Parks & Recreation Commission - Regular Meeting

[laughter] Those were the days though. We have enough for quarely. Because of all of you, we do. If one of you weren't here, then we wouldn't. I came all the way back in Florida just for this. [laughter]

Okay. Being 6 o'clock, it's time to start our March 22nd, excuse me, March 23rd, 2026 parks and recck meeting. And uh first on our agenda is public comment. Seeing no one in the audience, we'll move on to the report of commissioners. Let's change it up and start on this side.

All right. Um nothing for me really. I know the um program guide for the summer is coming out in a few weeks. Um just excited for that and I know there's a lot of work by the parks and rec staff that goes into that and there's always great summer programming. So, just wanted to express my appreciation for the parks and rec staff for the work with the program guide.

Uh board of education, we met a couple weeks ago. Uh we discussed uh recent updates with the high school transformation. So, I can confirm uh we are looking at uh the high school track going offline in June. So, let's just plan on June 1st. Uh we had a conversation about the fencing and the cameras and all that. it's going to be a proper construction site. So, I would just encourage, you know, Derek and this uh this committee to think about all the ways that that track gets used. Like I think about all these 5Ks and I think about, you know, are people using it to warm up right before these starts. I think about fireworks. Um so I I just think we need to plan for June. Um make sure it's part of our conversation moving forward. Is the tenative plan like threeish years that it's closed down?

Y okay.

And on [clears throat] top of that, I will tell you that I'm having lots of conversations with our athletic director Chris Astra and a little bit uh with the city, but um you know, I feel as one of the high school coaches um that they are communicating heavily. In fact, I met with Anthony uh Mory today for probably he didn't expect it, but I ran into him and [laughter] um you know, he was open to listening to thoughts and our concerns and needs and wants and so I really appreciate his time today. Um, and uh I appreciate Chris Alistster, too, who's um taking notes and we're brainstorming and uh there's nothing formal planned, but I know he said we're going to be talking a lot uh between now and as things progress and stuff. So, appreciate that.

I just had one thing I want to circle back around. Uh is Derek, have you heard anything on the uh the playground piece at Manhattan that was missing? It was vandalized, I guess. I don't know if they It's funny you ask. Great timing. So, um I got a call from the um the company this morning and um I left it out for them. They came and got it and they're um hoping to get it taken care of in the next couple days. So, that was great. That's funny. [laughter] Yeah, great mind. So, yeah, that's it. Other than that, it was nice to see the crew team on the lake on the way in and lets us know it's spring. Things are happening.

And as for me, it's been another great year of the sweetheart dance. I think it worked out nicely to have it earlier in the year. um as May tends to get so busy and my daughter and husband had a wonderful time. Props to the staff. Okay, next is our meeting minutes from our February 23rd meeting. Uh do I have a motion and a second to approve these? I'll move. Second. All right. Any discussion? All in favor? Hi. Yes. Hi.

Okay. Uh, moving on to our special event calendar that's enclosed and uh we have a couple special event permits.

Yeah. So, there we go. If it's okay, I'll u we'll take them one at a time and um I'll give a brief overview and then a chance for all of you to ask questions and um you can take action on them individually. Um the first one um outlined on the list here, the high school grad party. Certainly a unique request uh that we you have before you this evening, uh the summary as outlined in the packet. And and just so you're aware, generally if we do have like a new event or something that's a little bit unique, you'll see me write a memo just to provide a little bit more context as opposed to uh just including their application uh in the packet. So, as outlined in the memo, there is a high school graduation party that is taking place on Saturday, May 23rd at the Big Bob's restaurant. I'm told this is a group of uh East Grand Rapids students that uh they would frequent Big Bob's on their uh lunch breaks and uh the the core group of them thought it would be neat to have their graduation party there. So, they're working with the Big Bob's restaurant team to uh have a catered pizza uh graduation party. Uh and one of the things that had come up was related to the uh the size of the interior space combined with the potential for um inclement weather in May. Uh the uh planning group of parents u had reached out to Big Bobs and asked if they could utilize their parking lot. Um and being the good partners that they are, Big Bob's um forwarded them onto the cities because that parking lot in front of Big Bob's is actually city property. It's um owned by the city and maintained by the city and uh the city um works with Big Bobs. They have a couple of lease parking spots for their staff members that you probably have seen and kind of in that back corner uh and but typically that parking lot is left open um except for in in the case of a special event uh a permit. So, um,

