Members of the Infrastructure, Parks and Public Places Committee reviewed a series of park maintenance and improvement items and discussed a pending federal grant application for Dorril Field during the committee meeting.

Staff described repaving work at Tower Park’s former tennis court; the permanent use has not been decided and could include a pickleball court, an unstructured play area or other resident-preferred uses. Marsh Park has $20,000 explicitly listed in the capital improvements worksheet for a sidewalk replacement on the street side, staff said. Victory Park is scheduled for landscape mounds, new concrete pads and outdoor gaming tables this fiscal year. Staff emphasized that the planning worksheet reflects anticipated projects and is not a contractor commitment.

Council members flagged tree replacement and planting as a priority. Committee members said volunteers planted 1,700 daffodils at Marsh Park two springs ago and that some older oak trees in city parks have reached the end of their lifespans; staff and the volunteer tree board are coordinating additional plantings and replacements.

Councilwoman Hooper noted Representative Lanzmann submitted a proposal for approximately $1.2 million in federal funds for Dorril Field to add parking, more trees and other improvements; the committee was told that federal budget timing has delayed or paused the award. "It is $1,200,000 for Dorril Field specifically," a committee member said; staff described the proposal as an enhancement rather than a change in the field’s primary recreational use.

Separately, staff reported infrastructure work on South Jefferson that will include a new water main (upsizing from 4 inches to 8 inches) and a full-depth street repair and resurfacing; that project was described as using a 50/50 funding match and has been delayed while funding sources were finalized. Lincoln Street, Rolston and Weyer are also in various stages of repair or improvement; Weyer is being upgraded in advance of new development at the former Allison School site.

Staff and committee members noted budget constraints: the city’s general fund was described at roughly $25–30 million, with about two-thirds of general fund dollars going to fire and police. Committee members said the parks department uses a mix of city funds and outside grants or nonprofit contributions to complete projects when possible. No formal votes were taken on park projects during the committee meeting.