The Sweet Home Park and Tree Committee on Dec. 18, 2024, discussed final design work for Sankey Park Phase 3, confirmed an April Arbor Day date, and prioritized a limited tree order while reviewing citywide park funding needs ahead of next year’s budget.

Committee members were told Sankey Park design work is nearly complete. “I have 90% drawings, should have a 100% by the end of this month,” a committee member reported. The group discussed that once the design is finalized the city will reexamine an OPRD grant and budget to align project scope and funding.

Why it matters: the committee plans to focus scarce park funding on projects already underway, notably Sankey Phase 3, while preserving space in designs for a future bandstand/community event center. The committee noted the project’s grant deadline and the need to reconcile design, paving choices and cost estimates before requesting additional funds.

Details and immediate decisions

- Sankey Park Phase 3: Committee members said consultants reduced costly switchbacks while keeping the trail ADA-compliant and left a reserve area for a future community bandstand. Staff expects to receive 100% drawings and a cost estimate soon and will circulate them to the committee for review.

- Arbor Day and tree orders: The committee confirmed Arbor Day will be in late April (committee members referenced April 26 as the working date) and prioritized ordering specific trees now because nursery stock is limited. Committee members asked staff to prioritize Akebono and Daybreak cherry trees and at least one flowering plum to replace a damaged Ames Creek tree.

- Planting schedule: To maximize survival, the committee recommended planting ordered trees in January if possible.

- Community gardens and volunteer support: The committee discussed demand for community garden boxes and noted limited availability; the city currently does not charge for water and has reduced expansion because some plots went unsold and because irrigation and maintenance create recurring costs. Sugar City Gleaners was mentioned as a local group that can glean excess fruit from park trees.

Broader park priorities and constraints

Committee members spent the larger portion of the meeting reviewing park priorities across the city, including Northside, Strawberry, Ashbrook, Clover and the new park at 42nd and Osage. Staff and members said infrastructure — sidewalks, roads, water and sewer extensions — is the primary barrier to completing some parks and that the general fund is “really snug” for off-site work.

Committee members suggested focusing limited funds on finishing projects already in progress, improving trail connectivity (including linking South Hills Trail to Sankey Park), and upgrading signage and park maps so residents can more easily find small and off-street parks. The group also discussed the idea of branded, consistent park signs and keeping updated printed park maps available at City Hall and partner organizations.

Staffing and next steps

Angela Brown, identified during the meeting as city staff, told the committee that infrastructure costs must be covered before some parks can be completed: “We have to put the infrastructure in first,” she said. The committee expects the final Sankey designs and a cost estimate to arrive in January, at which point members will review and recommend funding priorities for the next budget year.

Ending

The committee set short-term priorities around finalizing Sankey Phase 3 designs and placing limited nursery orders for Arbor Day plantings while continuing to examine funding and signage options for smaller neighborhood parks.