Westfield parks director: Simon Moon Phase 1 open, state approves master plan; funds set aside for professional grant writer

Westfield Parks and Recreation Director Chris told the board May 7 that Simon Moon Phase 1 is officially open, the city’s parks master plan has been approved by the state (making the city eligible for Land and Water Conservation Fund grants), and the department has budgeted funds to hire a professional grant writer as a contracted service.

Chris said the department removed fencing and the public has been using Simon Moon for several weeks: “Simon Moon phase 1. We it is officially open. We're done. We took the fence down, a couple weeks ago and the public is already, enjoying it greatly.” He invited board members to a ceremonial ribbon cutting set for Tuesday the 13th at 4 p.m. and said he would send a calendar invite.

On construction and procurement, Chris said a Phase 2 construction‑documents meeting is scheduled for May 15 to finalize bid materials. “The bid package should go out mid May and hopefully get back our bids within 30 days, so mid to late June. And the target is to have a contractor selected and a contract in front of the board by the July board meeting,” he said.

Chris also reported the department’s master plan was accepted by the state, which “allows us now to be, to qualify for land and water conservation funds and to better position ourselves for other, grant dollars as well from the state and the federal government.” He described event season startup and said the farmers market opens the following evening at Grand Junction Plaza, running 18 weeks on Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m., and that the International Festival would run Saturday noon to 3 p.m. He added the department is handling routine maintenance and will begin roundabout projects approved at a prior meeting, listing the first locations to begin construction.

When board member Mike Antrim asked whether the city has a dedicated grant writer, Chris replied: “The city does not have a dedicated grant writer, but I do have funds earmarked in my budget this year to hire a professional grant writer as opposed to put that, another, activity on my shoulders or 1 of our staff members because we are all already pretty strapped as far as that's concerned.” He clarified that the role would be procured as a professional services contract and not as an open FTE: “Because it is a, a professional services contract, we do not have to bid it... we would choose to to farm that out to a to a professional services contract.”

Chris noted maintenance crews are busy and that previously approved roundabout projects will begin construction in the coming weeks. He closed the report by answering board questions about procurement and scheduling; no formal board action was recorded on these updates.