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Talent council adopts Chuck Roberts Park master-plan revisions, approves leashed-pathway dog ordinance
Summary
The City of Talent adopted a revision to the Chuck Roberts Park master plan that moves tennis/pickleball courts, adds an accessible play area, a one-acre large-dog fenced area, splash-pad plans and shelter benches. Council also approved an ordinance allowing leashed dogs on park pathways and requiring animal-waste receptacles; members raised enforcement and staffing concerns.
The Talent City Council on Oct. 16 adopted a revision to the Chuck Roberts Park master plan and approved an ordinance that allows leashed dogs on park pathways while adding a large fenced dog area and requirements for waste receptacles.
Parks staff and the parks commission presented the amendment, which proposes relocating the tennis and pickleball courts near the baseball field, installing a one-acre fenced area for large dogs, adding an accessible children’s play area for toddlers and older children, and installing a splash pad with water-reuse features and two small shelter/bench structures. "Chuck Roberts Park has been one of the main parks for the City of Talent," parks staff told council during the presentation, emphasizing that public outreach and an open house informed the revision.
Residents who spoke during the public hearing urged safety-focused, near-term fixes as well as the longer master-plan work. Susan Bizzo, a Talent resident, asked the council to consider a temporary 3-foot fence with gated entries to protect playground users from off-leash dogs, requested more benches for older park users, and urged that dog-waste receptacles be installed promptly rather than waiting for grant-funded master-plan work. She also voiced ongoing concern about noise from pickleball courts and trash in picnic areas.
Councilors discussed site constraints and long-term funding. Staff acknowledged known soil and high-water-table issues at the existing tennis-court corner and said the courts would be demolished and the soil conditions addressed before any new play-area installation; irrigation upgrades would be considered during the detailed design phase and could reuse splash-pad water. Funding, staff said, will be assembled incrementally through grants, system development charges and other non-city sources rather than from a single capital pot.
On the related ordinance, the council approved an ordinance (new document identified in the packet as 2024-985) and an amendment to the 2016 ordinance language to allow leashed dogs on pathways specifically at Chuck Roberts Park and to require that animal waste be deposited only in designated receptacles. Parks staff said signage would carry the ordinance wording. Several council members expressed concern about enforceability and staffing to monitor compliance once the rule changes take effect.
The council voted by roll call to adopt the master-plan amendment and to pass the ordinance; Councilors Cooley, Panamera, Greider, Byers and Parra Miller voted "Yes." One councilor was absent. The master-plan revision and ordinance move forward with the expectation that detailed design and funding decisions will be made in future budget cycles and grant rounds.
Council and staff said the parks commission conducted extensive outreach and surveys that shaped the recommendation. Next steps include detailed design work for the revised park elements, identification of likely grant opportunities and incorporation of elements into future budgets and capital planning.
