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Parks fund shows $700,000 surplus; council discusses playground upgrades and grant opportunities
Summary
Parks staff reported a final closeout for a restroom/site improvement project, a surplus of just over $700,000 in the parks renewal fund and potential uses including playground upgrades, a municipal parks grant with a 90/10 match, and a pledged bocce project awaiting grant administration.
Courtney, Staff member, briefed the council on the parks renewal program and the status of projects and finances at the March 20 work session.
Courtney said the Peter Ploomath Park bathroom and site-improvement project has closed out and that work to reseed areas and reopen facilities will continue this spring. She said there are small change orders remaining — including plumbing and electrical adjustments — and listed May 12 as a date when at least one change order will be completed.
On finances, Courtney reported a surplus in the parks renewal fund of just over $700,000. She said staff is collecting cost estimates and quotes for a second phase of improvements and will present options to the council that could pair the remaining local funds with state grants to maximize impact.
Courtney highlighted a new municipal parks and recreation grant opportunity from the state office for parks, recreation and historic preservation that offers a favorable 90/10 match and said the citys existing application for an accessible playground remains on the table. She said the city has an opportunity to seek that funding alongside local dollars to upgrade or replace playground equipment.
Council members asked which parks remain to be updated under the five-park plan. Courtney said Fox Hill has received equipment updates; the remaining primary parks named in the plan are Blue Matt, Melissa Penfield, South Acres and The Oval. She noted a separate bocce-ball project backed by a pledged private contribution from Billy Jones is still in grant-administration steps and the funds are not yet in the city's bank account.
Courtney said staff will return with concrete project quotes and phasing options so council can decide how to spend the remaining funds.