the event organizers are are requesting permission to close that parking lot for the duration of 8:00 a.m. to 400 p.m. that day uh to allow for a tent to be put up in that space. And then, uh, following the graduation party, the tent would come down later that um, afternoon and then the parking lot would open back up to coincide with the Big Bob's restaurant opening back up to the public. And I did um forget to say it is included in the memo, but the big bobs will be closed to the public during that graduation party um to align with the the 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. time frame of the of the request here. Um, also included within the memo, we um because as as noted, we did communicate with Big Bobs. And anytime uh we're we receive a quest a request or have a any sort of idea of utilizing that parking lot for something, we always try to coordinate that with Big Bobs so we're not negatively impacting their their business uh for whatever the case may be. And as outlined in the the email from Rob from Big Bob's, they are supportive of the um of the use in this case in this request um uh for the uh the timeline requested. Um also in tying it to our special event permit guidelines, uh we uh we are allowed two events per month. Uh and currently we only have one special event in May. It's the the new Revive and Thrive 5K that was approved recently. So there is currently a special event uh permit that is available and uh no road closures would be needed. It would just be the the two entrances there u for the parking lot. Uh and then this event organizer would be required to uh follow the other policies. So, they'd have to pay the uh the the permit fee and then also they would be required to have proof of insurance, naming the city,

additional insured. Um and so that'd be like a one-day special event um insurance certificate that they would be required to have. Um but certainly a unique request, not something we we get very often. Happy to answer any questions uh you might have. Do they provide a I'm looking for an estimated number. I think it was 4500. Uh 450 to

500. There it is. So yeah, I guess the reason I asked my only concern when I think about that location is I think maybe three months ago. I I think there was a student hit crossing like it's very popular for kids to kind of not use the crosswalks on that block in particular. Okay.

So it was much darker then. This is uh there's going to be daylight here. So I think that risk is mitigated. But my mind immediately just goes to the number of kids who are just going to be kind of running across the road there. Yeah, that's um something that we could certainly communicate to the to the uh event organizers. U obviously the with the nature of a graduation party like this that's coming and going right to to to lend to your concern there a little bit. Um, so I'd have to think about some mitigation strategies other than the um daytime piece. And then it is on the I believe that's Memorial Day weekend if I'm not mistaken, which

um may or may not mean it might be busier or might not not be. It just depends. Y certainly a valid point. Guess are there generally any concerns with the um like the general request as far as where where's the number 450 to 500 coming from? I is that that the students and parents? I mean what

Yes, that's uh reported to us uh by the by the applicant. I I think uh based on it being I um I don't have the exact number. It says number of participants is six. I think they they told me four to five or maybe there is six uh graduates who are then all inviting their extended family, friends, etc. So maybe around approximately 80 to 100 per graduate with some overlap if there's common uh friend circles there. And where were people park? I'm wondering they they would have to but probably DNW would see a lot of it, right? On street parking. Okay.

If it's D&W, they're using the crosswalks, most of them. Yep. That mitigates that issue. Yeah. Just trying to visualize it. Hopefully, many of them are walking or rolling or like we walk to school, right? [laughter] just wondering. Yeah,

I think it's great use and very nice of Rob Lutz to be accommodating, you know, the owner of Big Bobs. So, we opening a can of worms if we allow this for Will other groups want to do this? Is that a good thing? I mean, I don't have an opinion on this. I'm just wondering what is this going to do? Are there going to be other requests similar in other places? I mean, I don't know. I guess we take them individually, right? I I do anticipate that we're setting a precedent. Yeah. That this isn't this is the first time that someone came up with this good idea, but I can see others wanting to

and then wanting to do just a little bit more sometimes. Just what about if we just push it out this way? And anyway, yeah. And then you're talking about road closures realistically. What's the application fee like? Is this comparable to if you were to rent out like the plaza here or other like city spaces when you can reserve [clears throat] them? Is this is the application for the special permit at all similar to that?

