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Meridian Parks & Recreation elects Dom Gelsimino chair, prioritizes pathways and community center for 2025
Summary
The commission elected Dom Gelsimino as chair and Brianne Sandow as vice chair for 2025 and voted to adopt an aggregated set of 10 priorities for the year, with a tie for first place between a connected pathway system and the new community center; staff outlined a draft timeline for the center aiming to bid within a year and break ground in spring 2026.
At its Dec. 11 meeting the Meridian Parks and Recreation Commission elected a new leadership slate for 2025 and approved prioritized goals for the coming year.
The chair said Meridian City code and the commission bylaws require December elections. Vice Chair Dom Gelsimino was the automatic nominee for chair and Commissioner Brianne Sandow was nominated for vice chair. After a motion and second, the commission approved the slate by acclamation; the new chair and vice chair will assume their roles at the January 2025 meeting.
The commission then considered a staff-prepared draft of 10 goals carried forward from 2024 with edits and several proposed additions. Director Sidaway asked commissioners to rank items A–J so staff could aggregate preferences. After each commissioner provided rankings, staff reported the combined results: a tie for first between (1) developing a connected pathway system across the city and (1) advancing the new community center; the Pathways Master Plan and ongoing park improvements followed. The commission voted to approve the aggregated ranked list as the official 2025 priorities.
Director Sidaway offered a preliminary schedule for the community center: design development in spring, a detailed cost estimate to be ready for the June–July budget process, funds available in October if approved, with a plan to put construction out to bid about a year from now and to break ground in spring 2026 “if all goes, quote, unquote, well.” He also said staff are aggregating public comment cards from a recent open house (about 30–50 attendees and roughly 14 comment cards) and expect a more detailed update in January or February.
Commissioners emphasized collaboration and noted other top priorities including support for the Pathways Master Plan, arts/theming partnerships in parks, on-course golf improvements (on-course restrooms remain in process) and targeted outreach for new park sites, including a proposed future park in Northwest Meridian’s Fields District.
The commission approved the priorities by motion; the vote was recorded by voice and the chair declared the motion carried.
