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Staff briefs Longwood Parks board on skate-park upgrades, Firdap-funded repairs and spring events
Summary
City parks staff told the advisory board Feb. 3 that skate-park plans and several park repairs will move forward this spring, including a nearly $20,000 court resurfacing at Sandalwood Park funded by a Firdap grant; staff also reviewed upcoming events including a Strawberry Festival, autism walk and chili cook-off.
City parks staff updated the Longwood Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on a slate of spring projects and community events during the board’s Feb. 3 meeting.
A staff member told the board that some plant material suffered windburn in a recent freeze but is recoverable, and that drinking-fountain components at Ryder Park were damaged by freezing and will require replacement. The same staff member said the city has paid an upfront vendor deposit to run electricity and lighting to the skate park; design plans from the skate-park vendor are expected in the coming weeks.
“The skate park is one of the Firdap grants that will be utilizing some of those funds,” staff said. “Sandalwood Park will be replacing the court — it’s nearly a $20,000 job — we’re going to be relaying asphalt and lining it for basketball.” The staff update noted that grant funds (Firdap) are covering some pocket-park and amenity upgrades so general fund money is not being used for those projects.
Staff also reviewed community event planning: the autism walk has a new logo and vendor outreach in progress, the Strawberry Festival staff will monitor crop availability after recent freezes and the chili cook-off has secured several vendor confirmations and high-school culinary participation. Board members volunteered to help promote events on local Facebook pages and to solicit volunteers and sponsors.
Board members raised program ideas that face facility and cost constraints, including a spring-break camp; staff explained the loss of low-cost school facilities has made running temporary camps expensive, as some school venues now require significantly higher rental fees.
What’s next: staff said they will follow up with finance on several sponsorship and revenue entries that board members flagged as inconsistent in the event accounting; they will also bring finalized skate-park plans, fountain-replacement recommendations and firm cost estimates for the commission as needed.
The meeting concluded after routine calendar corrections and adjournment.
