Parks and Recreation Board 4.16.24

Detailed briefing

Parks and Recreation Board — April 16, 2024 ATTENDEES (roll call): Karen Stroud, Scott Reese, Dan Mulder, Sarah McLean, Eric Foss and Jamie Malcolm. Richard Smith was absent. • The board approved summer staffing at the skate park and adopted a policy that children under 12 must have supervision. No exact schedule was approved. Discussion suggested peak-hour coverage rather than the former 10 a.m.-10 p.m. model. Staff said experienced workers Ed Dodge and Joe Warner are interested in returning, with Trevor potentially available to fill in. • The staffing decision drew one stated objection. The concern was that the city should further explore suggested donations, charges for some uses and volunteers because many users may live outside the city. Staff said skate park fees previously generated no more than about $5,000 annually and did not come close to covering staffing. The existing budget still contains money for skate park staff. • Staff will examine whether volunteers can work alongside paid personnel and whether insurance or liability rules permit that arrangement. Members also discussed a donation box, electronic donations, concessions, rentals and birthday parties. These revenue ideas were not established as final policies. The board also discussed tracking where users live and separately monitoring donations. • Harborview Park planning centered on keeping the space largely passive. Members supported a first phase focused on replacement trees, an accessible walking path or loop, picnic tables or benches, and a planted buffer near the slope. Preserving Little Traverse Bay views and flexibility for small gatherings remained priorities. A pavilion was discussed as a possible later phase, but no project approval was given. • The next Harborview step is a rough schematic and preliminary pricing. Staff will also investigate the existing parking lot design and what would be required to add spaces. The project is listed in the city’s 2025 capital planning, with $60,000 discussed as potentially covering a path, site furniture and a pavilion. • The parks survey will be revised, sent to board members for a 48-hour final review and then posted. Planned changes include fundraising amounts, clearer rating choices, Harborview Park information and broader access to capital-project questions. West Traverse Township is willing to post the survey electronically. Worth watching: 1. Final skate park staffing hours, donation procedures and volunteer-liability guidance. 2. Harborview costs, public input and whether a pavilion advances beyond discussion. 3. Planning for approximately $524,000 in donated funds that must be used by December 31, 2026. Upcoming: Harborway fundraising committee meeting Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall; Marina Park planting May 22 at 10 a.m.; skate park ribbon cutting remains targeted for June. Why it matters: The board is balancing safety and access with operating costs while shaping major park investments and fundraising priorities.

No open public follow-ups are linked to this meeting yet.