Parks & Recreation Commission - Regular Meeting

[snorts] Check it. Where are you, Sarah? How are you? Oh, that's us. That's us. All right. No one move. Okay. [laughter] Yeah. Don't breathe. No. How are you? [groaning] Got a full house here tonight. I like it. Good to see everyone. Happy New Year. Happy New Year.

Patrick, before we officially begin, um I'll just point out that um Ben Smith is here with us this evening. Um Ben is the new uh uh school board liaison uh for the board of education. So cool. Um maybe during the um report of commissioners he could say a thing um introduce himself, but I um just wanted to point that out um before the meeting got going. Yeah, perfect. Thank you. Yeah, so we're looks like we we got it. We um we are live. Uh so we will edit uh the recording so you don't have to hear me talking at the front end of the meeting but um we're ready um when you are Patrick.

Yeah of course. All right so let's go ahead and call the January 26 206 meeting our first meeting of 20 26 to order and we'll start with public comment. Seeing no one in attendance for public comment, I'll go ahead and close that and move to reporter commissioners and we will go ahead and start. We can start from left to right. So Ben, if you would like to introduce yourself, that'd be awesome.

Uh yeah, good evening. Um my name is Ben Smith. I am the board of education liaison uh replacing Leila Coul who has been with you the previous year. Uh so I'll be with you through all of 2026. Um very excited to be here. Um, I tend to bring various updates similar to Leila. Uh, you know, the high school project is going to be beginning, uh, this calendar year and there'll be a lot for us to discuss there. Thank you, man.

Um, for me, I think the only update I would have is I did the we did the resolution run this year. It's the first time I've done it. Um, it was fun. It was cold. uh had family in from California that had signed up and was they were second guessing it, but they did it. Um my only comment on that is the some of the traffic control I think could maybe be looked at next year. Right before the kids race started, um a car pulled on to Lakeside. They were fine and they were flagged down and stopped. The volunteers stopped them, but my wife said there was another couple cars she saw in the event that pulled on, but drivers were courteous. I don't know if there's just like a lack of signage at the intersection of Wealthy and Lakeside, but um I don't know, but that's my only comment on that. But it was a fun event.

Yeah. Um normally I won't comment on everyone's comment, but I'll just share um I I I saw Paul I saw you that day out there and I was out there checking on things, too. And um that is um an event that uh the day of the week rolls, right? because it's always on that uh New Year's Eve. So, sometimes it's during the week, sometimes it's on the weekend. Um and I notice that as well. And so, that'll be a point of emphasis that I have with the event organizers um following up. Um we always have like a not always, but most often we have a post-race debrief to talk through things. And that's one of my um um top priorities cuz I I I saw that as well. And um like they had um they had volunteers at the corners but um like the library is open that day and so someone could pull out of the library building. Um and so they really um we'll have to work with them to make sure that they have volunteers um stationed at more than just the corners and and that. But thanks for sharing that cuz that um I'll reiterate that I heard that from I saw it and heard it.

I have no comment. I have no report either for the moment. Uh, no report. I follow that trend. No report. [laughter] I know it isn't really parks and wreck, but I'd just like to thank our public works department again for all the work they're putting in right now. It's cold. It's really snowy, but it's noticeable the effort they're putting in. The roads are, I think, the best around personally with a little bit of uh a little bit of um I don't even I'm I'm lost on the word right now, but uh preference for our community. Um, so yeah, just shout out to those guys. Uh, they're doing great work. I appreciate it. No report for me.

All right. So, we'll go ahead and close that period and move into a look at our minutes from our last meeting, which was November 24th, 2025. Um, I think the minutes were enclosed in our packets. Does anybody have any comments or changes on that? Everything looks good. Um, do I have a motion to approve the minutes from November 24th, 2025? I move. Second. So, we have a a motion and a second. Any further discussion? [snorts] Um, no further discussion. We'll go ahead and vote. All in favor? Yes. I

motion passes. And with that, we will move on to looks like we have some special event requests. Starting with Do you want to do the gobble wobble first? That's that sounds great, Patrick. Yes, I'll start with the gobble wobble. Um, and as always, I just have the the special event calendars included within the packet for your review. Um, I did include the 2025 special event calendar, um, just so you can have an idea of where the full calendar for this upcoming year will look like once all of the final u requests and permit renewals from our returning events come in. Um, and as it relates to the um, we do have a new event. Um, I'll talk through a little bit more the the park permit uh, guidelines and our policy that we have uh, when we get to that. Um, but the gobble wobble, I'll start with that. um that is a returning event. Um it is a 5K event that utilizes the uh middle school parking lot as their start and finish area. Um the uh race that they have um is a race that benefits uh the kids food basket. So a nonprofit organization is benefiting from this uh Thanksgiving morning event. Um this is the 21st annual I believe. Yes, the 21st annual event. Um, so we always have um had a really good uh relationship and um a well uh smoothly run event. Um as you can see in the application materials, they do have a nice map that they've um outlined and this um this course that they run, we refer to it as the out and back course. Um so um some course or 5K courses um try to um circle the lake or do some other things which if you go around the lake that's more than a 5K but um we have had a a variety of courses um and [snorts] we've found that this particular uh course that's um starting at various areas. They like to

start at the middle school. Our 5K starts out in front of the community center. Um so you know 5K maybe 5.05K or whatever they end up being. Um but the point is is that the um having a course that goes out and then turns around and comes back um helps reduce the number of road closures uh that um that are required. Uh to Paul's point earlier, reduces the number of volunteers that are required for um an event such as this. Um it has the least amount of disruption to the community. Um so this course um obviously again starts at the middle school and then um uses the trail that cuts through the Griffiths Park area um and comes back on the the same way that it went out um typically of this event. They um they have um volunteers stationed at the the different roads. So like the Reeds Lake arm and the El Centro and um some of the north south roads just to um help um restrict some of the vehicles from coming through. Um, as with our other 5K events, we do um require for them to um give notification to the community that this event is happening and u we always ask that they try to work with um the community members. So, for example, if someone lives in that stretch of road, um when there's an opportune time for them to either exit their driveways and leave or if they're trying to return home, if there's a gap in runners, we try to help facilitate that um when it's safely to do so. Um certainly when if there's a pack of a couple hundred people there, we don't allow cars to go in and out at that time, but um finding those gaps, especially on the tail end of a race. Um so again um a long-standing event that um has um performed well in the past. Happy to answer any questions you might have.

