Committee hears parks and recreation master-plan update as baseball stakeholders press for flood solutions

The Community Partnerships Committee met June 9 to get an update on the city’s parks and recreation master plan and to hear baseball stakeholders pressing for quicker action on repeatedly flooded fields.

The report to the committee described a four‑phase master‑plan process that began with data gathering and an update to a 2019 conditions assessment, followed by public engagement now under way. Committee members and residents emphasized baseball’s needs, asked to be invited to an upcoming baseball focus group and urged faster steps to address fields that flood repeatedly.

Austin, planning zone manager, told the committee the city adopted its comprehensive plan in November 2024 and is following a similar four‑step process for the parks and recreation master plan. “We went live with our community survey last Thursday. We're already, hitting about 300 respondents,” Austin said, adding that that response level is roughly half of the participation attained for the comprehensive plan public engagement. He said Phase 1 included an update to the 2019 conditions assessment, a full ADA evaluation of all 27 parks, a review of programming and pool facility options, park budgeting and maintenance data collection, and evaluation of usage statistics. He said an advisory committee of 12 representatives from community organizations — including Miami County Parks, Troy City Schools and multiple youth sports leagues — has been formed and that three advisory seats represent baseball interests.

Austin said Phase 2 is focused on public engagement, with two town halls to be scheduled and a baseball‑specific focus group set for June 17. He said Phase 3 will compare local findings with national and state metrics, including guidance from the National Recreation and Park Association and the statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan (SCORP), to identify service‑area gaps or surpluses and future demand for amenities such as pools and sport fields. Phase 4 will produce an action or implementation plan with cost estimates, funding and partnership options and a public comment period.

Committee members debated the meeting’s purpose. Committee Chair Christy Marshall and Mr. Sievert and Mr. Twist discussed whether the meeting was intended to validate baseball’s request for attention or to produce a formal recommendation. Mr. Sievert said he understood the purpose was to “validate baseball's encouragement to be here” and asked the committee to reconvene after the baseball stakeholders’ meeting so the committee could “incorporate that as well as validate the public input.” Mr. Twist said he was pleased the committee exists so members can be invited to stakeholder meetings when schedules allow, but also said staff and the consultant are leading the process and focus groups may not be public.

Resident Steve Hendrickson, who identified his address to the committee, told members he was not personally involved with youth sports but urged immediate action on the flooding baseball fields: “I sure as hell know that it's gonna flood,” Hendrickson said. He said the fields have flooded repeatedly and urged the committee and city to act so fields are on dry land before the next season.

Committee members and staff emphasized there was no formal recommendation or vote at the meeting. Austin said the draft action plan and cost estimates will be posted for public comment and that the city will host a formal town hall with a virtual option when the draft is available. Several members encouraged broader participation in the survey and public events.

No motions or votes were taken. The committee’s next steps include (1) the baseball focus group scheduled for June 17, (2) additional public town halls to be scheduled in Phase 2, and (3) continued data analysis leading into Phase 3 and a draft implementation plan in Phase 4.