Newport council hears progress report on parks master plan; staff seeks project manager in budget

Newport City Council held a work session March 3 to receive a progress report on the city’s 2019 Parks Master Plan and to discuss priorities for the coming year. Nancy, chair of the Parks and Recreation Committee, and Mike, parks department staff, summarized completed work, projects underway and a budget request for a project manager to address a backlog of park projects.

The committee and parks staff told councilors the plan identifies 38 recommended projects. “We started progress on about 45% of them,” Nancy said, and staff reported that about 10% of the original recommendations have been eliminated for reasons including sustainability or code restrictions. Mike and committee members said 11 projects were started this year and two were completed.

The report highlighted specific accomplishments and near-complete projects. Staff said the Ocean To Bay Trail is substantially finished with signage and kiosks in place along much of the route, and that a ribbon cutting was held earlier this year. The South Beach Marina now has a marked non-motorized boat launch after coordination between the port and the parks department. Completed work in recent years includes lighting and scoreboards at Betty Wheeler Memorial Field, shelter re-roofing at Big Creek Park, an outfield safety improvement at Frank Wade Park, and community garden fencing.

Projects that advanced but are not finished include the Agate Beach dog park (staff reported design at about 60%), resurfaced pickleball courts at Frank Wade Park, new playground equipment and restrooms on Sanmore Parkway, and multi-use trails at Big Creek Reservoir developed in partnership with Newport Trail Stewards (NEWTS). NEWTS completed phases 1–3 of the reservoir trails and continue to maintain them, staff said.

The committee recommended several near-term priorities: finish remaining tasks on the Ocean To Bay Trail (including sidewalk decals and an additional kiosk at Abbey Street Pier), improve trail lighting and safety near Sam Moore Parkway and the trail to Betty Wheeler, and pursue design and construction of a pocket park in the Wilder neighborhood. Nancy said the Parks Committee supports adding a dedicated project manager position to the parks budget to help deliver and oversee projects. “We will need to find budget for that or seek external funding,” she said, and Mike told the council he plans to request funding for at least a part-time project manager during the budget process.

Committee members and councilors discussed community partnerships and fundraising. The Parks Foundation (the “Friends Organization”) has expanded from a three-member to a five-member board and is pursuing grants including AARP grants; staff said the foundation has had some recent grant success and is discussing fundraising and branding to increase visibility. Staff said the Allred Hotel’s general manager, JC, has volunteered maintenance assistance and would consider future partnership support for Coast Park, but that the hotel was not in a financial position to make a large contribution immediately.

Councilor Cynthia asked about Forest Park health work funded by a previously approved $50,000 line item. Staff said the funds were spent on invasive species removal (ivy and Scotch broom) across city parks and main thoroughfares; when asked about remaining balance, staff said roughly $3,000 remained from that allocation and that the program is intended to recur on a roughly every-other-year schedule, subject to budget approval.

Councilors also handled two procedural motions at the meeting’s end. Councilor Heemann moved to excuse Councilor Parker due to illness; Councilor Hickman seconded and the motion carried. Later, a motion to hold an executive session pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(i) to review and evaluate the employment-related performance of a public officer was moved by Councillor Ehman and seconded by Councillor Romagu; that motion carried and the council adjourned into executive session.

The Parks Committee asked the council to consider equity of park access, noting North Newport has new development and limited neighborhood park facilities. Nancy said the master plan was written as a 20-year roadmap and that the committee would continue annual reviews; she closed by urging the council to support continued progress on the list of recommended projects.

Questions and next steps from the meeting include staff’s formal budget request for a parks project manager, follow-up on potential private partnerships and fundraising from the Parks Foundation, final design and construction timelines for Agate Beach dog park and Sam Moore playground improvements, and continued work on the Ocean To Bay Trail signage and kiosks.