Play Well reports parks assessments; city issued parks master-plan RFP

Play Well updated the commission on an ongoing series of park assessments and a related planning step the city has initiated to create an updated parks master plan.

The coordinator said the group had assessed multiple parks and planned to assess Kingston Point next; she reported moving a goal timeline out "another year" to reflect that assessments are still in progress. "I moved that timeline out another year because I think we are still doing the assessment," she said. Members discussed prioritizing a project after assessment completion and noted the city recently issued a request for proposals to hire consultants for a parks master plan. The coordinator and other members also outlined typical funding pathways: Livewell can recommend priorities and help seek grants, but the city is the fiscal agent and cannot independently run its own fundraising; friends groups or separate nonprofit partners can raise funds for park improvements.

Members also flagged capacity constraints in the parks department and framed the parks master plan and grants process as opportunities to align assessments with city funding and consultant planning in the coming year.