So the um the spaces like downstairs, the rooms that we rent out or WGI Plaza or the athletic fields, those are typically handled on a a price per hour. Uh so for example like athletic fields are approximately $40 an hour for residents. The rooms downstairs I don't know the exact numbers but $50 to $60 an hour. Um the the permit fee for this is $250. Uh so if you consider it the 8 to4 time frame, no um that would be a less per cost hour. Um, I think really the um the the 8 a.m. uh request was just so we can get the barricades put up in the morning and keep people from uh you know parking in there and having a conflict. I think realistically they'll be using like the 11 to 4 time frame. Um, and then just to touch on the points that you were discussing, that was one of our thoughts as well is it was um this doesn't fit uh perfectly in the special event policy box, but we felt like it it um this was the best place for it. And a couple of the reasons uh as noted is uh we do have the limit on special event permits that can be issued is two per month. Uh and then if a um if a road closure is involved, we have um eight road closures per year um except for events that are fully contained into Gas Lake Village. I think this space is unique as well is that the event that um would be asking for closure here would have to have support from the uh Big Bob's restaurant as well. if if if we went to them and they would have said this is going to negatively impact our business for the day, I I don't think I would be here before you tonight. But since it was in collaboration with Big Bob's and um as the the email that he wrote, he he um wanted to leave it open-ended and say he he agrees with whatever we decide, but uh but of course it would support the event that's partnering with his

business. Can can we talk about alcohol for a second? Yeah, that [laughter] was next to my mind. the a reminder of where the social district boundaries are and then I mean certainly introduction of just on the other side of the parking lot there.

Yes. So this this parking space big Bob's is part of the social district and so this would be included within that space. U so any sort of beverages that are served uh would be subject to the social district guidelines. So, they'd have to be purchased from Big Bob's. It have to be, excuse me, well, they'd have to be purchased from a social district business. So, it could be uh one of the other businesses and then um could be walked down there. Um but presumably most of um the ordering would take place there on site and then it would have to be in a an approved social district cup um and cannot be taken to go except for within the boundaries of the social district. So, to your point, Ben, they wouldn't be able to then take it south and walk into the neighborhoods or to their vehicles if they're parked that way. Um, they it would be just like if [snorts] um someone were to purchase uh a beverage from Big Bob's on a normal day, they'd have to follow all social district guidelines.

And I thought Big's Bob was closing during that time. Is that didn't to Are they open for the guests is what I'm reading, right? Are they open at this time? And do the parents know they can't bring a keg in or you know I mean I I think that needs to be very clear. Yeah. That that's outside whatever the that's outside the rules of the social district. Mhm. Even though this is a somewhat of a private event. It is on city property and and it went through this process.

Yes. So to your uh to your point, Larry, is they they would not be able to just Bob YOB or that type of thing. It would have to be served by the Big Bob staff in conjunction with their normal protocols. Um and it is the restaurant is closed to the general public because they're going to be busy serving um and making all the food for the party with the number of attendees. They're expecting it's um not the general public will not be able to go in and participate and interact. Has Mr. Huff looked this over? Our city attorney? Uh Mr. Huff has not specifically looked this over.

I didn't know if they and I don't know the legal thing. Is is there some sort of liability that we could get caught into that? So, I don't know if that's something we need to have done or certainly we can um if depending on the decision that y'all make uh could say subject to review. So, approved subject to review by the city attorney. Um the insurance requirement that's one of the main reasons why we would require this use. Typically, we're requiring insurance for like road races or things where someone has the uh potential for being injured while participating in an event. this insurance would um help cover the city from a different type of angle.

And then we don't have any liability if we approve this. I'm hoping [laughter] I just am distrustful of graduation parties. Sometimes they Yeah. And you know, as I look at it, I think

I again, I like the idea and I I really like people, you know, having events like this. It's why we love this community. One question I do have though is when I see like the two check boxes like well 450 to 500 people and I don't need public safety there. I guess I don't know what at what point is that not my call if I said like well it's 5,000 people and I don't need public safety. The city might disagree with that. Is there a guideline that helps us understand, you know, is there a limit there? At what point is public safety needed? If we have 500 people, you know, kind of coming into a really small space, the road's not closed.

I guess I'm just trying to understand at what point that's not a discretionary measure. I I don't personally know. So, and maybe you don't either, Derek, but maybe it's another question uh for Mr. Huff. And and you're introducing minors and alcohol in a public space. I mean, there's some risk factors here.

