Delano parks commission forwards Spirit Park fee plan, Splashpad price increase and park-name shortlist to council

The Delano Park and Recreation Commission on Feb. 25 voted unanimously to recommend an off-season fee schedule for Spirit Park, approve price increases for Splashpad passes and forward a four-name shortlist for the city’s new community park to the City Council.

Recreation Coordinator Courtney Muckenhirn presented the proposed Spirit Park off-season fee schedule, saying the rates use the City’s four-tier rental structure and were set after comparing Delano’s Riverside Commons facility and similar metro-area sites. Planned dry-season uses include private rentals and public roller-rink hours. Chair Sean Jergens moved and Commissioner Marnie Lucas seconded a motion to recommend the schedule to Council; the commission approved the recommendation unanimously.

Muckenhirn also reported on the Splashpad 2025 season. She said rental revenue rose after the city introduced semi-private rentals and that the city will roll out new online registration software this year. She noted day passes last increased in 2023 (from $3 to $4) and recommended raising the daily admission from $4 to $5; she further recommended increasing season passes by $10 per category to address higher costs for labor, maintenance and chemicals. Commissioner Marnie Lucas moved the recommendation and Chair Sean Jergens seconded; the commission voted unanimously to forward the price changes to City Council.

Community Enrichment Director Nick Neaton led commissioners through a two-round ballot to narrow candidate names for the new community park. Staff tallied votes and reduced the list to four top choices; on a motion by Commissioner Travis Gasparick, seconded by Commissioner Marnie Lucas, the commission unanimously recommended the following names to City Council: Sunset Community Park; Sunset Hill Community Park; Celebration Community Park; and Birdsong Community Park.

City Administrator Phil Kern updated the commission on development next steps for the new park site. He said City Council on Feb. 24 directed staff to prepare bid documents for mass-grading the site and to include alternates in the bid package to seek potential cost savings. Kern also said staff has begun discussions with Landscape Structures about playground equipment for the park.

There were no outstanding items from previous agendas. The meeting was adjourned at 6:16 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Approve Jan. 28, 2026 minutes — motion: Travis Gasparick; second: Joshua Corbin; outcome: approved unanimously (6–0). - Recommend Spirit Park off-season fee schedule to City Council — motion: Sean Jergens; second: Marnie Lucas; outcome: recommended unanimously (6–0). - Recommend Splashpad day-pass increase ($4→$5) and season-pass increases (+$10 per category) to City Council — motion: Marnie Lucas; second: Sean Jergens; outcome: recommended unanimously (6–0). - Recommend park-name shortlist to City Council (Sunset Community Park; Sunset Hill Community Park; Celebration Community Park; Birdsong Community Park) — motion: Travis Gasparick; second: Marnie Lucas; outcome: recommended unanimously (6–0).