Parks staff report winterizing, spray-pad upgrades and wetlands amenities underway

Parks staff reported routine operational work and construction updates, including winterization of parks and a multi-million-dollar wetlands project tied to the wastewater-treatment upgrades.

Josh (public works staff) said parks crews have winterized street trees and nearly all park restrooms; ‘‘Bathrooms are all winterized except for American Legion and Centennial,’' he said. Josh described control-system and hardware upgrades to the spray pad that will allow the city to change programming and offer different summer sequences.

Staff also updated the committee on the wetlands element of the wastewater-treatment project. Jessica McClanahan said the wastewater/wetlands project is "in full swing" and that roughly $5,000,000 of that project is slated for public amenities, including trails, observation decks, water-wise gardening demonstrations and restrooms. Staff clarified there is not a direct trail connection from the existing wastewater-treatment plant to the park; separate county-level transportation and trail discussions apply to connections outside the urban growth boundary.

Committee members discussed stewardship and education ideas tied to Arbor Day and school partnerships, including a proposed display of a local juniper cross-section and possible Tree Campus K–12 programming. Staff said they will follow up with stewardship partners and prepare materials for the next committee meeting.

Next procedural step: staff to continue routine operations and provide additional updates as construction on the wetlands/wastewater amenities progresses; no formal committee action recorded on operational items.