Spring City holds CDBG hearing as residents press for park upgrades; application deadline Dec. 15

Spring City convened a public hearing on Nov. 6, 2025 to gather community ideas for the 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application cycle, which will allocate roughly $850,000 across the region. The hearing was informational; staff said formal project selection will be addressed at a future council meeting and that application steps must begin by Dec. 15 to be considered for the upcoming funding round.

Several residents — identifying themselves as Christina Greff and Lorraine Clark — urged the council to prioritize neighborhood-park improvements if the city pursues CDBG funds. "We would love to see some improvements to our park," Greff said, asking specifically for swings, a drinking fountain closer to the play area, shade sails, more benches and one or two picnic tables so caregivers have places to sit. Clark added that small infrastructure such as improved sprinklers could make the park more usable year-round.

Commenters said the city previously obtained permission to install a splash pad at the site of the old municipal pool but that the project is prohibitively expensive; Clark described a lower-cost alternative seen elsewhere as "a river that you can walk in," a shallow water feature that provides cooling during events such as July 4. Both residents noted that while construction and equipment can be covered by CDBG, ongoing maintenance and liability costs would not be funded by the grant.

A speaker also suggested adding a pickleball court to provide recreation opportunities for teenagers. City staff and the moderator acknowledged the suggestions and said they would take the ideas under advisement as staff prepares project proposals for council consideration. The moderator reiterated application timing: initial steps must be completed by year-end and the formal application deadline is Dec. 15.

The hearing included a brief roll call naming Marty McCain, Ken Krug, Chris Anderson, Courtney Sue and Paul Penner; McCain was noted as absent. No motions or votes were taken during the hearing. The meeting was adjourned and the council moved on to its regular accounts meeting after a short break.

Next steps: staff will compile the public suggestions and present candidate projects to the council for direction before finalizing any CDBG submission. If the city pursues any of the recommended park work, officials will need to plan for long-term maintenance and liability that would not be covered by CDBG construction funds.