Parks and Recreation Board Meeting 10/17/23

Detailed briefing

Parks and Recreation Board Meeting — October 17, 2023 ATTENDEES: Board members and staff; student representative Sophia Summers; Historical Society Executive Director Kristin Balogh. • Fall Fest was rescheduled for Saturday, October 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Staff said event signs and the banner were updated, a notice ran in the Petoskey News-Review, and 15 volunteers were lined up. The event will proceed without a band, using a speaker for music. Fire pits, a tractor display, straw, flowers, pumpkins and apples were discussed; staff planned to check which decorations remained usable. • Balogh presented the Historical Society’s early concept for displaying a restored Shay locomotive in Shea Park. The 35-foot locomotive would be placed under a pavilion and used for education and occasional compressed-air demonstrations of its pistons. The society said it still needs about $150,000 for a project estimated at roughly $300,000-$400,000. A soil test and engineering work are underway. Board members requested continued attention to location, views, landscaping, pavilion design and an overall park master plan. No final site approval was recorded. • The board voted to move forward with pursuing a fundraising event at The Pier for the eastern section of the boardwalk, depending on venue availability around December 14 or 15. Staff said City Council approval would still be required. Members discussed a 100-person capacity, tickets, a possible silent auction and potential historical programming. They also raised concerns about slow fundraising momentum and competing local projects. • For 2024 Sledding and S'mores, staff proposed four Saturday events—January 13 and 27, and February 3 and 17—generally from 4 to 6 p.m. The dates and Fire Department availability were not confirmed. The group discussed keeping the event simple with hot dogs, chips, cocoa, fire pits and s'mores rather than pizza. • Staff reported that Zorn Playground equipment is expected to be ordered for spring installation. Skate park concrete work was scheduled to start October 23, with completion anticipated around the second week of November. Staff plans to ask the board in November to recommend ending the skate park’s annual usage fee while retaining rental fees. Worth watching: • The Shay locomotive proposal needs a site plan, funding, soil/foundation work and further public and board feedback. • The boardwalk fundraiser’s final date, ticket arrangements and City Council approval remain unresolved. • The skate park fee proposal is expected to return in November. Upcoming: Fall Fest is scheduled for October 21, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; beach and boardwalk restrooms are scheduled to close October 23; the next board meeting was referenced as November 21. Why it matters: The board is advancing several visible park projects while balancing fundraising capacity, public access and long-term maintenance planning.

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