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Red Bank holds public hearing on $769,000 Johnny Jazz Park improvements; seeks county grant
Summary
At a council public hearing, borough engineer Michael Riser detailed a $769,000 concept for Johnny Jazz Park that includes a permanent stage, ADA access, an all‑season single‑use restroom and lighting; the borough is seeking a Mammoth County park improvement grant to cover roughly 25% of costs if awarded.
Michael Riser, Red Bank’s borough engineer, presented a public hearing on a grant application to the Mammoth County Municipal Park Improvement Program for upgrades to Johnny Jazz Park, a roughly 7,800‑square‑foot site at Shrewsbury Avenue and Dr. James Parker Boulevard.
Riser said the conceptual plan includes an 18‑by‑32‑foot permanent raised stage with an ADA ramp and accessible walkways; continuous decorative benches oriented toward the stage; a stone‑dust patio with accessible table games; multiple musical instruments for children, including an outdoor piano; new plantings; a repaint of the existing mural by a local artist; upgraded lighting and electrical hookups for performers; and a Portland Loo single‑user restroom. "The total project cost is $769,000," Riser said. He told the council the borough has already received $384,500 from Green Acres and is seeking an additional $190,000 to $250,000 from Mammoth County, with the borough providing an expected 25 percent local match.
Council members opened the required public hearing before voting to close the hearing and continue with the grant submission process. Residents asked whether security cameras were included; Riser said none were proposed in the current concept but that one active camera exists near the park intersection and that the borough could discuss adding cameras. A resident asked whether the Portland Loo would be open 24/7; Riser said the vendor’s model is a single‑user, anti‑graffiti restroom that can be left available and is designed to be durable and easy to clean.
Council members and residents discussed possible adjustments to restroom siting and adding accessible parking; Riser said award announcements are typically made in the fall and that, if funded, design would start soon after with construction targeted for 2027. The hearing record and the grant application will accompany the borough’s submission to Mammoth County.
Next steps: the borough will submit the Mammoth County grant application this year and follow the county’s award timeline; design and public outreach would follow if the grant is awarded.
