Commission reviews $28.7M parks capital-improvement program, urges $250,000 for Westside park development

The Parks and Community Services Commission on April 10 reviewed the parks elements of the proposed 2025–26 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and the city’s five‑year CIP plan, and voted 7‑0 to recommend that City Council add $250,000 to the Westside Park development fund.

City staff presented an overview of the CIP process and funding sources, and said the full draft CIP totals roughly $28.7 million. Staff explained that approximately $12 million of that total is proposed bond financing (for a separate fire station project) and about $6.9 million is grant funding for transportation projects; the remaining amounts are a mix of gas tax, general fund and other restricted sources. Staff said the parks portion of the one‑year CIP (2025–26) is relatively modest — roughly $550,000 in park projects — reflecting limited discretionary funding in the coming year and many projects already in permitting and design phases.

Staff reviewed near‑term project schedules: Ketchum (permits, construction expected late summer), Lions Park (café nearing completion), Shalimar Park (construction expected in September after acquisition activity), skate‑park design (bid in July with hoped construction start in October), and improvements such as batting cages at TeWinkle and Lehi Community Center air conditioning. Staff also said a citywide park assessment and a Fairview Park master-plan technical report will be underway; those studies will inform future CIP prioritization.

Members of the public and several commissioners raised specific concerns: a public commenter urged moving earlier the repair/replacement of lighting along Cornerstone/Joanne bike trails because theft and vandalism have left key lights offline; commissioners noted deferred playground replacements (e.g., Harbor View/Marina View and Harper Park) and asked how long items have been deferred. Staff said some playgrounds had been deferred roughly two years while the city focused on other large projects and noted limited grant sources for playground equipment replacement.

Commission discussion focused on priorities and equity: several commissioners argued that neighborhoods lacking nearby parks — especially the West Side — should receive prioritized funding and that the commission should recommend targeted allocations or a dedicated fund for Westside park development. Commissioner Dorn Parker moved, and the commission seconded, a recommendation to add $250,000 to the Westside Park fund to begin acquisition and planning; the motion passed 7‑0. Staff noted there is already an existing allocation in that project and the $250,000 would add to the fund.

Ending: Staff will include the commission’s recommendation when the CIP goes to council for review; the full budget calendar anticipates council review in April and final budget adoption in June.