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Council considers park shop expansion, playground replacement and Forevergreen trail extension
Summary
Staff proposed a parks shop expansion (about 5,000 sq ft) to support growing maintenance needs and to temporarily house fire operations during a station rebuild; council reviewed a $255,000 playground replacement (franchise fees + ~$50,000 hotel‑motel tax) and two trail projects including an $800,000 Forevergreen segment with $450,000 in grant funding.
City staff presented several parks and trail projects for FY27, including expanding the park shop and adding water‑department shop capacity so the fire department could operate from the Public Works campus during a station rebuild. Staff said the park shop addition would be roughly 5,000 square feet and would provide needed storage and workspace for crews that are currently 'busting at the seams.'
"The parks addition is something we've been looking forward to for quite a few years now," Guy Goldsmith said, noting staffing and storage pressures. Staff also described a $255,000 playground replacement at the community center (most funded from franchise fees and about $50,000 from hotel‑motel tax) and two trail projects: a North Dubuque Street gap‑fill and an $800,000 Forevergreen Trail extension with roughly $450,000 in grant support.
Councilmembers urged considering park shop timing as a cost‑saving measure (to avoid renting temporary space while building a new fire station) and pushed staff to prioritize field lighting projects at Skelly Field and Penn Meadows to extend weekend usage and hotel demand.
