Utica council reaffirms parks master plan, approves $2 million paving bond; statue ordinance sent to committee

The Utica Common Council on April 16 reaffirmed the city’s 2018 Utica Parks and Recreation Master Plan, authorized submission of a state municipal parks and recreation grant application to support improvements at Quinn Playground and Pixley Park, approved a $2,000,000 bond for street paving projects, and sent an ordinance authorizing the placement of a statue to committee for further review.

The parks resolution, read into the record by the city clerk, states the plan ‘‘was completed in November 2018 and is over 5 years old’’ and authorizes the mayor to submit the project to the State of New York and ‘‘enter into any and all necessary agreements upon successful award of the funding proposal.’’ Council members voted to adopt the resolution (vote recorded as adopted unanimously by the clerk).

Council members and staff said the parks master plan reaffirmation is a procedural step required to seek a municipal parks and recreation grant; the resolution notes a $1,000,000 request aimed at enhancing and preserving resources at Quinn Playground and Pixley Park. A council member asked that a PDF copy of the master plan be circulated to the council; another noted that the plan was amended previously to include Complete Streets language.

The cou…