Yeah. So we we do not have a criteria for requiring public safety. The typically again the with the application being um kind of created with the like a 5K model in mind. Some of our event organizers are really good at getting volunteers to help with road closures, etc. Others would just prefer to um to to have our public safety team help. Like a good example of that is the Irish Jig. uh they utilize more public safety officers for road closures and for traffic control on race day than any other race except for our own internal races. Uh so to have um so we don't have a set criteria of participant numbers. Yeah.

And I do think the other thing too that we've seen even when hosting uh graduation parties uh elsewhere um on city property um is they tend to be like a a drop in style. So like the 4 to 500 people that are attending typically wouldn't show up at noon and stay till 4. Yeah. It'd be like 100 125 people per hour kind of flowing in flowing out. Yeah. So Derek, when we rent Manhattan Park to a grad party I mean they're drinking at those. I mean and my point is is this something that already happens and then then my anxiety goes down a little bit. Yeah. Cuz I imagine like with the harvest festival they're serving alcohol kids can attend. Sure.

Yeah. Yeah. At at Manhattan Park, that is um a location that alcohol is not allowed. So, we do not issue permits for that. Uh here on WGI Plaza or downstairs in our rental rooms. Um event organizers are allowed to uh have alcohol served by a licensed caterer, which Big Bobs would be acting as in this scenario. Uh, and we've had graduation parties and things here and um, having had knock on wood. We'll say it's gone well. I'll say that. [laughter]

Yeah, I was going to say I know you said it's kind of hard to fit this in a box like the special permit and presenting it to the commission. And so I do wonder if if it is opening a can of worms and all of a sudden we're getting a bunch of requests for private semi-private parties on that parking lot to consider treating that more akin to how we do the plaza and the and the other rooms rather than a special event cuz it is like it's a semi-private event. It's a little different than other special events. It seems more akin to like renting the plaza out, but I don't know how that's defined in the policies or ordinances, but

yeah. And it's not really defined in there. And the um I think the other piece would be the um there would be certain months of the year where it could be possible like like May being one of them and June, August, September, and I think October now too if I'm not mistaken. those events all or those months all have two special events already. So, we wouldn't you wouldn't be allowed to entertain a permit for an additional permit for those months. Um but um certainly up for discussion graduation be a May June issue is when this type of thing would come up and we're like you say we're fairly busy in June anyway.

Yes. So for June we have the Reeds Lake run and then the art festival this year. So there will not be uh an additional permit u would not be allowed.

Any other question or discussion? Shall we bring it to a vote? Are we able to are we able to have like a contingency like pending a review by Mr. because I I mean I find myself really wanting to support it, but I also recognize that we're maybe in a little bit of a unique place we haven't been. And so that could be a prudent approach. So upon to move to support upon approval of um Mr. Huff, our city attorney. Yeah. Or or upon his verification that there's no additional liability for

liabilities that we're not aware of. Yeah. Oh, okay. Uh, may I have a motion for this item with that amendment? Uh, I move to approve the 2026 high school grad party application for the parking lot uh located in front of Big Bob's uh with the contingency that we would like city attorney uh Mr. Huff to verify that there are no additional liabilities we're not aware of on this commission. Is there a second? I'll second. Okay. All in favor? Yes. Okay. And do you want to go right into the

I'll flow right into it. Yes. U so this one um a little bit more straightforward but more the things we're used to a little bit here. Uh so the Reese Lake Trailblazer run is the Fourth of July uh 5K that is put on by the East Grand Rapids Community Foundation. Um, and so this is the annual event that utilizes the the out and back rates race racecourse. It kind of kicks off the Fourth of July day. Uh, and then of course the rest of the activities would follow. Um, so this is u an event that would be hosted by again the community foundation, the city staff, myself and others are there to help support along with the public safety team because with it being a a city-run event, um, I think last year we had 4 to 500 racers. 420 I think 420 or so.

Yeah. So it's numbers came back. It um had a year off uh a couple years ago and um it went really well coming back last year and um this is uh like the main fundraiser for the uh East Grand Rapids Community Foundation. So I'm happy to answer any questions you might have about the Trailblazer. I'm on the committee so I can answer too. [laughter and gasps] We won't be serving alcohol. I just [laughter] clear the name. Great. There you go.

