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Committee urges updating parks master plan, supports pursuing Tree City USA designation
Summary
Fairview’s parks advisory members urged the city to update its parks master plan, discussed uncompleted work from previous plans, and recommended the City Council consider a Tree City USA designation; members discussed maintenance, pocket parks and ADA access.
Members of the Fairview Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee on Feb. 3 reviewed the city’s parks master plan and recommended steps to update it with attention to walkability, climate resilience and maintenance priorities.
Committee members said parts of the master plan — including work on trail widening and safety measures — were recommended years ago but not completed. One member noted the master-plan recommendations dated back as far as 2015–2017 and that funds were never allocated to complete some items.
The committee discussed pursuing Tree City USA status. A staff presentation noted the city already meets many of the program’s practical criteria and that a formal declaration by the City Council would advance the designation without requiring immediate new spending. Committee members also discussed tree-selection lists to avoid root damage to sidewalks.
Members raised maintenance and equity concerns: several parks are passive in character with only two or three playgrounds, and committee members said the city should evaluate whether pocket parks remain appropriate to the city’s maintenance capacity. They also stressed ADA accessibility for multi‑use trails and sidewalks that connect neighborhoods to parks.
Staff said the master plan is available on the city website and committed to provide the committee with current adopted-budget information and a list of capital projects for the remainder of the fiscal year so members can make informed recommendations during budget season.
The committee asked staff to bring an informational item in March that outlines capital projects in the current adopted budget (through June 30, 2025) so members can prioritize recommended projects for future budgets.
