Residents press Coos Bay officials to repair boardwalk and support Mingus Park Pool

Several Coos Bay residents and nonprofit representatives urged the city’s budget committee and council on Thursday to accelerate repairs to the waterfront boardwalk and continue support for the city-owned Mingus Park Pool.

Tom Leahy, a longtime resident and advocate for maritime tourism, said the boardwalk is a visitor-facing asset and called for more sustained work to restore it. “I likened it to your front porch. If you have a front porch, I know you like to take good care of it,” Leahy said during the public comment period.

Multiple speakers said some boardwalk work has been done: councilors and staff noted recent grant-funded interpretive signage and replacement of about 38 bulkhead sections. Councilor Lucinda DeNova said staff had successfully pursued grants for signage and interpretive panels. But speakers said much more needs to be done; several suggested citizen-led fundraising groups similar to existing “friends of” organizations for other city facilities.

On the pool, Jamie Faraday and Doug Gebreline spoke on behalf of the Mingus Park Pool nonprofit board. They described a new, more-efficient boiler purchased with the nonprofit’s fundraising and support from Energy Trust, and they said the pool has a rainy-day fund raised through community donations. Faraday, who said she is part of a strategic energy-management team with the city and Energy Trust, said she expects the city and the pool to reduce energy costs further over the next year as baseline data are collected and efficiency measures are implemented.

Gebreline noted the pool’s regional draw and the board’s longtime volunteer support. He described the pool’s swim-lesson programs and asked the committee to continue city support.

City staff acknowledged the public comments and confirmed some work has proceeded through grants and in-kind effort, but they also pointed to limited city resources and the need to prioritize projects within the budget. Committee members suggested the idea of a “friends of the boardwalk” group and encouraged volunteer involvement where it is safe and permitted.

Speakers also asked for clarity about how citizens can help with maintenance and whether volunteers could perform tasks such as pressure washing. City staff and councilors said liability and coordination with city crews need to be considered before large volunteer physical works are undertaken.

The comments did not result in immediate budget changes; committee members recorded the concerns and placed park and waterfront items on the list of topics for further budget review and potential redlining.