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Laurel Park-Tree Board approves minutes, reviews park repairs and Arbor Day plans
Summary
The Laurel Park-Tree Board approved Jan. 8 minutes and discussed park facility issues — including a tentative one-night August rental of Riverside Park, plumbing and sewer checks at Billie Riddle Splash Park and the Rod & Gun Club building, lighting work at Riverside Hall, and Arbor Day grant planning for Oct. 6, 2026 at Thompson Park.
The Laurel Park-Tree Board met Feb. 5, 2026, at the American Legion Building in Riverside Park and approved its Jan. 8, 2026 minutes after a motion by board member Irv Wilke and a second from Richard Klose. The meeting was called to order at 5:26 p.m. and adjourned at 6:33 p.m.
Board members spent the session reviewing several park maintenance and programming items. The board tentatively revised plans to rent Riverside Park in August 2026 to a single night; no formal vote on the rental plan was recorded. Members reported that all campers and leftover items at the Riverside Park campground have been cleaned up.
On facility upgrades, the board said lighting work at Riverside Hall (the Lions Club building) has been approved and a contractor is working on sheetrock upgrades. Discussion included how to dispose of old light fixtures and a query from board member Paul Kober about how to access $10,000 for repairs; board members agreed insulation work will wait until fall.
The board noted continued challenges finding a sewer line at Billie Riddle Splash Park for proposed toilet installation; a timeline and funding source were not specified. Separately, the Laurel Rod and Gun Club building was discussed after City Council raised the possibility of reusing the structure. A water leak was discovered near the building; Matt (listed in the minutes) will check the sewer and plumbing status and whether repairs are feasible. The building currently has power connected but switched off, and members discussed fundraising and whether the Rod and Gun Club would champion future work.
On community events, the board reported that Arbor Day grant paperwork has been submitted and that Arbor Day will be observed Oct. 6, 2026, at Thompson Park. Joe Holzwarth will continue researching the grant, and Lu Anne Engh will advise the board on next steps.
Other items: Chair Tom Canape is organizing a bus tour of the city's parks, and clerk Jon Rutt requested the Park Department budget report; Richard Klose said he would follow up to obtain it. The board set its next meeting for March 5, 2026.