No questions. All right. I guess we can do I have a motion for approval of this event? I move. Second. So, we have a motion and a second. Uh, any further discussion? No further discussion? All in favor? Yes. Motion passes.

Okay. Well, that that brings us to the uh the next special event um for your review. So, we have the uh the Revive and Thrive 5K. Um this is a new um event that um this organization is requesting a permit for. Um the Revive and Thrive is a local nonprofit organization that helps provide free meals to individuals who have um certain illnesses. Um and so the intent of this race is to help for them to generate some funds to help um kind of expand their their mission. Um, as I alluded to earlier with the uh the special event calendars that are included within your packets, um we do have a special event um permit uh policy that outlines the number of um and the intensity of um special events that we permit through the city. Um so, um and as you may recall, for those of you that have, uh been around for a couple of years, um that policy was amended in 2023, um to provide opportunities for additional um additional community events. Um and so the the policy outlines that um the the city and the parks and recreation commission is allowed to permit um up to two events per month. Um and then um for the year uh of eight events with road closures um outside of Gaslight Village are allowed to be issued. Um and so currently for the 2026 calendar year um we have six current events that um either currently have a permit or uh we suspect that they'll be reapplying for 2026. Um, and so the Revive and Thrive would be the seventh um event that's outside of Gaslight Village that would um um that could be eligible for a a permit um that has a road closure. Um so included within the application um you'll see that they have they actually included

our Reeds like run map uh cuz they're still working on some of their um graphics uh for the for the event. Um, so if you look at the Reeds Lake run map, it actually has a a 5K course and a 10K course. Um, they're only proposing to do a 5K. Um, so it would be the same out and back uh race course that we just discussed uh regarding the uh the gobble wobble. Um, with the exception of their start finish area, maybe in front of the community center instead of um in the middle school parking lot um depending on what's going on at the middle school that day. Um so um happy to answer any questions that you might have. Um before I guess actually one last thing um just to note um it um it was um questioned of me like um obviously um springtime um is a little bit busier in the community than Thanksgiving morning. So um that was um that's a discussion point for all of you. Um there are um there are going to be other events happening in the community. Um, one of which is, um, the soccer Saturdays at Manhattan Park. Um, and then as noted, um, there may be something happening at the middle school. Um, the pool's always in use. I learned that last week when our aquatics director was on vacation and I helped fill in. That's always busy. Um but um so that um some of that coordination falls on our department to help communicate with um the athletic director at the schools and obviously internally um as we are responsible for running uh programs at Manhattan Park, etc. Uh making sure that we're communicating um any any sort of uh Saturday morning disruption to our event participants. So, for example, I um discussed with Lauren earlier uh making sure that we um remind our soccer participants that hey, if if this event is going on, um give yourself a couple of extra minutes to get to Manhattan

Park that morning. Um and also I can uh speak to our coordination with the high school. We um depending on um the um level of disruption to the normal flow, this this event would be less disruptive than for example our triathlon. Uh but we try to work with them to identify either bus parking areas or team meeting areas. Sometimes um we'll have teams meet at Manhattan Park or the DPW complex. We won't do it on that day because of soccer, but we'll try to um um coordinate that and communicate that with the athletic director as a proactive measure to help uh limit the the impact um of an event such as this. Um and with that, I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. I know sometimes we do lacrosse tournaments also at Memorial um on Saturdays and Sundays in the spring. So I think I don't know if you if they're middle school through parks and wrecks or if it's um high school level, but just another important piece. Um people will need parking and buses and get to have to move around that area. So, just um I love having new events and I'm not opposed to it in any way. I just want to make sure people can get get around as well um given all the closures and things.

I actually checked there's no lacrosse tournament that weekend. Oh, hey, thanks. Good job. Thank you.

The only thing I that's given me any pause is like lack of graphics for their map and things like how prepared are these people for running this event? Have you talked with them enough that you're confident they'll pull this all together? I I've uh talked with them a number of times. I think the um I think what they're hoping is that the um if they get the approval that they're they've already I've actually talked to them again today just to confirm a couple of details that I've I expressed to all of you. And um they're forming a board to um within their board. So like a I should say a subcommittee of their board. Um recognizing that this is not a oneperson job. Um and and that the map was one of the things I mentioned that hey you got to have your own map with specific uh details etc. And so I I think that it um it's not uncommon for uh new events to kind of start off a little slow at this application stage and um certainly we'll we'll do our best to work with them um to help make sure that their first event is as successful as possible and give them that guidance. Um the other good thing too is that the um they're going to be meeting with our public safety team to talk through um the road closures and um items like that. Um but that's why I actually really strongly suggested they use this course if they were when they were considering u because they won't be reinventing the wheel. we'll be able to give them kind of the game plan of okay, this is this is what we do for road closures and where you need volunteers for um for this course cuz we use it ourselves and we we know um and that's where some of the other events that try to do something a little different like the resolution runs course is a little bit different um it's um more of a learning curve but trying to help them be successful but

well then I guess I'd hope too that we can share best practices for waste control. Um, I know we've done things in the past with like portaotty rentals and like recycling containers to haven't we kind of help them through some of that. So, I don't know if they're watching or listening, but reach out to Derek. They know what they're talking about with that sort of stuff.

Ryan, do you live in that neighborhood by Reeds Lake Boulevard? Are there any um neighbors who have expressed um frustration with the number of uh road closures? I mean, I I want to be respectful. This is, you know, our sixthish road closure in that area in in a year and and I just and in a short amount of time. Um, you know, almost like one every month or so.

You're Yeah, you're highlighting something that definitely gets brought up from time to time. Um, I guess because we have them so often, we've gotten pretty good at them. Um, and I would say that as long as there uh is good uh notice beforehand either like there's usually like a door hanger I I believe or isn't that usually how we're we require them to give notifications. So sometimes it's a door hanger, sometimes it's a postcard and then um our Sabo PR team, they usually are helping push that message on city um in the um the east express and social media etc. And then honestly the big one is like good communication with their volunteers because there's times where you are in a pinch and you have to get out of there or someone's coming home.

If they're flexible, which they can be, it's no big deal. It's when they're like very much inflexible that it's a problem, but I don't know. It's kind of part of the It's not a community um that side of town is very upset about this. It's part of the thing. We're good at it. We do it a lot. Okay. It's a good question though, Derek. It sounds like from what you said, this is like a brand new event, right? They haven't run this. I guess that was one of my questions is they haven't run this before in another area or they they haven't run any sort of similar events previously. This is something that's like a new endeavor for them. That is that is correct.

