Parks and Recreation Committee - Regular Meeting

All right. I'd like to call the City of Fenton Parks Recreation Committee Tree Advisory Board meeting to order. Begin with the pledge of allegiance. Okay. So, apparently we have the oath of office for reappointed members next. Thomas, we're going to do the oath of office, so you'll have to repeat after us.

Not a problem. So Thomas, when I take a pause, you'll state your name on when we're going to do this. All disagree. I Okay. I Thomas Byron. Thomas Byron. Okay. Thomas Byron.

Do solemnly swear and affirm. do solemnly swear and affirm that I possess the qualif qualifications that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law prescribed by law member of the parks and recreation committee tree advisory board to be a member of the parks and recreation tree advisory board and I support the constitution of the United States and I support the constitution of the United States and the state of Missouri. in the state of Missouri and the provisions of state statutes the provisions of state statutes affecting cities of fourth class

affecting cities of fourth class and the ordinances of the city of Fenton and the ordinances of the city of Fenton. I shall faithfully conduct myself as a member I shall faithfully conduct myself as a member of the parks and recreation committee tree advisory board of the parks and recreation tree advis committee tree advisory board during the term ending January 2028 during the term ending in January 2028 and respect the confidences and information that come into my possession and respect the confidences and information come into my possession.

You guys may take your seat. Thank you. those lights down there. Our second toss up.

I'm glad we don't belong to a marching band. That was a little off. Anyhow, hey, thank you, Jane. Uh, roll call present. Kathy Ste present. Mary Haniman, present. Jennifer Mueller, present. Thomas Byron, on the screen. You're on mute. I know that the screen kept changing. Uh, present. Mike Abbott, present. and Jay Erenss present. We have seven for the quorum. Great. Okay. Election of officers. Who conducts that

here? Me. Oh, well. All right. Let's see. And we go through this every every year. Okay. All right. Well, uh I don't see a script for this. So, uh we have it start with the chairperson. A nomination for the chairperson. Okay. would uh like to solicit nominations. I would like to nominate Gary Johnson. Chair. Oh, I'm honored. Thank you. I'll second. All right. Any other nominees? None.

All right. Well, I guess we'll have a vote then. All uh all in favor of Gary Johnson for the chairperson, raise your right hand, say I. I. I. I Okay. All opposed. I think we had a unanimous decision there. So, well, thank you very much. I'm humbled and honored. I am. I appreciate that. All right. That would lead us to uh the vice chair or vice president. Nominees for the vice chair. I nominate Oh, no. I'm going to nominate Mary Heinman.

I'll second. Any others? Okay. All All in favor? Mary Heinman as the vice chair raise the right hand say I. I. I. Oppos. Nay. Unanimous. All right. Got it. Thank you very much. And does this see a secretary in the Yeah. Secretary. Need nominees for the secretary.

I nominate Mike Abbott. I GABA. I'll second that. Any other nominees? Okay. See none other than uh all in favor of Mike Abbott as the secretary. Raise your right hand. Say I. I. I. I. Oppos. Very good. Yep.

Thanks, Mike. All right. Selection for the parks and rec uh parks reports, I should say. We have a page that's I think currently serving in what capacities the various parks anyone would like to shuffle the deck or uh ask to move to a different area. Don't be shy. This is your chance. Got a whole year ahead of us.

Okay. The only the only thing I would I would question, Gary, is if we need to align if it's I don't and I'm not even sure it's possible the numbers align the parks with the wards that we represent because like I do Oldtown and uh Heroes Memorial, they're they're not actually in my ward. I ultimately it doesn't really make a difference and and perhaps it's better that way, but that would be the only suggestion that I would have. Okay. And you're in three or four? I'm in ward three. Three. Which I'm not actually I West I think Westside's the only one there and

Jay's in four and it's pretty much the same thing. So I mean it's like I said it's that would be the only you know you were asking for recommendations and such. That would be the only thing that I I could come up with. I'm happy continuing to do as we have. So, okay, that makes sense. Mike comments now. Thomas, um, you've had two parks assigned to you for a couple years now. Are you okay with that or would you like to pass one of them off?

No, they're they're fine because I mean, they're they're really the smaller parks anyways. I mean, it's not like the Mirramat Greenway that that surpasses quite a you know, it's they're it's very small and concise and so it's not a big issue. Good one to ask. Very good. All right. We have anyone from Ward? They are in Heroes Memorial and Oldtown. Oldtown's down in one, I guess. Is that right? I'm not that familiar. I think that's probably in one. I'm in one. I don't know if someone else is Kathy in one.

