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Meeting approves holiday tree decorations and nativity scene for city parks
Summary
Members approved plans to decorate about 200 trees across Nathan Strong Park, Fireman’s Park and Forsyth Park and accepted Saint John Church’s proposal to place a nativity scene in Fireman’s Park; displays are to be installed in mid-November and removed by mid-January.
Members at the meeting approved plans to place and light roughly 200 decorated trees across multiple parks and accepted a proposal from Saint John Church to install a nativity scene in Fireman’s Park.
The staff member said, “We will be doing approximately 200 trees again,” and explained the removal timeline: “That will be the deadline for people to take the trees down,” with staff removing any remaining displays if owners do not act. The staff member also estimated the program typically damages about “at least a 100 sets of lights every year” during removal.
Committee member Harry moved to accept the tree-lighting presentation with the added parks Nathan Strong Park, Fireman’s Park and Forsyth Park; another member seconded and the motion carried on a voice vote. Later, Harry moved to accept the nativity presentation and Bruce, representing Saint John Church, seconded; that motion also passed on a voice vote.
Bruce, who said he was representing Saint John Church, detailed the need for new running gear for the nativity display and a plan to replace it in September so the scene can travel more easily: he said the current gear “you can't move it more than 5 miles an hour. It starts, wobbling.” He proposed putting the nativity in Fireman’s Park the morning of the parade so it can be seen by the public before the parade route passes.
Jesse noted the display is marked with signage indicating it is privately owned: “We have signs that say something to the effect that this is a private display and not the city's,” and members confirmed they would continue to use that signage. Volunteers and community groups will help manage installations; the staff member said Friends of the Park have contributed labor and some funding for recent park landscaping projects.
Next steps: staff will coordinate installation timing (presenters cited mid-November for display setup and removal around the first Saturday after Epiphany, roughly Jan. 15) and proceed with the approved holiday display program.
