Parks staff told the City of Philomath Parks Advisory Board on Nov. 4 that new exercise equipment for City Park has been ordered and will be installed next year when site conditions allow. Staff also introduced a Philomath 2050 community visioning project intended to gather public priorities and help the city and partners sequence capital projects.

Chelsea, parks and recreation staff liaison, said the ordered exercise equipment will be placed at City Park once ground conditions allow. "We have ordered it. It won't be put in until next year when it kinda dries out at City Park," she said.

Staff described the Philomath 2050 visioning process as a community-driven effort that will hire an outside consultant and gather input about long-term needs and priorities across agencies and organizations. Chelsea said the project will help the city avoid competing requests for limited funding — for example, between a senior center and a skate park — by clarifying community priorities before pursuing grants or bonds.

Board members asked about the skate park. Chelsea said there is currently no committed funding and that the visioning process is a chance to surface and prioritize the skate park alongside other needs. "We don't have funding currently," she said, adding that the city intentionally paused active skate-park pursuit pending the visioning results.

The board agreed to devote its Dec. 2 meeting to a Parks & Trails Master Plan work session. Staff asked members to review the master plan in advance and highlight projects they want to discuss so the board can advise the council on priorities and potential timing for updates.

What happens next

Staff will: coordinate the exercise equipment installation timing; finalize scope and funding approach for the Philomath 2050 visioning project and report back; and prepare materials for the Dec. 2 master plan work session.