City Commission for more time, outreach and care before moving forward on downtown pilot projects and a draft parks master plan.

Speakers — including Leslie Feigl of the Livingston Area Chamber and other longtime residents — criticized temporary downtown “bulb-outs,” questioned changes proposed in the parks master plan and warned that some design moves could harm local businesses. “The Chamber of Commerce…is not against the city,” Leslie Feigl said, adding that a petition and written surveys from residents asked the commission to allow more time for participation.

Several business owners and downtown residents described unintended consequences after temporary curb extensions were installed. One attendee, who quoted the owner of a long‑running ice-cream business, said forced diagonal parking and pole repositioning had made large delivery trucks harder to maneuver. Business advocates at the town hall told commissioners the pilot changes had prompted talk of relocation to Billings.

Residents urged that the parks-planning process include more time and clearer opportunities to comment: “Please give us a little bit more time. There’s an awful lot of people I’ve talked to that don’t have any idea what’s going on,” said Linda Moore, who said she completed a survey only after reviewing draft proposals.

Some commenters asked the city to preserve dirt paths, limit concrete and avoid adding large paved areas in parks. “Please don’t change our city parks at all,” one longtime resident said. Other speakers emphasized safety and accessibility questions around specific downtown features and a brick historical monument near Ninth Street.

City Manager Shannon Gager told the meeting that the draft parks master plan is based on about 14 months of public input — surveys, focus groups and a design charrette — and that the draft will be refined based on the latest feedback before coming to the commission for approval in the fall. He also noted the city could coordinate with civic groups that fund and build some park improvements.

Commissioners and staff did not take action on the park plan at the Sept. 16 meeting. They said the draft remains under review and encouraged residents to use the city’s contact tools and the parks survey form to submit detailed feedback before staff refines concepts for future hearings.