And the only thing I'd point out is it's the week after the riverbank run. um which I think might cast hurt attendance if people are you know going to do one big race in May probably going to do the riverbank run it's the biggest race in town um so it's just a oneweek separation so the timing might hurt attendance a little bit I guess along those lines do they have an idea of what they're reasonably expecting or I think they say 400

yeah so it wasn't it's not on the large side of things as far as um uh races go, especially as we approach the Irish jig coming up, but it was around um approximately 400 um is what kind of what they're hoping for in year one. Um that was one of the discussion items I had uh with them and that's certainly not their ultimate goal, but um that's kind of like their year one goal and hoping to build on that in future years. Um but we um yeah, that might be an ambitious number. I um it's been a while since I've been part of a year one 5K. We're in like 50 now for the Reeds Lake front.

I think their lack of experience has been noted. There's certainly a wealth of experience though in organizing this. So if you have an opportunity to influence the board they're putting together. I mean looking at these two side by side, the missions of the organizations are even similar, right? Maybe kids food basket has someone that can, you know, be introduced or something like that. That's a great idea.

Any further questions? Everybody good? Uh, do we have a motion to approve? So moved. And I'll second. Second. Okay. So, we have a motion and a second. Um, excuse me. Sorry, guys. Um, any further discussion? All in favor? Yes. Yes. Any opposed? Motion passes.

All right. So, our next one, looks like we have um seventh item on the agenda. We have a Fred Vun Trails maintenance and improvement projects update. Yes. Uh so included within your packet is a memo along with some visual aids to to help in the discussion. But the uh the summary here is um for those of you that might not be as as familiar, the uh the Fredbun trails are multi-use trail um that was constructed in the uh wooded portions uh at Manhattan Park um in the 2023 2024 time frame. Um and that was a project that was collaboratively built and fundraised uh with the West Michigan Mountain Biking Alliance. Um and unique to that um project is we actually have an agreement with the West Michigan mountain biking Alliance uh for them to provide maintenance um and then also ongoing um mountain biking expertise uh to the um city and and the staff. Um and not that it's only a mountain biking trail. It certainly is multi-use. Um but the um this group has extensive experience uh building and maintaining sustainable trail systems. Um and they um really find um the Fredbun trail system to be a special place and um are really um showing their ambassadorship and stewardship um in the level of support that they provide to us. Um, also, um, outlined in the memo is, um, you may have seen or heard about that the city completed a water mane project, um, earlier this winter, late fall, whenever it was, it actually it cut across the soccer fields at Manhattan Park and went up up the hill uh, there off of Manhattan Road. Um, and it did disrupt a portion of the um, Fredbun trails. So, our discussion for tonight is really twofold. There's really a

maintenance item to this um that is for your information and then there's a potential um improvement um portion that I would like for feedback from all of you on. So the the first uh kind of for your information piece um and it it goes in that order in the memo is the area that was disrupted um as part of the water main project is uh kind of like the outer loop closest in proximity to the uh parking lot and Manhattan Road. uh there. Um that's kind of that straight shot where they had to um clear some of the uh invasive species to um to put in the water man. And in doing so, the um portions of the Fredbun trails were disrupted. Um the contractor that they had to do the water man project restored the area um did a good job restoring it. Um but they're not professional trail builders. So, some of the um like key sustainable features like um um the direction of the trail to shed water or to uh rollers to help move water in different um into um in different directions um were not restored. It was really um this filling in the hole and making sure it was a nice even grade and good material for people to ride on, which they're doing this winter. Um and so um myself and a couple of uh Wima volunteers and some community members that were part of the fundraising campaign went out and took a look at it and um I think everyone agrees that um again contractors did what they were supposed to but it really needs a a different level of restoration to include some of those key features. Um and and so the um the city is prepared to help pay to bring our original trail builder back um either this uh late spring, early summer um when he has availability uh to restore the trail in that area. Um the um the

funds for that restoration um will come from the um the water main project. Um it came um Doug Lefave and the DPW department. They do a great job at um finding value and and um um being under budget for projects and um so there's uh room within that project budget. Um and because that project was the reason why the restoration's needed, they um they've committed to help um help restore that area. Um, and so I guess before I move on to the uh the feedback portion that I'm seeking, does anyone have any questions about that maintenance uh restoration piece or maybe if they've seen it or ride it and had any or glad that we're doing it? [laughter]

I'm just curious about the timeline.

Um, so that's um we don't have an exact timeline yet. The the trail builder is building his um he's building his spring and summer schedule. he has another trail project sounds like that he has to wrap up first um thing in the spring and then the um but it's weather dependent and our our site also is um there's a lot of clay out here and so we want to make sure that when they're out there working um not only with this but the next portion that I'll explain um want to make sure that they're um doing more repair than damage to the to the area um and um so I don't have a great timeline he was thinking late uh late late spring, early summer. Um, but I also know that um when he was building our trails, if you may recall, it was supposed to have been a fall project and he did start um in the late summer and fall and then it it spilled over into spring because of we had a really wet fall that year if if I'm remembering correctly. Um so that and and part of that also will be um dependent upon the the feedback on number two because I think if he's um and we're only talking about a couple of days here. So the this restoration of the U disturbed area is probably a 2 to three day period. So it is something that's a little bit easier for him to squeeze in in between projects. Then if we add um depending on your feedback on the next item um it will add a couple of days and might have an impact on that scheduling. Um, I know that's not a great answer, Michelle, but it's um, yeah, we're hoping we're hoping for earlier because again, it will um, it'll operate effectively for a period of time, but um, the restoration that was performed, it it's just not sustainable for a long period. So, we want to make sure we get to it before that does become a maintenance issue. I guess the only thing I'd note is the restoration and actually the project

itself did a great job removing a bunch of invasive species in that area. Um I don't know if there's any appetite or any organized effort to look at other parts of that trail to kind of continue that process. Um that would be my only thing was it was a very big improvement for that corner. Um I'd love to see that whole trail looked at for I mean Berdo is crazy in there. There's a lot like I I do we have anything going for that or any plans for that or is that something that's part of trail maintenance?

Um so I would say a very small portion of that would be trail maintenance really only like the trail corridor. Um that's something that I um actually um when I recently met with Shay for one of my meetings to talk about a more coordinated effort. the um there's a variety of invasive species in that area u that um is not um a volunteer workday level of e effort um by any means and so I think the city having a literal plan of attack for gridding out that property um that um quite honestly is outside of my area of expertise. So, us um utilizing our partners at the Kent County Conservation District for uh like their strike team that has more knowledge with that and us coming up with a formal plan with um some um backup in the in the city budget. Um but um yes, there is. We are starting to think about that because every time I go out there to look at the trail with um with these folks and and being at the park, it's um there Yeah, there's a lot and uh we need to start tackling that.

