Council discussion focuses on Evans Park spray pad location; parks staff and boards favored Evans over Vanston

Councilmember Elizabeth Rodriguez Ross pressed staff on the choice of Evans Park for the next spray pad, saying the parks master plan identified Vanston Park as a recommended location and asking why the city did not follow that guidance.

“Why is Evans being our next spray pad location as opposed to what was suggested in our parks master plan, which is at Vanston Park,” Rodriguez Ross said during the meeting.

Elizabeth Harrell of the Parks and Recreation Department told council that the parks master plan mentioned Vanston as one possible site but did not mandate a location. Harrell said parks staff, the parks board and the 4B board reviewed multiple sites to distribute aquatic amenities across the city and selected Evans because it previously had a pool, supports heavy playground use, has a large parking lot and is adjacent to the recreation center. Harrell said locating the spray pad at Evans would provide an aquatics feature “in an underserved area of the city” near apartment complexes and children who could walk to the park.

Councilmember Jeff Casper and others argued that public amenities draw users from across districts and said adding this facility provides broader community value. Councilmember Kenny Green asked about historical pool attendance and staff replied Evans had been the lowest attended pool prior to its removal, which contributed to the earlier decision to scale back aquatic facilities.

Council also noted the project is being funded by the 4B board; Rodriguez Ross emphasized that the city is investing roughly $280,000 and asked why that figure is being spent at a location that was not the master‑plan recommendation. Staff replied the site choice followed input from appointed boards and capital priorities previously adopted by council.

The Evans Park spray pad project was included on the consent agenda (bid 2025‑052) and approved by the council as part of that block vote.

Why it matters: spray pads and pools are visible, recurring park investments; councilmembers pressed the city to show the parks master plan and board advice were being followed or explained when the staff recommended a different site.

What’s next: project execution and construction procurement will proceed under the bid award; funding source is the 4B board and project is part of the city’s capital priorities.

Attribution: Quotes and paraphrase come from council and Parks and Recreation staff during the council meeting.