Council tables $15,796 park improvement plan after residents and council ask for fuller plan

The Westland City Council on April 21 tabled a $15,796 bid award to install 19 trees and 36 boulders at Public Park, 2301 S. Wildwood, after extended discussion among council members and neighborhood stakeholders about design, funding sources and community input.

Parks and neighborhood staff recommended Frank’s Landscaping and Supplies LLC as the low bidder for a not‑to‑exceed $15,796 contract to plant trees and install boulders to prevent vehicle access across the grass and to add a walking path. The item had been moved from the consent calendar to new business after council direction.

Pro Tem Sampey told the council she is “not excited” by a plan that she said would simply place many boulders in a neighborhood park and urged postponement so staff could develop a more attractive design that included additional landscaping and reduced hardscape. “That’s not appeasing to me,” she said during debate.

Council members, including Councilwoman Rakowski, Councilwoman Rokoski and others, agreed the neighborhood should be offered a fuller design discussion and that the city should consider whether ARPA funds could be redeployed to improve the park in a more substantial, long‑term way. Director Joanne Campbell said she and Parks Director Kyle Mulligan met with Norwayne neighborhood leaders and that the plan was informed by public input; she also said a new play structure (funded separately) and a walking path are planned for the site and that the trees and boulders were intended to prevent drivers from using the park as a through‑drive and to provide shade.

Councilman Hart said he would support the work after learning that Norwayne leaders had provided input, but several council members requested more design information, including a placement drawing and clarification about timing and funding. “If we went out for a rendering for what this looks like, the cost to pay an engineering firm to give us a rendering…is going to exponentially and potentially eat into whatever budget we want to allocate,” Councilwoman Rakowski said, arguing for a careful approach.

After debate, Councilwoman Rakowski made a motion to table the item for further discussion; the motion was seconded and carried after roll call. The council requested staff provide a site drawing showing the location of trees, boulders and walking path and to return with options that consider ARPA dollars or other capital funding sources.

Why this matters: The item shows tensions between quick capital fixes and broader park improvement planning tied to community priorities. Council members cited equity across parks and asked for a more intentional design and funding mix rather than a single, small capital purchase.

Next steps: Staff will provide the park plan drawing and funding options; council requested a follow‑up discussion and possible budget amendment to use ARPA funds if the body chooses a larger scope.