Two members of the Lynnwood Neighborhood Association told council the group plans a legacy project to fund and install a covered picnic shelter with water and electric at Fernberg Park and asked the council for a brief endorsement so neighborhood organizers can proceed with fundraising and coordination.

Pam Husband and Greg Heamer said the shelter was the top choice in neighborhood surveys and would serve families in the Cedar Crest area. The speakers said they were not seeking city funding or formal approvals at the meeting but wanted the council to signal that it "liked the idea" so neighborhood volunteers could continue planning and request connections to county parks staff.

Council and staff response

Councilors and staff said the project should proceed through the normal review process: staff asked the organizers to coordinate with North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District (NCPRD) staff and to return if formal approvals or city funding were later required. City staff also said they had previously met the group and that the Milwaukee Parks Foundation and county staff had been involved in early cost estimates; organizers reported an early, rough cost estimate of about $200,000 and noted utility constraints and a wetland/Water Quality Resource Area that complicate siting and utility runs.

Why it matters: Neighborhood-built park amenities can increase local recreational access but may require coordination with park operators and environmental constraints. Organizers sought only a council endorsement of the concept and staff help connecting them to county park technical review.

Voices from the meeting

Pam Husband, Lynnwood Neighborhood Association: "The Lynnwood Neighborhood Association has committed itself to completing a legacy project...to fund and install a covered picnic shelter with electricity and water inside Fernberg Park."

City Manager Emma Sager (response): staff will report back and help connect the neighborhood with the responsible park district staff and with the Milwaukee Parks Foundation for cost estimates and next steps.