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Aldermen urge focus on revenue‑generating elements for Smiths Fork Park project
Summary
Board members recommended prioritizing revenue-generating pieces of the Smiths Fork Park complex — campground, shelters and a destination playground — during engineering and phasing to help finance later amenity work, after staff moved design work earlier in the CIP.
Staff told the board that the Smiths Fork Park complex design and engineering were moved earlier in the CIP so the city can identify phasing and revenue opportunities. "The Smiths Fork Park Complex engineering and design...We understand that this is gonna be a very large project cost, and so we decided that quicker we get into engineering and design, the better we'll have an idea if we could phase this," Rick said.
The mayor and other members urged the board to prioritize revenue‑generating features first — campsites, rentable shelters and a destination playground — so that those elements can begin producing income to fund other amenities. "When we start into the engineering and design of that, we need to look at stuff that's revenue generating 1st," one member said, arguing campground demand and shelter rentals can subsidize lower‑use amenities such as additional courts.
Staff confirmed those items will be evaluated during the design phase and presented back to the board for phasing recommendations as part of the budget process. No construction timeline was adopted; staff noted many parks projects are long‑term and contingent on funding and design outcomes.
