Oak Grove council backs Lake George Regional Park plan; members press for trail connection first

The Oak Grove City Council voted 4–1 on Sept. 8 to approve a resolution supporting the Lake George Regional Park long‑range plan. Council Member West cast the lone vote against the resolution.

Council discussion focused on priorities for any state or regional funds the park district might receive. Several council members said they would support the plan if the district prioritized a trail connection that would improve pedestrian and bicycle safety over more costly, discretionary items such as boardwalk features or replacement of existing pavilions. One council member told colleagues that if funds were available, they would prefer the trail connection be built earlier in the schedule rather than deferred to later phases.

Council members also questioned the plan’s preliminary cost estimates. During the discussion staff reported one cost estimate for paving a trail at roughly $450,000 and noted the most expensive bridge or boardwalk crossing in the plan was shown internally at about $2.1 million. Council members asked that city support include language urging the park district to prioritize the trail segment and safer crossing points.

The motion approved (resolution number referenced in the meeting materials) asked staff to transmit the council’s support along with requested prioritization language. The resolution was non‑financial; council members stressed the city was not committing funds.

Why it matters: Regional park grants can move money into a community’s parks and trails network. City leaders said they feared that if the grant money flowed elsewhere the city’s residents would not receive the local benefits despite paying regional taxes.

Outcome: Council vote to support Lake George Regional Park long‑range plan — approved 4–1 (Council Member West opposed).