Parks committee member urges more city engagement; sensory trail discussed as low-cost accessibility project

Mike Pronsky, a member of the Parks and Recreation Committee, told the council he was reappointed and outlined challenges and opportunities the committee faces, including low quorum rates that limit its ability to make formal recommendations.

“At the last parks committee meeting… we invited the lower shore autism community and, Team360, and then we had some other community members show up,” Pronsky said, describing a discussion about improving City Park Trail access for people with mobility needs and a conversation about creating a sensory trail to engage sight, sound and touch for users with autism and other sensory needs. He said the sensory trail concept aims to be a relatively low-cost park improvement that would broaden access.

Pronsky asked for increased engagement from city staff to encourage committee attendance and to help the committee produce actionable recommendations for council consideration. He described the institutional setup that complicates parks work — planning staff, field operations and housing/community development each play different roles — and said clearer staff support would improve community follow-through and the committee’s ability to record votes and formal recommendations.

Council thanked Pronsky for his service and encouraged ongoing dialogue between the committee and staff. The council also appointed two members to the parks and rec committee earlier in the meeting.

Pronsky offered to speak further with mayoral staff and council members about next steps, including how to structure outreach and the draft sensory-trail concept for review.