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Council adds Le Moine ("Cheese") Park to CIP assessment list amid equity debate
Summary
Following resident testimony about long‑standing neglect, the council voted to add Le Moine (Cheese) Park to the Capital Improvement Program list for assessment using the city's prioritization framework; councilmembers emphasized the need to apply the parks CIP scoring and provide a district‑by‑district view of park needs.
Residents urged the council to make improvements at Le Moine (commonly called Cheese Park): permanent restrooms, playground restoration, toddler‑area fencing, drainage repair and a renovated sports field. Longtime neighbors described years of neglect and said lack of amenities is an equity issue; others urged the council to embed any work in a citywide, transparent CIP prioritization process rather than advancing a single‑park project outside the assessment framework.
Council members debated how to treat the request: Vice Mayor Doria Robinson and others emphasized adherence to the city's park assessment and CIP scoring process, while Council Member Bana and residents pushed for immediate prioritization for District 4. After discussion, Vice Mayor Robinson moved to formally add Cheese Park to the CIP list and to direct staff to evaluate it using the established facilities and parks assessment system, produce a table of parks and their needs/costs, and return with recommendations; the motion passed with a majority vote.
Staff noted a complicating factor: parts of the contiguous open area are owned or controlled by the school district, so expanded scope or large capital work may require coordination with the school district and possibly interagency agreements. No funding was immediately allocated; the motion directed staff to prepare cost estimates and feasibility and return with options.
