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Parks staff announce Gallup Park sculpture, $500,000 Buhr Park grant and volunteer reorganization
Summary
Parks Manager Josh reported the selection of an artist team for a Gallup Park sculpture, a pop-up dog‑park success at Veterans, a $500,000 Michigan DNR Land and Water Conservation Fund grant for Buhr Park improvements and a reorganization consolidating volunteer programs under one unit with a new community-activation position.
Parks Manager Josh reported several year‑end updates at the Ann Arbor Parks Advisory Commission meeting on Dec. 17, 2024: the public‑art jury selected a husband‑and‑wife artist team, Kelly and Gavin Broden, to create a 10‑foot sculpture at Gallup Park; staff are continuing the selection process for art in the Barton Pedestrian Tunnel; the pop‑up dog park at Veterans Park has drawn high use though neighbors raised concerns about lighting; and the department received a $500,000 grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for Buhr Park improvements.
"We received a $500,000 grant for Buhr Park improvements through the Land and Water Conservation Fund through the MDNR," Josh said, adding that work will begin after the commission considers resolutions and RFPs early in 2025. He said planned work at Buhr includes upgrades to the ice‑mechanical system and ADA improvements identified in a study completed last year.
On volunteer programs, Josh said staff reviewed volunteer roles after a coordinator left and propose consolidating all park volunteer programs under a single unit to standardize processes and broaden volunteer engagement. "So we're not losing any positions," he said, describing the change as a reallocation of responsibilities that will create a new community‑activation position focused on neighborhood and regional parks and events.
Commissioners asked for clarification about Natural Area Preservation (NAP) volunteers and whether they would follow the same processes; Josh replied that NAP practices that work well will be adopted across programs and that day‑to‑day volunteer work is not expected to change. Staff said they will notify volunteers and the public as the new structure is rolled out in the coming weeks and months.
The commission received the report without formal action. Staff said additional details and timeline for the Gallup Park sculpture, Barton Tunnel selection and Buhr Park contracting will be provided to the commission in early 2025.
