Eastpointe staff cite new grants for parks upgrades; Kennedy Park splash pad construction set to start

City staff briefed the Planning Commission on recent grant awards and planned park projects, saying the funds and projects support community‑building goals in the master plan. Kim, a city administrator or planning staff member, said the city recently received a $350,000 matching grant to support work at Spindler Park; the match brings the project total to about $700,000. She also said the Civic Point project received $1 million in outside funding matched by local funds for a planned $2 million DDA project, and that construction on the Kennedy Park splash pad is scheduled to start next week after the city secured an additional $500,000 for enhancements. Vice Chair Sasek noted the city recently completed a five‑year recreation master plan and recommended that it be incorporated into the citywide master plan. Commissioner Naylor and others said public spaces, festivals and programming contribute to community building and should remain priorities in the updated plan. Staff said some projects will include ADA upgrades and solar lighting, and that the planning consultants will align the parks and recreation plan with the master plan. No formal votes were taken; commissioners asked staff to include these projects and recent grant information when drafting master‑plan implementation steps and to coordinate public engagement on park programming and facility design.