Yeah. Cool. So, if there's no other questions about the maintenance piece, I'll kind of get into the um I guess the the uh trail side enhancement portion of that. Um so, and it's kind of in the same area, but just on one of the inner loops. Um so, there's a couple of segments of trail that are to the to the west of the sliding hill. Hopefully, some of you have been able to hit the sliding hill. That's been a good weather for it. um that um due to uh being in that area of a steep grade um there are a couple of um of the trails um segments of trail that are in um high grade change areas um that are susceptible to um erosion. Um they're not um at a point where they're in in poor shape right now, but um one of the goals of um this discussion is to um have those segments be more utilized. Um the the Wimba team, they um they have um access to Strava and some other things that show heat maps of the um trail segments and how much they're used and also they they're out there a lot and see it it ridden. And it sounds like these portions these segments of trails aren't as heavily utilized as like the outer loop. Um and the thought is number one um that um we need to maybe increase um some signage or some uh promotion of those segments, but also if um maybe if uh some of these um trailside amenities are included, it would make it more desirable for people to ride. Um so there's um this um item I'm looking for feedback on is really twofold. Um the um the first portion of that is to rock armor some of the uh more steep slopes. Um and as you can see in the photos, really what uh rock armoring is is using stone to kind of um cover the surface of the trail um to uh

make it u more sustainable over time so it's less susceptible to erosion and um wash out. Um, one of the discussion items I'll just u mention it because I um this was one of the questions I had of them is um how does that impact um hikers and walkers? Um um because of course their first thought is riders. Um and it sounds like um rock armoring is uh relatively common at um on trails um throughout the mountain biking industry. Um some of those trails are multi-use trails. Um certainly um rocks are slippery when they're wet. Um but so is muddy clay um that um is heavily present here. Um and so there's not a um the thought that by rock armoring that that it would make it um more slippery or less desirable for walkers or um hikers to to utilize that space. Um but really the the intent of the rock armoring is just that to make it more sustainable over time. So if um the traffic does increase in that area or just over time as you know the rain falls um it would um limit the maintenance that's needed. Um and then at the same time if um if that supported um the contractor and I should note the same contractor that um would be doing the maintenance project um could wrap this into uh a single site visit over multiple days do the rock armoring project um and then adding a layer of um adding some trailside features uh for users to choose if they would like to to utilize that. And when I say trailside features, it could be like small jumps or rollers or tabletops, which is like a flat um a jump that has a flat portion on it. Um the in um the intent would be for these features to be built into the side of

the trail. Um so if users, either uh bikers or walkers, wanted to experience u those features, they could make that choice to do so. But if they didn't want to, um, the other half of the trail would be just a normal trail surface, so they they could make that choice if they wanted to utilize that. Um, and, um, so the the intent would be to, um, to add a couple of those features, um, on those inner loops as noted on the map, um, to help, um, facilitate some additional use um, and also some um, just more variety of of use. Um so um just to keep um the users engaged and you know um I guess um increasing or improving their overall experience on on the trails. Um these would not be um large jumps that you would see more in our skills area that we certainly do have some um exciting features in the skills area. These would be more basic in nature. Um, so if um kind of like for maybe someone who's starting to dabble in wanting to do a jump or or something like that, this is where they would start before they would then go to the skills area where the the jumps are a little more um advanced, if you will. Um, so I'm seeking feedback really on both those items. um um more so the the trailside features piece cuz um cuz the rock armoring is a little bit of um a maintenance um project, but um really it would be a combined package of the contractor doing both of those um improvements at the same time. Um so happy to hear um your thoughts.

Uh okay, rock armoring. Um, I have been on some trails that it's early spring, there's some algae on the rocks and you can get slippy and so, especially in the shade. Um, because these are multi-use trails, I'd like to see the rock armoring be like a real gritty rock surface as opposed to a smoother one. And I'm I'm sure Trail Sense has a couple different varieties, but that would be a safer one, especially for again the multi-use for hiking because for bikes, you're going to slip on it. You run into that, too. The And then, of course, right by the um sledding hill. I mean, you have a grade that you're either going up or down. Either way, you don't want to sl. [clears throat] And then as far as features go, the tabletops that are out there are super fun. Love them. Um, what again, leaning on the multi-use piece, some trails will have the features be part of the main trail and then you take an offshoot to take the easy way out kind of thing. I'd like to make sure that it does fall as you described where the main trail is your straight shot and then you need to veer off to do the feature and then get back on the trail. Again, just keeping a nice walking trail as possible. Um I've I mean I've hiked walked the trail and ridden it. The some of the BM turns I mean they're fun on a bike. They're not that fun um hiking. So, I want to be sensitive to that to not go too far um into a super fun biking experience.

Um I am also a little on the concerned side uh with jumps like tabletops and skinnies very much in favor of um with jumps. There are some kids that go out with like little ebikes. They're hitting the trail fairly fast. not unsafe for other writers, but I'm thinking about them hitting an unexpected jump. The skills area, you know what you're getting into. You have a lot of visibility, but I'm thinking about our um young bulletproof ones that um we don't need to present that to them. So, I'm I'm I'm very hesitant on on jumps throughout the trail.

Thank you, Michelle. I got some notes there. So, I have no biking experience, so I'm going to pass on that. Thank you for sharing yours. This is my favorite topic whenever we [laughter] have meetings. My favorite. I live just south of Argentina near I think it's called the inter urban trail. Oh yeah. Yeah. And um I see jumps there that have been some you can tell were built by kids. Some you can tell are not.

Um so I was actually thinking it does seem that there's an appetite uh for jumps. I see them just but like you described they're to the side. You don't you know it's totally optional. I don't ride a bike on there but doing jumps you don't want to go off to the side and then try to hit the jump and then get back on those. You would want to have intra for safety. I I just don't think it's a I don't think it fits the vibe of a multi-purpose trail. That's that's my take on it. There's always appetite for jumps. They're fun. [laughter]

Well, and I suppose another angle to that is if you have um like when we bike at Canonsburg, sometimes you'll come around a corner and there is someone walking, right? So, I guess y

if there were jumps, you would need that to be where there's a lot of visibility in all directions to not hit someone on foot. I have zero trail expertise as well. So, this is admittedly a very beginner question, but I guess I'm wondering too with the rock armoring. I know you said it doesn't present any additional slip risk and in fact it can kind of lessen that, maybe be have a little bit more grip to it for the folks that are walking or hiking. But with the added rock arming, does it present anything that if someone does fall, are they hitting something like an armoring area or does that, you know, I guess I worry about not only the slipping but falling and injury as well too? Like does that present any additional risk? I don't know. I'm just asking.