Oh, that's it. Wouldn't seem to make sense to trade one to if we're going to support that methodology. And that's that's something we can look at on a go forward basis also. So it doesn't have to necessarily be right now, you know, put everybody on the side. Ah, you know, but uh like I said, that's just your mic went off on you. Uh well, I don't think we'll get cooked off the kicked off the board if we just remain where we're at now. you be fine with that, Thomas?

Oh. Oh, yeah. Abs. Absolutely. I just like I said, I was just throwing it out as you know, you know, and and by the same token, perhaps that's something that and for next year and following years is it does change so it gets fresh eyes in there. I mean, that would be the only other thing. Okay. Well, that sounds fine. I think we're supposed to have eight and we only got seven committee members. Is that right? One, two, three, four. So, maybe one, two, three. Yeah. Maybe that'll be a chance to even it up a level it up a little bit. Okay. Well, if everyone let's have a vote on it and make a motion. I make a motion we keep the parks alignment as it is stated in the handout that we have presently. I second that motion. All right. All in favor of that raise the right hand say I.

I. I. So much everybody. Okay. Collection of cls. We got approval of minutes. You have before you the minutes from November 3rd. Had a chance to read them. I think we got them late last week actually. Any corrections or additions. I would like to make a motion that if there's no corrections or additions that minutes be accepted. Okay, I'll second that. Uh all in favor approving the minutes as written. Raise your right hand say I. I. I. All opposed. I

no nays. Oh, that was just a late I. Okay, minutes are approved. Public comments. I have no public comments. Okay. The folks with a recommendation to have a kindness garden didn't make it up. So, we did get a memo from them. We're going to look at a little later. Oh, okay. Teresa. All right. That goodness. She's for the first item. No, she's for the first item. The Stanton Element. She's with Stanton Elementary. She's with Stanton Elementary. The first item on the under new business.

Okay. That then uh meeting minutes. Old business. New business. Consideration of request. There it is. From Stanton Elementary for kindness garden in Fenton City Park. And we have someone on the Zoom meeting to talk about that. Hi, Cararissa. The floor. Hello. Can you guys hear me? Okay. Yeah, can see and hear you. Just state your name and your address so we know where you're from.

Um, I'm Carissa Leathers. I am the counselor at Stanton Elementary. Thank you for letting me join you by Zoom because I do not live in Fenton. I live in Pacific, so it's a lot easier to make it. Um, I don't know how much information Mr. Howard has shared with you about my proposal. Uh, we have a three-page handout, a picture, and a little background with it.

Okay. Um, so this is my third year here, and for my first two years, it was um a goal to have the leadership council formed, and this year is our inaugural year. Um, so I wanted to um celebrate that inaugural year with the students that we have by doing something special um are attempting to. And um we use Fenton Park for quite a few of our activities like our fun run and I know that lots of our families go there um even without being school related. Um and what we what I'd seen was this kindness garden and it's really very simple. Um, it's basically painted rocks. There's a little section um that we would have you guys pick out in the park. We just asked that it would be like along the walking path. Um, but there's a little section of these painted rocks and they're like little inspirational messages, a little bit group of kindness. I don't know if you can see on the papers that or the packets that you've gotten. There's a little picture I saw for my inspiration. And then um the people that make the signs for the district, I had them make a mockup and I sent it in of what the sign would look like. Um so the point is to take one for inspiration, share one for motivation. You might see these little rocks just randomly throughout the town in different spots. It's kind of like I don't know if you guys have seen the little Jesus that people find and put everywhere. It's kind of the same sentiment. Um but sorry, I lost my place. Um so the kindness garden would be just something special to do this inaugural year. It'd be something we can share and get the kids um involved in with the community

and they would be responsible for it. Um I know there's a lot more to it. I served on my parks board when I was in Cuba, Missouri. So, I know there's a lot more than just, hey, give me a kindness garden, um, that you would have to have figured out. So, really just what would you need from me to maybe make this happen? What would I need to give you guys? Um, do you have enough information in front of you? Do you open for questions? Yes.

Sorry, we thought we had I guess they have people have to ring a buzzer if they want to get in during the meeting. So Oh, okay. Sorry to interrupt you. No, you're fine. Um I'm also in my husband's office, so I don't know if I lost you or something. No, no, we're fine. So, were you completed or you have a little more to say?

Well, um no, it's just um What do What are your guys's thoughts? Because I also know I know um I don't want this to be like opening a can of worms and oh, we let Stanton do something so we've got to let like all the elementary schools do something. I can understand that viewpoint. Um I just didn't Is this something you guys would consider? Um And I'm not we're not really asking for a big space or much from the parks department as far as help goes. We just would need the site maybe prepped because you really don't want fourth and fifth graders to prep your site. Um but the maintenance and everything of it that could easily be done by myself and the student council. Hi, this is Mary Heinman um a park board member. So, um, so your your su your sucos is going to spearhead this.

