Parks board approves Deerfield Park concept, recommends plan and priorities to City Council

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted unanimously May 15 to recommend the final conceptual design for Deerfield Park to City Council, endorsing a base project estimate in the low-$21 million range and identifying several add-alternates that could raise the total close to $25 million.

Staff presenter Tom summarized the concept as a four-diamond complex with two rectangular fields, a centrally located playground, restrooms and concessions, storage buildings, a new second entry/exit to relieve congestion, an inclusive playground, an eight-court pickleball area and a splash pad. He told the board the updated design increases on-site parking to about 301 spaces from an earlier estimate of 250 by using a parking agreement with the old City Hall complex and related access connections.

"We got 301 spots up from the original estimated 250, which is a huge increase," Tom said during the presentation.

The consultant'0s opinion of probable cost shows the base project (fields and infrastructure) in the low-$21 million range; three near-term elements (a bridge, a boardwalk/connection and other immediate items) bring a combined subtotal just over $22 million, staff said. Several amenities '10including additional turf, pickleball courts and a splash pad'10are identified as add-alternates to be bid separately so the city can prioritize work depending on funding.

Board members focused discussion on sequencing and priorities. Several members argued that the small multipurpose field labeled as area 12 should be turfed or prioritized over the splash pad because it increases warm-up and practice capacity; others said pickleball courts would draw broad community use and deserved high priority. Staff noted the base plan includes lighting and other infrastructure so turf could be added later without redoing core systems.

Resident John Lundstedt, in public comment, urged the board to "get the fields right," praising the multi-use approach and saying the design meets the master-plan team-number targets while cautioning the city to preserve space for future needs.

After discussion, a board member moved to approve the concept as presented with one modest amendment: shift the central multipurpose field slightly to the south so the bridge exit lands outside the playing surface rather than on it. Doris moved the motion and Allison seconded; the board voted unanimously to recommend the amended concept to Council. Staff told the board the design will be taken to City Council for approval next month.

Next steps include advancing engineering and soliciting bids for the base project and add-alternates. Staff emphasized that the add-alternates will be bid separately so the city can phase the work if bids exceed budget projections.