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Parks board outlines new events, upcoming projects and parade changes including 'Light Up the Night' at Hawkes Park
Summary
Board members reviewed recent event successes (fishing derby, fall festival), discussed new holiday events at Hawkes Park including commercial‑grade lights and family features, and received updates on infrastructure projects such as pickleball courts, Whaler Way boat ramp, Menard Pier replacement and Veterans Park reopening.
The Recreation & Cultural Services Board received a broad parks update that covered recent event turnout, upcoming infrastructure projects and the board’s plans for a new winter festival.
Staff reported that the youth fishing derby grew from roughly 50 participants in a prior year to nearly 250 this year, and that the fall festival also saw large attendance and increased vendor interest. Staff attributed increased turnout to new programming and volunteer/sponsor support and said parking and crowd control are the primary operational issues moving forward.
Infrastructure updates included the award of the first phase of pickleball courts (construction expected soon), preliminary engineering and cost estimates for the Whaler Way boat ramp with added amenities under consideration, and design work for Menard Pier replacement emphasizing more durable materials (composite decking and concrete pilings) to reduce repeated storm damage. Veterans Park work (erosion mitigation and parking stabilization) was reported as nearly complete with an expected opening in short order.
For the winter season, the board discussed a 'Light Up the Night' festival at Hawkes Park using commercial‑grade lights that the department purchased from earlier budget allocations so lights can be reused in future years. Proposed features include a tubing slide, a Polar Express train photo‑op, and ongoing nightly lighting; the board prefers keeping the event free and exploring sponsorships for small concessions or hot cocoa. The board also reviewed parade logistics — changes to staging and exits to reduce congestion, selection of a grand marshal, and judges for parade awards.
Staff said they will work with code enforcement on mural permitting, coordinate volunteer outreach for the butterfly garden and other projects, and return to the board with renderings and timelines. Several next steps (council packets, permit applications and volunteer outreach letters) were assigned to staff.