And so, um, would they so would they have like on their agenda of activities that they're going to have rock painting sessions so they replenish the rocks over time? Is that going to be like Oh, yes, ma'am. our school year once like would would it be like a continuum like hey um as part of our sugo activities that we do we're going to do once a semester we're going to do rock painting so we have rocks replenish

I have different ideas and plans for that um this is definitely going to if approved it would be a piece of our um practice where different kids have different assigned jobs and this month it might be hey go check see the levels Do we need more? Do we need to weed it? Um, you know, that kind of thing because we don't want it to just something sit there, forget about and it get grown up. Um, we take full responsibility for keeping it clean. But we do lots of different things with the underclassmen and new students. So, we would have um ample opportunities to make sure that it would stay full if that would be a concern.

Well, I I like the idea. It looks cute. I think I may have missed all of it, but you stated, "So, we don't want it in all the all the elementaryaries want their own piece of the action." And I I first thought of that and then I thought, well, wouldn't that be great? We'll have to figure out an answer for that and share the share the wealth. It's a good way to get the kids and the families involved probably. I know that it would mean a lot um to our students. Um they do do a lot in the park. were very active and it would be fun for them going through the pathways when they're with their families and their friends and to see hey look what we're doing and maybe kind of get I'm looking for more opportunities I guess to get the kids involved within the community.

So from all you need is a place to put this like you guys are going to build the box and everything you just need a spot. So, um, what I would ask from you guys, um, it's just like a three foot by three foot square somewhere along the path. That's your guys's choice. You know the path better than I do. Um, and then what I was going to ask was if you had time in your parks board or the parks department to kind of just get that 3x3 area prepped for the kids to and then um, pretty much we can do the rest except for setting a post just a regular signage post because I know that you have to have specifications for that and I would want that done to your city specifications. we can attach the sign. It would be a regular district um sign so it'll be of good quality. Um we can have that made, paid for, and attached. But my concern was the setting of the post so that it was done so it's stable and like I said, so it meets all the um specifications that I'm sure you guys have in the park.

Dan, I see you on the line. Um, I presume you've had conversations with or and do you see any concerns, questions, have anything you'd like to add? Uh, I mean, this is up to the uh, park committee to recommend to the board. Uh, if you guys decide to go forward, we we're more than willing to work with uh, Carissa and uh, pick a spot out. Um it it right now it's kind of up to the board and the committee here to see how they want to move forward. Thank you,

Curtis. I I'm sure I know the answer to this, but uh just for the sake of clarity and and transparency, I'm assuming this is this project is maintained by Stanton, but is open to the community at large. Correct.

Yes, sir. Part of it is to try and get um get everyone involved. Like if people see it, they don't have to be a part of Stanton. They can their kids see it and like, "Oh, I want to do a rock, too." They can bring rocks to the rock garden. Anybody in Fenton coming to the park can that's kind of like that togetherness and getting the kids involved. Um kind of something I want to do too is to try to start, you know, I have so and so on my soccer team from Kellison. Kellison, come here. Look at this. come add a rock to our rock garden. So, yeah, lots of people can be involved, but we would maintain it and keep it up.

Uh, some of my thoughts are seeing these on different parks. It it is a nice something different to see when you're walking a couple laps. Uh, different input to look at. The the structures are very minimal. If it does fall into disregard, it'd be easy to clean up and and clear. We'll have to be wary of of floods. Pretty much the whole thing floods, but wouldn't be hard too bad to clean up. But my suggestion would be not close to the road,

these size rocks. Maybe we could talk you into uh trading offer taking out some invasive species we have around. No, we don't want to do that. Just a second thought. Okay. Okay. Any other comments or uh concerns?

Well, this would be a question for the board and I don't I I love the idea. Let me let me preface this with that. But the only foreseeable issue I see with it is technically Stanton is not inside the city of Fenton. So, does that create an issue for us? H didn't research that enough.

I don't want to get everybody all excited about it because I I think it's a great idea and I I could see the other, you know, especially the elementary schools in in the the community, you know, potentially joining in as well and having their owns and it almost being a community growth type of opportunity. But I just don't know. Utah Valley is the only elementary school that's actually in the city of Fenton. Bulls, Kellison, and Stanton or not. So, I I don't know if it makes a difference, like I said, but I'd rather get it out there ahead before it becomes an issue if it is.

