Neighborhood groups push for single park zoning and a park district

Kelly Brown, president of the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations (CCNA), told the advisory board the CCNA voted in January 2025 to start an initiative to protect city parks by creating a single zoning district and requiring a supermajority vote to rezone parkland. CCNA represents 36 neighborhoods and Brown asked the advisory board to support CCNA's work and help prioritize staff time to complete the initiative.

Brown noted the city has more than 60 designated parks that now sit in multiple zoning districts. "We respectfully ask the prep board to support CCNA's work on this initiative to move this project to completion as a priority for city staff," she said.

Board members generally expressed support for pursuing the issue. One board member asked staff to work with the new city manager, who is starting later in the month, and to provide progress updates to the advisory board so members can coordinate public outreach and advocacy.

Separately, a board member flagged an acre-and-a-half city-owned parcel at Laurel Street (near Payne Park) as a potential addition to Payne Park for more tennis and pickleball courts and parking; the member suggested funding could come from the PIF fund and possibly the U.S. Tennis Association. The board asked staff to add the parcel discussion to a future agenda and to supply more detail.

Board members emphasized they want clearer information on project status and timelines: "Is it 10%? 30%? 80%? Where are we at?" the Chair asked, requesting staff provide an interim update before the next meeting.

The advisory board did not take a formal vote on zoning changes at this meeting; members requested staff briefings and asked the board to coordinate presentations, outreach and follow-up conversations with the new city manager and partner organizations.