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Committee OKs final draft of Partner Park master plan, emphasizes natural‑area stewardship
Summary
An ad hoc group’s master plan for Partner Park — a roughly 25‑acre donated, mostly wooded parcel — was accepted as a final draft and recommended to City Council. The plan focuses on minimal structures, habitat protection and public access through low‑impact trails.
The Planning & Parks Committee reviewed and approved the final draft master plan for Partner Park on June 17, endorsing the ad hoc group’s recommendations to keep the 25‑acre gift largely natural while adding limited, low‑impact amenities.
Context and donor conditions: Staff reported the property was donated by Joanna Yost with conditions that it remain undeveloped, serve as a wildlife refuge, prohibit hunting and preserve its natural character; the park is to be named Partner Park. The ad hoc committee toured the site, reviewed topography and prepared a story map with historic photographs and background materials for public input.
Plan highlights: The draft master plan proposes a single entrance drive with a small parking area (including ADA parking), accessible trails around the prairie and steeper interpretive trails through wooded terrain, a small pavilion sized for a couple picnic tables, restroom facilities, a modest dock on a small pond and a split‑rail entrance fence. The group favors educational signage on invasive species and on‑site wildlife and advocates limited programming to keep the site primarily a natural refuge.
Public feedback and concerns: A May public input session drew about 10 attendees; feedback was largely positive. Nearby residents were sent follow‑up letters, and staff reported no adverse responses to date. The primary expressed concern was pedestrian and bicycle safety on Hanken Road near the park entrance; committee members discussed limiting the pavilion’s use for large gatherings because of limited parking and surrounding residences.
Budget and next steps: Engineering for the site is included in the FY2026 budget; the draft plan came in just over a $1 million conceptual budget but was assessed as generally within available funding for staged improvements. The committee voted to send the final draft to City Council for consideration. Staff will continue invasive species stabilization work, address immediate dam/spillway concerns for the pond and coordinate any detailed engineering and permitting needed.
