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Staff outlines park master plan, major CIP projects and staffing updates
Summary
City staff briefed the Waukesha Parks board on the park and recreation master plan, upcoming Prairie Park improvements, a RAISE grant for pedestrian/bike bridges, hiring updates and pool opening plans; the board heard timelines and staffing needs.
City staff told the Waukesha Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board that the park and recreation system master plan is entering an information‑gathering stage with consultant Damon Farber conducting site tours.
The director said the master plan (formerly called the park and open space plan) is required for accreditation and will analyze undeveloped, partially developed and major renovation sites across the system. Staff will return to the board with opportunities to provide input as the consultant advances analysis.
On capital projects, staff said engineering will put bids out for the Greenway Terrace concrete work and for Prairie Park improvements, which include tennis‑court reconstruction, backstop fencing, LED sports‑lighting upgrades and replacement of antiquated field lighting. Staff noted a RAISE grant agreement is in place for two pedestrian/bike bridges over the bypass; the design and engineering fees for that federal project were described in the meeting as exceeding $1,000,000 and will require coordination with the state DOT.
Mark Thompson, speaking for recreation, reported program and volunteer metrics: "We have 46 teams signed up to play this season," he said, and noted 15 youth sports organizations are renting fields. Thompson also reported volunteer numbers from 2025 — 1,944 volunteers contributing 34,733 hours — and said pool start‑up is scheduled, with chemicals and cabanas in place and anticipated openings on June 6.
Staff provided several operational updates: a new plumber has joined the buildings crew, two forestry positions remain open, and seasonal hires are in progress. Recent flooding increased cleanup needs; crews will prioritize flood‑damaged sites this spring while preparing fields and park amenities for summer use.
Board members commented positively about LED lighting upgrades for Prairie Park. No formal actions were taken on the master plan or RAISE grant during this meeting; these were informational briefings and project updates.
