Commission asks staff to form permanent parks committee after debate over Veterans Park fountain and phased improvements

The City Commission directed staff to create a permanent parks advisory committee to develop comprehensive recommendations for Veterans Park and other city parks after debate about a proposed fountain design and fundraising efforts.

Background and competing views Resident and volunteer Ken Bridal outlined a community-driven effort that previously produced student-submitted fountain designs and raised some private funds; he also presented a lower-cost stone-and-plaque option to honor veterans. Some residents and commissioners supported moving forward with a near-term fountain installation as a phase of larger park improvements. Others urged a full park master-plan process and recommended a parks committee carry the planning work to ensure coordinated, phased improvements.

Why the commission acted Commissioners said the city needs a deliberate, publicly vetted approach so upgrades are consistent with long-term park and budget planning. The manager proposed and the commission agreed to stand up a parks committee (job description, member count and duties to be returned for appointment) to do the detailed design and fundraising coordination and to return a recommended phased plan and budget.

Next steps and timeline Staff will bring a resolution establishing the parks committee and a volunteer application process; the manager said appointments will be considered once the council sets the committee’s composition (anticipated in upcoming meetings). The committee’s work will inform phased capital budgeting; commissioners indicated they expect the committee to consider both the fountain proposal and other park-wide elements. One commissioner noted that full-park redevelopment would likely require phased work over multiple years and multiple funding sources.