Hayden City Council approves master-planning contract for McIntyre Park after debate over scope and partners

The Hayden City Council on Oct. 14 approved a contract with Architects West to develop a master plan for McIntyre Park, a city-owned site that council members and staff described as a priority for future park improvements.

City Administrator Lisa (last name not specified in transcript) told the council the contract would fund a master-planning effort modeled on the Hayden Canyon plan and would include community stakeholder engagement, a steering committee, and public outreach. “This planning effort is to consolidate not only interests from leadership, staff, but also the community to drive home a plan that can be adopted by council as a master plan for McIntyre Park,” she said.

The plan covers the existing city-owned parkland including the park, shed, ball field and the area east of the park where a former public works facility stood. Staff said the master plan would provide a single adopted document to guide future investments and to align grant and partner funding with council priorities.

Council discussion focused on: whether the Urban Renewal Agency (HERA) should be asked to help pay for the contract or later projects; how much council direction should shape an initial plan before consultant work begins; and which parcels—city-owned only, or HERA-owned properties as well—would be part of the plan. Councilor (name recorded as) White said she wanted the council to have “a little head start” on visioning before a steering committee forms. Councilor Dupree and Councilor Schaffer raised concerns about clarity of the goals and whether HERA’s funds should be used for the effort.

Councilor Matt (last name not specified in transcript) proposed splitting the contract cost with HERA, suggesting HERA pay half and the city pay half from park impact fees. Councilor White and others said they preferred the city initiate and control the effort, and that HERA’s involvement could be invited later if the adopted plan included projects on HERA property or otherwise aligned with HERA priorities.

After deliberation Mayor (name not specified in transcript) called a motion to approve the Architects West contract; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with council members Schafer/Schaffer, White, Dupree and Council President Rotor voting yes.

Councilors and staff said the master plan would be used to prioritize projects and to support grant applications; they emphasized the plan could be implemented incrementally as funds become available.

The council did not adopt a detailed scope amendment or funding split at the meeting; staff said a steering committee and further public-engagement steps would be defined as the consultant work proceeds.

Quotes used in this article come from staff and council remarks recorded in the Oct. 14 council transcript.