It hurts more.

Yeah. [laughter] Yeah, it it could. and and these um I was actually surprised at how limited some of the um photos online were of rock armoring projects, but um like certainly if we had like you know a full trail kind of like well the Reeds like trail you know asphalt and concrete all the way around it um the uh likelihood of if you do fall you are going to land on something hard. Um the intent of this would try to be in some of those steeper areas but not like all the way through that stretch. So, and um I don't know if select areas, but just more limited and and um so there certainly would be that possibility. Um but um and um I guess just to further elaborate on the like the thought certainly to Michelle's point, right? Like if it's slippery, if there's algae on it, it could be slippery still. It's just like these um segments like I've actually lost a pair of dress shoes out there with [laughter] and I I couldn't go back the way I came in. Shar probably remembers when he came back to the office. Um like [laughter] so the um if it were more sandy or more different type of soil back there. I I wouldn't be s like trying to compare if it'd be more slippery or not. But it u with that clay that we have in well all of East Grand Rapids, it um definitely proposes a slipping opportunity when it's wet. Um and for those reasons, we actually try to um recommend that people stay off the the trail um because it will um damage the trail um if they're riding on it when it's really wet. Um and those will be the days that the rocks would be really wet um also. So hopefully people would be avoiding those uh some of those days of um when slippery um is an issue. But um yes, Patrick, it um it certainly would. And I think that's where being um a little bit u more selective in where those are

going. So if it is in the steepest areas and I mean if I'm out there riding a bike and I fall, hope hopefully I'm falling a little bit further downhill where it's um the rock armoring is not.

Cool. Cool. If I'm reading this right, um, this sounds like right now it's an opportunity to piggy back onto a project and maybe it sounds like the WEBMA is going to cover this. So we it's a win-win where they would be giving us a new feature that potentially in the future would prevent erosion. Is that correct? So, it's not a it's not necessarily a need right now for that area for erosion control or anything, but if we do it now in the future, it would help with erosion.

It it's it certainly would help um especially if, for example, if we look at this kind of this um improvement discussion and said, well, let's let's not do the rock armoring. Let's do these um trailside enhancements with the tabletops and um um maybe the um side jumps with great line of sight. Um look, just looking at some of my notes here, um adding more use without doing the rock armoring may pose a um a need to do rock armoring in the future, but you're you're right. If we did them both at the same time, it might help prevent uh some of that issue. Mhm.

And if it goes over the 6,000, would the city be on the hook for that or are we thinking it's because they're going to cover it, they would have to stay under budget because

Yes. So for for the um for this portion of the discussion, the um Wima has committed to pay for the costs. the um the estimate that um that included within there um it was based on I believe it was two days worth of work um by their um by the same trail contractor. Um and so the um if it goes over they would be responsible for that. Um if for some reason we decided not to do that, the city would um pay for our maintenance portion only which um the cost may vary a little bit if um if this portion is not included. like there might be some efficiency in in doing them both. Um, but we would um this would be solely on uh Wima and their and their fundraising team, which I'm told they're they're um they're ready to do it if if approved because they're pretty successful with their fundraising.

I I do have one more thought. Um, trails can often have a wooden features like a whale tail or a wooden um, skinny. And again, thinking about the vibe of the trail, multi-use and a in a natural environment where we're in a a city type community. I I think I'd like to I the way I envision this would be not have those wooden features and and they do rot. They they wear over time. Um but to to work with, you know, like rocks, dirt, and soil that blends in with the environment.

Okay. So, not and I'll have to Google whale tail, [laughter] but not a um not wooden features. And I do um that is through my discussions that we had on site and and through the um emails back and forth. The um the my understanding is the intent would for it to be like soil features or um and and more of that. Um no, at no point did like any sort of constructed like wood or anything come up, but I'll make sure that that wasn't like an assumption on their part.

Thanks. Well, this is helpful. That's what I was just looking for feedback, especially from folks that have more u biking experience than I do. Um, so I will um go back to the Wimba team and and and talk it through them and confirm some of these um this feedback and um I'll learn what a whale tail is as well. All right. So, next it looks like we have Waterfront Park phase 2 grant award. Yes. So, I believe um if I'm not mistaken, I had emailed um everyone either late um 25 or early 26 um indicating that we the city was recommended for funding for the land and water conservation fund grant uh for waterfront park. Um, so just the brief summaries, you may recall I applied for three grants uh through the DNR grant process to um implement phase two of Waterfront Park. Um, and I got the call in December. They they told me they said, "Hey, you're going to get an email that says you didn't get these two grants um but you got the biggest one that you had applied for." So, we did get the um and I say recommended for funding is always their uh the key word that they they use. um but um for $500,000 for the uh phase 2 of Waterfront Park. Um as outlined in the memo, um uh we do have currently a conceptual design that was created uh probably 15 plus years ago um I would say now um of what phase 2 could look like. Um and um with this grant award that provides me the opportunity to um I have an RFP, a request for proposals

ready to go out for the city to select an architectural type engineering firm, landscape architect I should say, um to um help move forward in the community engagement and um ultimately the final design process. Um, so the um we'll be issuing that RFP soon and um we'll be selecting a landscape architect similar to what we did for the recently completed playground projects in Manhattan Park. Uh the intent is to have this consultant help us host uh community engagement sessions uh where we'll um have the conceptual design um available for um the community to look at u with the goal of collecting feedback uh to hear what uh people like about that conceptual design, what they uh would like to see changed. um with the ultimate goal of uh finding a a final design that the um um that the commission can review and and potentially approve. Um the um the grant uh application included a number of items that we were we are um proposing um to do. Um, so there will be and and just again um a little history for you that property um in the past was um clearcut um of all of its trees filled in. Some of the wetlands were filled in and the the the previous owner was going to build condos on that site. Um that obviously never happened. The city acquired it through a um a natural or excuse me a DNR um acquisition uh grant to purchase that property. Um, and so part of our goals is to um restore that property back to um its original state before the um the uh trees were cut down and the property was filled in. Uh so uh some of the potential enhancements of of that um phase 2 project could include um

