Commission accepts Reservoir Park geodesign report, asks city manager to form steering group

The Livingston City Commission voted March 20 to receive the Reservoir Park Geodesign Workshop report and directed the city manager to pursue formation of a steering committee to advance design and implementation.

The report, prepared by Alec Antic of CV Studio, summarized results of two in-person geodesign workshops and an online mapping survey that drew 202 responses. Antic described geodesign as "a collaborative method, for structured discussion of, spatial and city policies" that uses maps and stakeholder input to test scenarios and build consensus.

Why it matters: Reservoir Park is a roughly 5.5-acre city-owned parcel on Livingston’s north side that residents use informally. The workshops produced a set of preferred approaches — preserving natural features, improving trails and connectivity, adding off-street parking and basic amenities such as restrooms, and concentrating more active recreation on the western portion of the site — that the commission said merit next-step planning and a community-led steering group.

Workshop findings and immediate reaction Alec Antic told the commission the site was generally divided into three zones by existing city water infrastructure. He said workshop participants generally favored keeping the east zone "as natural as possible," enhancing it with drought‑tolerant plantings or a demonstration garden; putting utilitarian items such as parking and restrooms in the middle zone; and locating play areas and picnic/recreation uses on the west side. Antic said one group discussed a small children's bicycle pump track but "there was never, like, a full consensus" on that amenity.

Public commenters and commissioners raised several implementation points. Rachel Jones, executive director of Farm to School in Park County, told the commission, "I was surprised not to see any community garden features in your, schematics," and said her organization would participate in planning if the city considered local food or urban agriculture features. Hayes Gucci, who lives adjacent to the park, offered to serve on a steering committee as a neighborhood representative.

Commission direction and next steps City Manager Brent Gager told commissioners the staff recommendation was to follow the consultant’s suggestion: form a steering committee comprising city staff, nonprofits, residents and other stakeholders, define funding and maintenance responsibilities, and then hire a design professional once scope and budget are clearer. Commissioners voted to receive the report and asked staff to start forming the steering committee and to fold Reservoir Park planning into the new parks master plan where appropriate.

Implementation questions flagged Commissioners and commenters flagged issues staff will need to resolve in next steps: identifying likely funding sources and maintenance responsibilities; ADA access and pedestrian safety; traffic and parking treatment on adjacent streets; and how potential features such as community gardens might be sited in ways that serve nearby lower‑income housing. Antic and Gager said the geodesign process was a nonbinding, preplanning exercise intended to establish community priorities, not a fixed project budget or timeline.

The commission’s vote to receive the report clears the way for staff to form a steering committee and to begin tying community recommendations to a realistic budget and maintenance plan. The city also noted that a parks master plan update under way could be used to coordinate final design and funding.

Ending: The commission thanked participants and consultants for the outreach and emphasized that the steering committee and staff will return to the commission with recommended next steps, budget options and, eventually, design proposals for formal review.