May I have a motion to approve the Trailblazer 5K? So move. Second. Okay. All in favor? I thank you. Since we're in [laughter] the middle of it already, now you know what you're meeting Wednesday morning. So, tell them we're [laughter] good.

All right. Next on the agenda is the water park phase 2 update from Director Melville.

Yes. So, I'm happy to report I can't recall if I knew this last time we met or not, but we opened up the request for proposals for Waterfront Park. uh that we had uh we had released a request for proposals where landscape architect firms and similar can um send in their interest in partnering with the city on that project and and it's part of their proposals that they issue. They they share their uh the team as far as the um the cover letters of all of their uh experts that they would be bringing to this project. uh they um they share the estimated uh hours of of work required to do all of the community engagement, the design work, the bidding work uh and they issue a not to exceed price. And generally when we issue these types of proposals or requests for proposals, we have three or four maybe five firms express interest. Uh we had 14 firms uh express interest in Waterfront Park. Um which is is very exciting. and uh we had interest from firms that were out of state even that heard about this project. I think the the unique nature of having a a wetland restoration type project in an urban setting like this with um just the different scope items uh is what helped um helped draw more interest than normal. Um and so the um we took a look at all 14 of those proposals. prices ranged from $88,000 up to $500,000 is what the the uh the range of um professional fees were. Um we were expecting somewhere in around the the 80 to 90,000 range. So some of the firms when you see a a price that's quite a bit higher, you wonder if maybe they didn't quite understand what you were asking for in in the proposal, but

that was an outlier. Um I think 13 of them were um 200,000 and below. So there's that one outlier. Um but city staff, we narrowed it down to two firms. Um we've interviewed those firms. Uh we are anticipating on the next city commission agenda, which they are meeting again this month. They're meeting next week Monday. Uh because of the way that spring break falls. Uh they're they move their meeting up. Um, and so I'm um I'm busy writing a memo to um request authorization to move forward with the selected firm. I don't want to say who quite yet just because we're still working through that process. Um but again, very excited about the interest that was there, very top-notch firms. Um very happy with both firms that we interviewed, but we can only go with one. Um and so kind of the next steps here is on Monday after the city commission um appines and potentially authorizes staff to move forward with uh select the selection of the um preferred firm. The um is it'll be spring break and then after spring break uh we'll hit the ground running with um the a survey will take place of the site. A new wetlands delineation uh will take place. those are two introductory type um methods to just gather more information to help with the planning and the design process of the site. Um we will also be beginning with some community engagement opportunities. So uh that was part of the RFP process is we built in two um two different phases of community engagement. The first phase will be uh utilizing the existing conceptual design that we have and asking the community to react to it. what they like about it, what they don't like about it, what they'd like to see more of or less of. And uh in that first phase, we'll have three uh meeting opportunities for community members to come talk to myself

and the consultants and give their feedback in person. We also will have an online survey as part of that first phase of community engagement. And once we've collected all of that initial feedback, the the consultant will be uh distilling all of that down, trying to identify uh trends and and what uh the feedback the pros and cons of the feedback uh with the goal of refining that conceptual design, coming up with a second option uh for again for the community to react to. And then uh we'll have a second phase of community engagement uh that kind of mirrors that first phase. We'll again have three meetings and an online survey with the updated conceptual design um that will and again it'll show all the scope items. So the um where the trails are laid out, the types of um amenities and the types of um products or the types of materials uh that we'd be looking at. Um, and just one example, uh, is that we have like an outdoor classroom space that's been identified as, uh, desired, and we'll certainly be working with the, uh, the school district to help us define what that means. But I'm sure each of you have five different ideas of what that outdoor classroom space might look like. So, that's where the our firm will be um, trying to show people and educate a little bit through that process of what that could look like. Um and then after the second round of community engagement, um the consultant will be presenting to the parks and recreation commission. They also will be presenting to the city commission with a goal of uh finalizing a preferred design. And once that preferred design is selected, um the consultant will be let loose to do the engineered drawings and the more detailed drawings that are needed to move forward uh towards