the list that I have in the memo, but restoring um some of the woodlands and wetlands. So there would be tree planting, native tree planting as part of that project. Um um restoring some of the wetlands. So that would mean digging out some of that fill material that was brought in and um like recreating some of the wetlands that are there with some um native wetland plantings. Um there will be community discussion about the existing parking lot on site and whether or not um an expansion of that is needed to support uh the improvements. Um the u there currently are some informal walking trails on that property um or almost game trails if you will. Um but um this project would construct sustainable. That's kind of one of our key words here tonight. Sustainable um accessible trails u potentially boardwalks depending on the route that those trails would take um through and we'll learn that through the community engagement process. um addition of overlook decks. And so what that means is uh potentially there could be like an overlook deck over the channel that connects Reeds Lake to Fisk Lake might provide some fishing opportunities um for individuals frequenting the site. Um the development of an outdoor classroom area. So this would be more like a small gathering space um that um you know the local elementary and middle school all the schools um here in East Grand Rapids could go and learn about environmental education um learn about wetlands and and um this project will have a lot of educational components included within it. Um you know about protecting and um helping um you know promote um restoration of the environment. Um and then lastly, I believe, yeah, lastly, the um there'll be some interpretive areas with some educational signages that will highlight the project and the elements that were

included within that um to um not only help the classrooms that are going there to learn about it, but um just community members to um learn a little bit about um the wetlands and some of the um you know, some of the species that are within that area. Um so it really I'm sorry, there is one last item. the um certainly the least important just some amenities like bike racks, trash cans, things of that nature. Um and so the um so what what I'm working on right now on my end is I'm working with the um the DNR um getting paperwork together. This is a grant that um funding comes from the National Park Service, so federal funding. Um there's a lot of paperwork that we're working through. Um, I'm expecting um probably not until July um or maybe even later this summer um to receive a project agreement from uh the DNR. And that's really like the official um um paperwork that um codifies that we are getting um the grant. Um and so um I'm working through that paperwork. Also, um due to the scope of work that we're looking at doing, uh we'll be required to have a permit from Eagle, um because we're working um at least around wetlands, if not in them, especially if we're building one. Um, and so the state of Michigan requires for us to have a um a permit um that um really just confirms that we're our construction practices are protecting um the existing wetlands and that the um scope items like the boardwalks are within the limits of what's allowable. Um, and we have to have that uh permit from Eagle in hand before the National Park Service will um issue that final uh project agreement because what they don't want to happen

is to um issue us the um um issue us the grant only to find out Eagle won't let us build what we want to build. Um, the good news is I've had some really great conversations with Eagle staff even before applying um to tell them what we're planning on doing and um um they said, "Yep, that's all stuff that we can permit just as long as within these guidelines." Um and um so we're working through um through those details. Um but it's kind of the catch 22 because we can't get the permit until we have our design um finalized. So, um, so we're we're kind of just working on those in tandem, um, in anticipation of, um, [snorts] hopefully having a final design like later this summer that would then allow for, um, kind of the project timeline to stay on on track with, um, the National Park Service funding. Um, so, um, but this award certainly is great news. really provides us with the the confirmation that um we do have the the funding necessary to to move forward with the project. Um and then ultimately if all those things line up, so the e the eagle permitting and final design um the intent would be for us to bid the project in either late 206 um or early 27. Um we'll certainly rely on our our consultant and our um engineering team here at the city to really time that up as to when's the best time to let a bid um for a project of this nature. Um and then we'll um again all subject to change but um 2027 is the preferred construction year for this project. Um but that will all be predicated on all these other things lining up. So, um you can expect um like semi-regular updates from me just as I get information from the DNR and Eagle. Um obviously we'll be talking through

the community engagement and um any sort of um conceptual design changes and um ultimately final design changes would come to the parks and recreation commission. Um you could also expect um presentations from the consultant at parks and recreation commission meetings. That will kind of be the cadence. We'll have uh community um engagement sessions. When the consultant has um updated information to share, I'll bring it here to parks and wreck for all of your feedback. Um and then it will go to city commission um for their uh feedback and um ultimately um kind of final um um final decisions on on that. So um yeah, I guess in short, good news. Uh got the grant and um more to come. Um but happy to answer any questions you might have. I guess the only question I would have Derek in terms of kind of clarifying the timeline a little bit since we do need kind of it sounds like we need a preliminary plan to move forward with some of the eagle permitting and things of that nature. So would our um architecture firm be putting together a plan first that would then get kind of provisional or approval to move forward and then we would have community involvement or would community involvement or I'm sorry the community engagement session would that um come first? Uh how do we envision that kind of time frame?

Yeah. So the the community engagement is going to come first because um it's very possible depending on where the community engagement comes back that the um the um the impact of um the desires of the community um could change which type of permit we need from Eagle. Um through my conversations with them and I explained to them what we're looking at doing and they said, "Well, how many cubic yards of this?" I said, "I have no idea yet." Or how many linear feet of this? That's all to be determined. Um it's possible that we might ultimately not need um a permit from Eagle or if we do there's different categories. There's like a general permit category that basically if you um depending on the scope of your project, if you check all of those boxes and you're within their guidelines, they um 30 days later you get a permit. if you're um proposing to do something um outside of that um kind of their I guess their lowest threshold of projects that um increases um the review process and um potentially adds a layer of public hearing um at the at the eco level, not um not the city level, but for them to have a public hearing. Um so really we need to have the feedback from the community um some preliminary designs uh from the um from our consultant um and then we'll we'll kind of um have those conversations with Eagle in parallel to make sure that we're tracking and and it's also very possible that um small tweaks to the design might move us from one category or another. So, um the um if if it doesn't change um the value of the project, sometimes it makes sense to maybe change one small thing so you fall into the the general category. Um so, I guess to answer your question, Patrick, um the community engagement will certainly happen first. Um we'll need um

at least updated conceptual designs before we start having real conversations with Eagle. We also need a new wetland delineation. So that's something that will happen in the spring. A consultant will come out and um like GPS um the existing wetland on site. Um and then depending on the results of the community engagement um either that eagle review could happen earlier in the process or um if they really need to see final designs like exactly where the boardwalk or where the um trails might go. um will um will work to get the final designs completed. Um they don't need full engineered drawings, but they definitely would need to know where the trails going, how long the boardwalks are. Um and again if it's within um the wetlands if um and so um the um the eagle permitting could um be a little bit earlier in the process if we don't if um if we don't need it or if it's a general permit category but if um depending on the community engagement it could be one of the last things that happens. It's it's um dynamic at this point.

