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Parks & Recreation advisory board briefs Marquette commission on consolidated board, capital projects and dog-park outreach
Summary
Amanda Gobert, chair of Marquette's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, told the commission the consolidated advisory board will reduce to 11 members by 2027 and highlighted capital projects including Kids Cove, Lakeview Arena repairs and pier work at Cindermond Pond Marina; the board plans public outreach on a proposed dog park once cost and layout details are firmed up.
Amanda Gobert, chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, gave the Marquette City Commission a wide-ranging update on Feb. 23, outlining the board’s role in implementing the city’s five-year parks and recreation master plan and identifying near-term capital needs.
Gobert said the merged advisory group currently has 13 members after combining the former parks-and-rec board, the harbor advisory committee and the Presque Isle Park advisory committee, and that the board has direction to reduce membership to 11 by 2027. “We currently have 13 board members,” Gobert said. “We do have direction that our board needs to be down to 11 members by 2027.”
The chair described the city’s park inventory and active projects: seven rentable facilities, 21 parks encompassing roughly 2,810 acres, two community gardens with about 75 garden sites, and a network of outdoor athletic fields and trails. Recent and ongoing projects cited included Kids Cove, work at Lakeview Arena (including the need for a new Zamboni), support for the Cultural Arts and Trail Center, and improvements at the Bandshell in Presque Isle. Gobert also said the board is pursuing grant funding to replace piers at the Cindermond Pond Marina and that three board members participated in an e-bike task force that provided monthly input to the board’s recommendations.
On rules and recent policy work, Gobert said the board supported an ordinance that prohibits dogs from certain poured-in-place playground surfaces for safety reasons. She said staff and the board are also developing a fiscal policy for city marinas and looking at options for capital improvements and long-term maintenance.
Commissioners asked whether consolidation had preserved representation for key areas such as waterfront and hockey. Gobert said the board will aim to maintain those designated representatives and that the consolidation has brought broader perspectives into monthly discussions. She said staff are working to improve the project-list presentation so completed items don’t remain visible simply because of spreadsheet import issues.
Several commissioners pressed for public outreach on a proposed dog park. Gobert said the board approved a recommendation for the city to continue exploring the project and plans to hold an open forum after it has clearer cost and layout information — targeting an April meeting for public input. “We do want to put it back on our agenda to be able to invite the public to offer their input,” she said.
Gobert told the commission the board is considering alternatives to grants — including private fundraising and user fees — to advance projects when grant funding is not available. She emphasized preserving natural resources while allowing appropriate development at Presque Isle and other city parks.
The commission thanked Gobert and the advisory board for their work and encouraged continued outreach as project details solidify. The commission took no formal action on any of the items during the presentation; Gobert’s update was received for information.