bidding. Um so ultimately the timeline uh is starting in April is when the community engagement and those initial site surveys will start. Um we'll have that second round of community engagement will be in the late May to early June time frame. Over the course of the summer, the consultants will be doing all of their design work and uh working uh to put together the bid packages. Um the uh intent is to bid the project out late in 2026. Um and certainly we'll time that up based on the best recommendations that we're hearing at the time of when that should be released. Sometimes if you can thread the needle on when a project's released, you u might be able to get some more advantageous pricing. Um so we'll certainly look for those windows of opportunity and then um ultimately construction um could begin in spring of 2026 or 2027. Um so I say all of that in like tenatively or the plan is etc because there certainly are some boxes that we need to check related to the grant. Uh this project does come with $500,000 in grant funding uh that requires that we have um eagle permits in hand u due to the um do the wetlands that I I referred to. Um, so we'll be working on a lot of things conc currently and um, working with our partners at the state of Michigan and and at the DNR. Um, just to make sure all the paperwork and documentation is all all matching up and um, but um, potential for construction a little bit more than a year away from now. Um, but all all that subject to things lining up over the course of the next year as well. Um, so I'm happy to answer any questions you might have about the process. Um, but um, certainly more to come. You can expect at the next parks and recreation commission meeting. I'll know again I'll be able to say um, the

firm that was selected. We'll have a calendar of when the public engagement uh actual dates um the style of those engagements and then um like you again over like the next year you could really expect updates on a monthly basis for waterfront park since um we're getting close to to getting that moving. So again happy to answer any questions you might have. You may have said this, but the grant has a substantial completion deadline, does it? Because, you know, as far as when it needs to be done by the construction.

Yeah. So, typically the uh grants come with a 2-year timeline for uh for completion. Uh once the project agreement has been issued for this project, I I'm I'm expecting the project agreement to be issued in like the August September time frame. They're still kind of working through that timeline. And so we would have to have the project completed by 2 years from whenever that date is. Um the the DNR in my experience if if you have a reasonable reason for for not meeting that deadline like sometimes you get your project agreement uh in know like in a later time and then you're not able to bid it for the next summer so you miss a whole construction season. I don't see that being the case here. Uh but they they're typically pretty reasonable as long as they uh see that this the city is trying to move forward and aren't um you know not dragging their feet for no reason. But um it's it's usually best just to get it done in that two two-year window.

I think you mentioned before, but we would be intending to work with like the Kent County Conservation District as well for like native plantings and [clears throat] removing invasives. Is that right? Or is they miss?

Yes. So that um removal of invasive species and the planting of native species is one of the scope items of this project and and so the I've actually already been in contact with the conservation district. They wrote a letter of support for this project because they did like so many of the uh pieces of the project. Uh they've indicated a desire or a willingness to have a seat at the table to provide their expertise. Um certainly some of the um the firms that um have applied also have areas of expertise, but um so we'll make sure that anything any new um species and um native species that are going in align with uh what what they would recommend for um not just for this region but for specifically for like those soil conditions etc. over in that space. Um but yes, I think that for me is other than the wetland restoration is one of the the best educational pieces um um that we'll be able to capitalize on and and that will be one of the scope items is educational kiosk. So I could see that being um having information about the wetland restoration but also um plant native and how to you know how to identify and remove invasive species.

Awesome. Are there any parking contingencies with the grant? Any requirements? So, uh, currently the way that we wrote the grant was that, um, that a parking lot expansion would be considered as part of this project. Is it required? And so,

it's it's hard to answer that question. So if we go through our community engagement process and if there is not support for the parking expansion, we could go back to our grant coordinators and and and say what is our project look like with removing that? And it would be up to them if they determined that the project was still a viable standalone project that would have been funded um if the parking lot wasn't part of the design. Um so that's a an unanswered question. they'd want to see the rest of the design work and and see if again if it still would have scored really well. Um, however, the way that we wrote the grant application, we didn't say we're going to be adding a parking lot of X size or or this many spots. We left that open-ended to provide for flexible uh community conversations. So maybe if there wasn't an appetite to um greatly expand that parking lot, but maybe there was interest in adding 10 spaces and two two trailer boat trailer parking spots, something like that. Um those are all things that could be on the table.

Okay. So conversation then with the city commission would be dependent on the feedback from the community that would kind of shape how we're going to work with them on on parking designs. Correct. So that's kind of the sequence that we would go in is uh going to the community uh with that first phase of the community engagement, see what type of feedback, see if parking lot is one of the items that is uh called out as desired or or not. And then um before the design is considered final, that would go to city commission and they ultimately would have the um ability to say if if any changes were um required. Okay.

