Commission outlines small capital priorities — dog-waste stations, bike repair stands and playground upgrades — and hears splash-pad vandalism report

Commissioners used the March 26 meeting to set a short list of small capital projects they want priced and pursued over the next two to three years.

Priority items discussed included installing dog-waste stations (recommended locations: Beach Park top lot, south side of the linear trail, South Branch), bike-repair stations at Cooper Park, the linear trail and downtown near the old rail tracks, and interactive/sensory panels for the small Beach Park play area. Members also discussed replacing or installing recessed anchor points for movie screens and permanent pads to level the projector setup to simplify movie-night setup.

Commissioner Billy framed the discussion as a mix of grant-seeking (county/state playground grants) and modest town capital funding; staff noted some town money is currently tied up and recommended pursuing grant avenues first but also asked commissioners to collect vendor pricing to inform future capital requests.

Town staff reported a splash-pad maintenance issue: a square vent cover was found broken, police were notified, and the town estimates roughly $590 in damage for the part; the part has been ordered and staff expect repair by May 31. The meeting noted the pad camera did not capture the act, and a resident reported the broken vent was discovered when a grandchild almost fell through.

Next steps: staff to collect cost estimates for prioritized items, pursue grant opportunities where feasible and report back with pricing; public-works staff to complete the splash-pad repair once the part arrives.