Okay, that makes sense. Thank you Dick. And I'll say from past experience with eagle permitting, the fact that we're restoring wetlands goes a long way [laughter] because it's that they kind of do it's a gross oversimplification, but a calculation of, you know, how many are you filling in wetlands or are you restoring them? Are you preserving them? And obviously we're restoring them. So that's that's a good thing. That's something Eagle wants to see done, right? But congratulations to you and thank you to you and your staff for getting that permit and landing the grant funding. That's excellent. Thank you.

I'm going to probably sound like a broken record here because I've said it before. Um but I want to highlight the fact that this came about because we had to make an uncomfortable decision on this board to not do a full [snorts] master plan re-up and to give parks and wreck the ability to apply for these grants. We didn't have a number at the time and we didn't know what that was going to do for us, but we do now. It was a half a million dollar decision. Um, and I guess I just stress moving forward more of these will come. And I've said this before, but as these votes come, realize that inaction is an action. And by [clears throat] making an action, and by renewing this and empowering that department, uh, it's saved our city half a million dollars and is allowing this to happen. So when it comes up again, just remember this because it's easy to do the whatifs and the perfect, but doing something and doing it well in some cases is better than being perfect and taking your time. Uh so again, yes, I'd like to echo thank you for the work here. Um and but then thank you everyone up here that was part of that vote because it was uncomfortable at the time. I remember we had a lot of discussion on if we should do the full thorough master plan update or if we should just kind of, you know, kick the can down the road on doing the full one so that we could empower this. And by doing that, um, we now have a number that was a half a million dollar decision. So, thank you guys.

I I want to echo congratulations. Um I I wasn't here to attend the meeting when when we made the choice to go for the application, but I do remember by watching the video afterwards or I think I watched it live like it was an investment for us to submit the application and and we were going back and forth like is it going to be worthwhile or not? And I'm so pleased that it clearly is worthwhile.

And I I can say the DNR must echo that um that worthwhile nature because our our grant scored in like the top 10 of the all applications this year. And that's based on their um seeing what we're proposing at doing and um putting a point system to that. But it checked a lot of their boxes that they like to see. So that's good all around. very good job to your to your staff. Um I I don't recall um in the application if this is it has to be strictly within the boundaries of Waterfront Park or if it can extend into Remington.

Yes. So this um that's one area that the um for all the grants is actually quite rigid in nature. um as part of the grant application, I had to submit um property deeds of the parcels that uh to be included within the project. Um and then also a boundary map that outlines the area um to be um for the project to be implemented. The reason they require that is uh so any time that a community receives a DNR grant essentially that property is encumbered to be parkland in perpetuity. Um and so um this um this parcel actually already was for the most part because the east side of the park had received a grant in the past um

phase one um and then portions of this property um received a grant for acquisition. So, they were kind of already locked in, but that's one of the um I not kind of, they were [laughter] locked in. Um but that's one of the things where um the maps that I submitted that show the um basically from the Fisk Lake Channel down to the corner of the property um on the west side of the road. Um I wish I had a map right here to show it, but that um that um western half of Waterfront Park is where all of these um improvements need to take place. Um and then that um again that land is encumbered for public use for recreation um in perpetuity and um but again it already already was with the previous grants. So that actually was a point of emphasis um on the um what I submitted to the uh DNR. They actually just this week came back and said, "Hey, is there any reason why you didn't include the phase one side on those maps?" And I said, "Well, yes, we're not doing anything there." Um but they said, "Well, it's already encumbered, so um is there any reason um because sometimes the National Park Service likes to see it all together? Is there any reason why um we couldn't have that all included, but um it wouldn't allow for extending into like the Hoden Pile area for for this project, but um there's always the next grant opportunity. So, it sounds like hypothetically if the like the overall plan can accommodate this um we could address some of the invasives that are in waterfront on the east side with this funding potentially.

I don't I don't know that answer. That was um that was not one of the um like I um again I wish I would have had it here but they um I literally had to present a map um with our conceptual design and showing this is where we're proposing to do um the wetland restoration and this is where we're proposing to do the invasive species removal and the um the woodland restoration like tree plantings uh stuff of that nature. We didn't propose to do anything on the east side of of um is that Reeds Lake Boulevard, right? Yeah. Yeah. Um so um I don't believe that we can, but um I that's something I could ask.

Um that is certainly an another area to to Ryan's question earlier that um really all of our wooded properties are have have an opportunity for um invasive species really. Yeah. Okay. So just to have a clear idea of boundaries where the water connection is between Fisk and Reed's Lake like that's the upper or the northern boundary and then everything [cough] south of that

to the corner where the um roundabout uh pilot project demonstration had happened this summer to to that corner. Um yeah, I was looking around to see I thought there might be a a map in here that I could [laughter] pull out. Yeah. Um

um okay. I I have I think just one other question. Um there's been discussion through the the parks updates with the 2021 millillage and then and then looking at Waterfront Park of a um younger children like before kindergarten um centrallylo playground with this grant funding and and the objectives that need to be met with that. Is is that off the table now?

Um it it is certainly not off the table. Um in in fact that came up at um the city commission recently. The um just a a quick narrative on that is um the uh through the um our our brief master plan update um and also through some community engagement that we have done previously. there was a desire to have a more centrallylo playground area for especially for uh younger children. Um and so actually in um the two grant applications that we did not um uh receive funding for, I had included a playground in there as a scope item for this particular uh funding source. Um it would not have get um we would not have received any additional points for having a playground in there. And the way that these projects work, you um your maximum dollar amount um is uh for this program u a project of a million dollars. So a $500,000 grant, the city's bringing $500,000 together for a million dollars. I wouldn't I wasn't um wasn't able to put a playground in there and have all those numbers work. Um we're certainly not prohibited from doing more than what is outlined in the grant. So, if for example during um community engagement the community gets behind that playground um idea um that's something that the city could if um that was the desire of the commission could bring additional funding to the table to essentially pay for that playground um separately in addition to um the improvements that are outlined in the grant. So, we're we're certainly not um the city is not prohibited from adding that playground. uh we just can't use any grant funds towards that uh the installation of a playground

and and that includes the 500 that we're bringing that the city's bringing in. Correct. Okay. Yes. So if um Okay. Just for example rough math, let's say the project um as outlined in the um in the memo here was a million dollars exactly and to add a a playground was $200,000. once you add surfacing and some fencing, all that kind of stuff. Um, so for a $1.2 million project, um, the city would have to bring the 500,000 for the grant and then pay the additional $200,000 if if that makes sense. Absolutely. Thank you.