They would have the ability to either approve or kind of over overrule that.

Can you talk a little bit about why this one was so popular for proposals coming in? I I feel like there wasn't nearly that many for the park or for the um playgrounds

there. There weren't. And actually, I went back and looked for Manhattan Park. Uh I think we had three if I'm not mistaken. [clears throat] So, um I I think it's a combination of things. One, just the scope items that we had listed really the wetland restoration, like even when I uh was at the M parks conference a couple weeks ago and I bumped into some DNR people that I met through the process. They they remembered our and they see a lot of sites and they do visits and they remember like, oh yeah, you guys are the ones that are restoring the the wetlands. So, I think the history and the and the um the process that we're going to go through checked a lot of boxes. Some of the firms that um that did express interest fall more on like the environmental side of things, less on like the playgrounds and the um courts, tennis courts, that kind of thing. Um but also part of part of the reason or my thoughts on getting 14 is maybe that there aren't as many projects out there um that are coming up for the summer and um a lot of the uh money that was available during COVID for additional park renovations etc. a lot of that money is gone now. And so maybe um maybe the pool of projects is a little bit smaller. So firms are um putting more eggs in baskets hoping to to get more work in the area. But um but everyone that I talked to that submitted though just said how cool the project was was the one number one reason. But I'm sure there's a balance there. I and I understand that there's a that the funding for from the grant um cannot go for this but it it's going to come up in conversation the also the desire of having a a young children's playground that's centrally lo located. Um,

if there's a desire within the community to move forward with that, could it happen in parallel with the waterfront just funds that are separate? Like could it move together?

Yes. So, we are able to include uh non-grant scope items in our bid package and they can um the improvements can happen in parallel. So, we wouldn't have to mobilize twice. Like, so if we hired a construction firm to build this for us, they could build all of the grant items and the playground all at the same time. Uh the the what the DNR would require of us is that we get separate pricing for the playground. Make sure that any uh any costs related to the playground are itemized and separated out from grant costs which does get a little tricky when you start to talk about like mobilization like the cost for the company to get there etc. Um but as long as we can have defined um cost centers to say grant related cost items and then non-related grant items, we can certainly do that. Um

okay. So it sounds like a playground would be um treated differently than um backing out of expanding the parking lot, for example. like the parking lot. You talked about how we might need to go back to the grant and say we we have some different ideas, but the playground, we wouldn't have to do those steps since since they're not providing any funding. They would just want to see how that fits in with the overall plan of the of the site and um making sure that we were still accomplishing the scope items that were included on the grant. So, as long as we have all those um included and the playground design fits into the site and just trying to think of like a really weird example of like we're not going to put the playground in the middle of the wetlands. They went like that or like on an island in the wetlands, but like we found a um a separate location that wasn't slated to be used for something else on site, which there's plenty of opportunities there. um it could happen at the same time and um it wouldn't jeopardize the grant.

It's very exciting to have a project. Uh are there any other questions, concerns? Okay. Thank you, Derek.

Yeah. Um the next thing is just real quick, you may recall it's been quite a while, um but about a year and a half ago, um I was working with Mary Durst. She's the the curator of the um East Grand Rapids Historical Society. Uh and she and I um had connected on a educational signage project for John Collins Park. Um so um back when we presented um the idea was to have an educational sign that outlines the steamboats that used to be on Reeds Lake and then a second sign uh that would highlight the the buildings uh that used to be in John Collins Park. Um so Mary Dur and I are getting really close to having a final design of those of the signs of of what those would look like. Uh and then the uh this spring or summer, the the engineering team downstairs, they go through the city and fix sidewalks and pour concrete in areas that are needed. They're going to be pouring a new like half circle pad for us. That's um as you're walking north. Um and John Collins Parks on your right. There'll be like a small bumpout uh so um folks that want to see the signs can step off the sidewalk. They won't be restricting uh stroller or uh pedestrian flow. Um but um so they'll be able to stand on that small bumpout and see the two signs. We've identified a location that there's no existing uh plants or vegetation. It wouldn't block any views of of the lake. Uh and again wouldn't block any pedestrian flow through there. So, um, just wanted to share with all of you that. So, if you like see in a couple of weeks time, like what's this new concrete pad going in and then later this spring or summer when the the signs are developed, um, just just a reminder for those of you that were here when we talked about it and those of you that that weren't, it's um, yeah, it's a collaborative project um, that's being funded by uh, the East Grand Rapids

Community Foundation actually approved uh, the funding for that. So, um, other than my time, uh, working with Mary, there's no cost to the city and, um, I'm pretty excited. Um, she has a lot of good information about and good photos of the old steamboats and stuff, too. So, be a fun thing to see. Another educational opportunity. That's cool. My four-year-old is obsessed with the fact that there's sunken steamboats, so he'll love this.

