Parks board endorses broad priorities for $6 million parks bond, urges focus on playground safety and William Houston

The Saginaw Parks Board on Feb. 2 recommended that city council prioritize a set of park improvements if voters approve a proposed parks bond, endorsing upgrades at William Houston Park, Willow Creek North, Highland Station and Sagewood with an emphasis on replacing aging playground equipment, adding pickleball courts and improving trail connectivity.

The board heard a presentation from Laura Presley, a landscape architect with Kimley Horn, who reviewed concepts and cost estimates developed from the 2021 parks master plan and subsequent community and council feedback. Presley said the estimates include survey, design, bidding, construction-phase services, inflation and a 20% contingency. She reported Area 1 (William Houston field and parking) at $4,675,000 and Area 2 (the playground) at $2,200,000, saying the two areas together represent "just about 7,000,000 total cost for the fields, parking, and playground." The consultant and board members used a $6,000,000 placeholder bond figure for planning guidance, which board members acknowledged could change at council direction.

Why it matters: Board members and staff said playground safety and aging equipment were high priorities following certified playground assessments. Several members cautioned that committing most bond money to a single high-cost project could make the ballot choice binary for voters, and urged the board to frame its recommendation broadly so the city can flexibly use funds and pursue grant matches.

Discussion highlights included a debate over demand for pickleball courts, the feasibility of converting or striping multiuse courts, and constraints at floodplain sites. On floodplain issues at Willow Creek, board members and staff noted federal floodplain rules limit filling and that grading and site design can reduce—but not eliminate—flooding risk.

Board members also reviewed other items in the consultant packet, including a proposed skate-park renovation, dog-park expansions and a Highland Station trail extension toward Basswood. Presley said many items can be scaled: "if you wanna do the pickleball court and no, like, shade structures, no lighting... we can cut that in half too to help cut with cost." She advised the board that final equipment selection and detailed designs would come later in the design phase with additional public input.

A former board member, Thomas Weaver, urged use of the adopted master plan as the detailed guide: "The details are the plan," he said, adding that bond language should remain broad enough to allow matching grants and adjustments during implementation.

Action taken: The parks board voted to adopt a statement advising council to prioritize William Houston, Willow Creek North, Highland Station and Sagewood, with emphasis on bringing playground equipment up to safety standards, adding pickleball offerings and improving trail connectivity. The motion was seconded and the chair announced it had passed; the transcript records the outcome as "it passes" but does not include a roll-call tally.

Next steps and context: Board members asked staff to present the recommended priorities to council and advised continuing public engagement during design. Staff noted that playground options, renderings and cost refinements would be developed if the projects move forward. The board also requested an update on a 2021 bond video showcasing completed projects to help educate voters about past bond outcomes.

Quotes: "We have the new softball field..." (Laura Presley). "Just about 7,000,000 total cost for the fields, parking, and playground." (Laura Presley). "The details are the plan." (Thomas Weaver). "It is the advisement of the parks board that the city prioritize improvement at the following parks: William Houston, Willow Creek North, Highland Station, Sagewood, with emphasis on bringing aging playground equipment up to safety standards, adding pickleball court offerings, and trail connectivity." (Adopted board statement).

Limitations: Vote totals and the names of the motion mover and seconder were not recorded in the transcript. The board and consultant repeatedly noted cost estimates are conceptual; final budgets and scopes will depend on the bond amount council places on the ballot and later design decisions.

The parks board adjourned after approving the statement and asked staff to present the recommendations to council at an upcoming meeting.