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Commissioners probe unauthorized arboretum on Brentwood greenway
Summary
The mayor reported an unauthorized arboretum on a 16‑acre city greenway created without coordination; staff were asked to investigate whether to bring the area up to required standards or return it to its prior condition after prior removals in 2021 and 2023.
During commissioner comments, the mayor raised concern about unauthorized improvements on a 16-acre city-owned greenway between the Bridal Haven subdivision and the Westgate Commons commercial area.
The mayor said the plants and features appear to have been placed by a nearby resident, identified in the discussion as Ryan Reed, and that the parks department previously required removal of unauthorized features: exercise equipment and a fire pit in 2021 and a scaled‑down golf course in 2023. The mayor said staff now must determine whether to (a) bring the area up to city standards or (b) return it to its previous, unimproved condition. "If the residents of Brentwood want a third arboretum ... by all means ... but if the neighborhood and the citizens do want it there, we need to figure out what that really means in terms of budget and improvements," the mayor said.
The city noted the land was dedicated in 1995 as a permanent greenway buffer, is zoned as a protected natural buffer, and is not intended for improvements without appropriate review. The mayor requested staff and legal follow-up to investigate the feature’s history, what existing trees may have been tagged versus newly planted, and what options the commission has to address the site.
No formal action was taken; commissioners asked staff to investigate and report back.