All right. [laughter] Good. All right. I think last, if it's okay if I just slide on to the report of the director here. Um, nothing major to add. As noted, the sweetheart dance, we had approximately 400 people there on on Saturday. It was our the beach theme uh went over well. Um, and and just and Paul, I appreciate you mentioning this to, but just a shout out to the the parks and rec staff. Sarah was there with her lifeguard hat on uh with the theme of the beach theme. Um but the rest of the team downstairs, they just do an incredible job putting on special events and um and making just memorable experiences for the community. So um it's it's fun to be part of and see all the smiling faces and um we're excited that uh so usually we have the sweetheart dance and then the sports night out are the two like community family events that we offer. This year, uh, we switched up the, uh, the sports night out and we're actually having multiple sports night sport night out events. Um, the one coming up this spring is going to be at Manhattan Park. So, that's new. So, um, we're just trying to find different ways to engage the community and uh, let families and u, and neighbors and friends um, participate together in our programs. So,

excellent. Yeah. But happy to answer any questions about anything else you might have while you got me. Did the the binoculars for the birds I remember talking last year. Did that get installed or when is that happening?

So that is still moving forward. Um they are doing a pass through donation. Here we go again. The community foundation helping out. Um so they're going to be um making a donation to the community foundation who will then um help the city purchase that. Uh we have the final design. We we had um it's a customordered item so it's a little bit of a lead time on that but that will be moving forward here this u this year. Um, so we um we did a lot of research and learned a lot about binocular systems and different things and we had to find one, as you may recall, one that um could be stopped, not pan over to view the residences um and um that met our installation criteria and we we found one and we actually were able to um get a 10% discount to save the donor a little bit of funds too being a governmental entity. So we're um yeah, it's it will be coming.

Cool. With the recent rainfall and flooded basement and lots of water everywhere, how did our athletic fields hold up? In particular, the elementary schools.

Um, so I I did not see Breton Downs, but um Breton Downs is actually like an overflow storage area for incidents like that. And I'm told the water did come up there. Um and um so I'm sure the things are soggy. the uh the field that I did go check uh if you may recall Remington Park, the baseball field there that um surrounded by wetlands, the the driveway was about as high as I've ever seen it uh as far as how high that the underbody uh wash that you get when you drive through into the park. And um I walked out onto the field and they could have played a baseball game out there um within a day after um I forget what day it rained, but we went out there to check it. The um the outfall pipe that that drains the whole system was even underwater. Um which it's okay. There's a check valve on there. Um but so we knew it it was higher higher than um the normal springs, but again the field was walkable. I I went out there in shoes like this and didn't lose them and in the past there would have been no way that um there would have been literally standing water on the field at that time. Um and so um that field in particular and then like the um man five at Manhattan Park that we did the drainage project on two years ago uh maybe three now actually I think it was um that fared really well. Also, there's some more um if you do go up to Manhattan, there's some more restoration work that needs to take place from the water main project that they did last winter. There's some additional sidewalk that needs to be poured so it doesn't look as tidied up as it could, but um more work to come this spring. And then actually the the parking lots are going to get resurfaced as well, both um parking lots of Manhattan Park. So that should hopefully kind of button up the um improvements over there. We had some flooding at the track um down by the start of the 100. Um it

floods and um then it froze. So lane one was all ice for you know 20 30 meters and then but it you know it drains and melts and we're fine. We just go in lane two folks. [laughter] Excellent. Yeah. I have nothing else to report unless there's any more questions. Any more? Okay, we'll call the meeting adjourned at 6:51 p.m. Thank you. It's like a skill you don't learn in life. Like what's that? Gabble. Gabble. Yeah. Pray.