I expect that to be um a discussion point of the community engagement. [laughter] Sure. as the uh board of education leaison, I'm excited for the outdoor classroom uh for the wetlands area. And I would just I know very early on, but just encourage you as you're moving forward to think about um how that classroom is accessed or or reserved not just for our schools, but it's likely going to be the nearest wetlands classroom to a number of schools, right? Not just K12, right? Mhm. Um so just keeping an open mind about how a lot of different you know neighboring partnered educational organizations are able to access that.

Yeah, we're we're excited. Um certainly um the uh schools are a good partner of ours and so um I we do also I should not note this plan on getting feedback from um this the school district. I meet with Anthony my on a monthly basis and um so before we say hey this is what our playground or excuse me our playground our uh classroom space is going to look like we want to get some feedback from the uh professionals in that space um to to make sure it works for uh for their needs as well. All right any other questions feedback? I think with that we can move on to report of the director.

All right. Well, I did have the memo in there with some great updates for you. I will add a couple of brief updates um today. Uh there's a middle school um basketball game happening and we are piloting a um a new payment system there uh to allow for card payments. Um and um as you may recall, I'm not sure when, but we had discussed um we had a um we've always just accepted cash at those middle school games and we had looked at some different options. There was a a goan option we had talked um about here at the parks and recck commission that um the fees just um um didn't really make sense. Um but we actually um the city now has a Square account um where we have a a mobile hand handheld device um that individuals can pay um to uh for their um admission for um with a card um to make it just more convenient u for everyone. Um the schools again uh um kudos to them for supporting us in that. We have um the Wi-Fi access at the schools and also at Memorial Field um and at the high schools. So if we're having um you know youth football games on Memorial Field, we can now utilize that just you know reducing um those um conflict uh points for everyone and and really helping reduce the amount of cash and well and change um that um Sarah and the team has to count and go to the bank. And so it's just um you know um really um probably behind the the eightball on that, but we're excited to um give that a try. Um also um wanted to highlight at the schools we uh recently have received uh permission to work um with them to use the gym at Woodcliffe. Um so now with the um the expansion of Woodcliffe the um the gym is a little bit more open and um we our gym space in East Grand Rapids with some of the new programs that we've added. I heard

tonight how um you know volleyball's um humming along. Um we formed the East Basketball Club. you may recall that was an added offering this year um that we have approximately 120 athletes participating in that. That's in addition to our wreck program that we also offer for basketball. And so um our gym space is really scheduled out and um so on peak days um some of the younger age teams can go over and utilize the Woodcliff gym. It's a little bit smaller and the hours are um not quite as available as the other um schools because they have the after school programming there, but it's just nice to um number one have a partner willing to work with us. Um and then number two to have those additional spaces. So um we're going to be creative in the future as to what groups will use that. Um but it's nice we can um you know space is not um one of the limitations um like stopping us from growing programs. Um, and the last thing is related to the East Basketball Club. I, um, right before I came up here, I was able to put a nice social media post on Facebook, um, of, um, some of our teams participated in their first tournament, uh, this past weekend. Um, so they've been playing at the Courthouse, which is a basketball facility in Byron Center for their normal league games, but this was the first tournament opportunity for some of them. Um, and three of our teams uh won the tournament. And so they have their team photos that we put online of them. They've got their rings that they're showing that they won. Um, and again, this is a collaboration that we started um due to the our new vertical alignment initiative. We have really trying to connect our youth programs with the high school. Um, and this club was formed uh through those discussions. um Mason, the boys varsity coach, and Jane um the girls varsity coach, myself, Elijah in our office, and then Josh Shadic, um you know, he's the varsity football coach, but he's also helping

facilitate vertical alignment discussions. Uh we all came together in August and said, um let's plan an East basketball club for next year. Um let's let's do the research and get it going. And by the end of the meeting, uh we uh decided, let's roll it out this year. And we did. And it's been uh really successful. Like I said, almost 120 athletes on 12 different teams. Five girls teams and seven boys teams. Um and um the basketball centric um families and kids here in East have um they've um they've really embraced it and um we're excited to see where it's going to go next year. So, but those those faces on the photos and and just the rings that they're [laughter] showing um that's what it's about, right? not the rings, but the the smile on the face. [laughter] The rings is the icing on the cake. So, um but um yeah, that I think that's the only thing I'll add to the uh director's report for tonight.

Excellent. Any questions? I have one comment about the payments, and I'm sorry for holding you guys up here. This might be a joint facilities thing. Um it might be Parks and Arc. I'm not sure. Um, is there any way we can have our middle school students not have to pay to go to middle school student sporting events? Like if they want to go and watch their buddies play basketball, do we have to charge them or can we do something to get them? Is there a reason we're charging them admission? It can't be a lot of money.

It's not. We charge $2 for a student, uh, $3 for an adult or $8 for a family. Um, let me do a little research on that. I know the league that we play in like sets the rates, but I don't believe that they would. I think that's more of a, hey, you can't charge more than this versus um, saying that you have to charge. Um, so I can do a little research on that and bring that back just to get more kids in there to watch games. I can just speak from my seventh grade son that was bumming because he didn't have cash on him and wanted to go watch like the seventh grade B squad play a game and he's like, "Why are they charging me for this? the gym is mostly empty and I just want to, you know, cheer for my teammates that come to lacrosse and all these other sports. So, like removing any barriers from that seems like such a no-brainer for like such a little amount of money to like just get more support for kids to go to their friends events. Just a thought.

Ryan, I like that idea. You're reminding me of my own high school years. We had like a the season ticket was this fan t-shirt that you could buy. It was like $10 for like this whole design. That was your season ticket. I love that. And that like it made it really easy. It was only available to students and it made like the student section more of like a a thing. Do that. Yeah. [laughter] I've never heard of that. That's pretty unique. You can have a student uh make the design too. Maybe the classes are involved. Could be a cool project. That's a great idea. You're all going to have to make sure you get laundry on the day before game day [laughter] or five. Yeah. Right.

Yeah. There you go. All right. So, I think uh with no other questions, comments, I think we're at adjournment here, guys. Thanks. Thanks everybody. Thank you. Yeah. Thanks everyone. That's such a good idea. Like that's got to happen.