Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Mckinley topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
McKinley Park picnic likely preserved but would be formalized under Tier 2 given parking and safety limits
Summary
Council acknowledged the longstanding neighborhood picnic at McKinley Park and sought to preserve it while warning that formalizing the event would require Tier 2 review because McKinley lacks parking and bathrooms; staff recommended solutions and consistency before codifying exceptions.
Council and staff discussed McKinley Park at length, noting the annual neighborhood picnic’s community value but also the park’s structural limits: no parking and no restroom facilities. Several council members warned that formalizing the picnic as an exception without clear rules could expose the town to unintended outcomes.
One council member summarized the balance: "It's been going on for a long, long time ... it's great. I think it's fantastic and it's obviously something that the town wants to continue to encourage." Staff emphasized that if McKinley Park were to be treated differently in the code, the language must be neutral and enforceable so future administrations cannot apply one-off exceptions.
Because McKinley Park lacks parking and sanitation, staff recommended treating large or annual events there as Tier 2, requiring council approval, insurance, and a parking/traffic plan. At the same time, staff said they would look for flexible ways to allow traditional neighborhood gatherings to continue without imposing undue administrative burdens.
