Staff outlines revised wetland park design, work paused pending state delineation approval

Becky, a parks staff member, told the Wood Village Parks Commission the wetland park project has moved from the earlier 2020 concept to a new design that keeps more existing vegetation and adds three elevated entrances and a main loop trail. “The new design concept has kind of a 3 different entrances and then it's got, like, a main trail and then some side trails kinda looping around more,” Becky said, and added the plan keeps vegetation valuable for wetland habitat rather than removing and replacing it wholesale.

Becky said the project timeline is constrained by permitting: wetland delineations are valid for five years and the city submitted an updated delineation in January; staff paused going to bid after learning the 2020 plan set was far less detailed than required. “Those are only good for 5 years, so we had to do a new 1,” Becky said. She said the firm producing the new design recommended including structural plans for elevated entrances before bidding, and that the city expects the delineation review by the Department of State Lands before finalizing plans and moving to construction, tentatively aiming for work next summer.

The commission discussed limits on heavy construction because parts of the site are designated wetland or a mitigation area, and staff said potential on-site additions would focus on viewing areas, benches, and ADA-accessible paths rather than excavation or footings. Next steps include finalizing delineation approval and completing structural design details so the project can be bid.