Okay. um if you guys want to discuss it and just get back with me. I know I'm sure you have lots of other things on your agenda you need to get to going on. Um I don't want to take up too much of your time. I do appreciate you listening and looking into the idea. Well, does the committee want to discuss this in more detail? Go ahead and have a vote. It doesn't concern me particularly to me standing not being within the city limits. We service

the greater 6th Street 026 and beyond. I mean that's you know it's not necessarily like oh that that physical buildings there. They're part of our community even though they're not within the city limits. So I I don't to me that's personally not like a oh a big roadblock. I mean, I think if you're looking for if you're looking to get youth involved in your parks, to me, this is like an avenue for them to be involved that's going to bring them into the park. It pro, you know, it gives them opportunity to provide leadership, citizenship, stewardship of the parks if they have roles. Um, it's an outreach to reach out to to other groups whether that's Utah Elementary or you have kids that I don't I don't know if Lindberg kids still go to Truman if Truman's still I don't know where they go. where wherever the limber kids go where

they go to Concord. Concord. But I mean it's like it's like an outreach thing where you're you know joining these different separate possibly these different separate groups are coming together at one spot. So St. Paul and St. Paul and we host Boy Scouts, Girl Scout troops and allow Eagle Scouts to do projects in the park that aren't necessarily Fenton residents. No. So, is it my understanding if we would make a motion then we the motion would be to to move this towards the board the board of alderman they would have the final say. So, is that correct? I think that's good.

All right. Well, I make a motion we accept the proposal as stated. I' I'd also add maybe send us a letter or come back after two or three months and let us know how it's going. you know, I see some nefarious things going on here perhaps or who knows, but just the same, get a little feedback after you have some experience with it. Okay. Um, but with that exception, we need to have a motion made that we uh I second your motion to move this forward. I'll second it. So, we got a motion on the floor. All in favor accepting the proposal as prepared say I raise your hand. I I

Thank you. I appreciate that. Um, what would my next steps be? I know you have to bring it to the board of aldermen. Yeah, that's later this month, I guess. Right. Okay. Is that something I should attend? I can attend from Zoom on that meeting as well. If you want to reach out to Dan, send him an email. Sorry, Dan. Or you could get online as well, but um it'll be on the prov. Okay. Well, I appreciate it, guys. I look forward to it. Um, I have a meeting with the kids this week and I can let them know the good news that we're going to discuss it further.

Right. Wheels of government will be in motion for you. The wheels of government will be in motion. Okay. I appreciate that. Thank you so much. Thanks, Carissa. All right. Good idea. Let's see. my vice chairman. Yeah, Dan, I would say if that does move forward and you pick out the 3x3 spot, make sure that there's adjoining 3x3 spots available. You know what I mean? Because I could see where it could become a, you know, well, they're doing it, I want to do it type of scenario. So,

no, understood. and and the flooding was a concern, but we can find spots that hopefully are out of the extreme flood plane. I I think a great spot would be up there on like what I would call like Pickles Hill and um I mean that's what we called it as a kid was Pickles Hill like in the in the park up on the hill like if you're coming like right past Riverside the hill it's uh who played here first memorial so yes

we I mean because well Fran Fran Pickles used to that used to be the pickles So anyway, we called we called it Pickle Hill. Um, but like up there and and because for one, it's not near a playground and I think if you get if you're near a playground, then you're going to have kids like playing with the rocks and maybe throwing the rocks as comp or if you're down by like the basketball courts that that might be or like by the softball fields that that might be more you know kids are looking for something to do and now they have found something to do is to throw the rocks. Whereas if you're up in that section there, people that's kind of like more just like a walk through area.

Okay. All right. Any last thoughts? Well, I found my agenda. Discussion about let's see replacement or not replacement. Yeah. Regarding replacement of birdhouses and Mike's going to lead that discussion.

Yeah. Um, I'd noticed in Fabic that there was a number of those uh cedar lubert houses that had rotted falling apart. So, I turned in a volunteer request for him to replace them. And in doing so, I built 12. Well, it took six in Fabic and I put two in Westside. So, I've got four left. So, what I'm asking is if you know of any in your parks that are deteriorated and need replaced, let me know the location. First come, first serve for four of them. And I guess I was going to say that's awesome that you built birdhouses at school.

Excellent. And I guess these are going to be up high enough in general the public couldn't get to them. Well, yeah. No, they're what 3 or 4 foot off the ground. They're just on the little steel fence posts. And that was part of my request. I'm not put any new ones out. I'm just replacing old rotten ones where they were. Mhm. Not relocate them. Okay. I'm not aware there's any on the greenway, but I So when it gets warmer and you're walking your parks, let me know. You don't need to names locations tonight necessarily. No, not tonight. Okay. All right. Yeah. First come, first serve those in August.

All right. Thank you. We'll get back to you, I guess, outside this meeting. But thank you very much for your contribution. Uh discussion regarding alternative meeting date to September's meeting in this fall 2026. Oh, yeah. Maybe maybe I'll step down. Yeah. Okay. That should Oh dear. Discussion regarding resident only pavilion rentals in Budweis park.

That would be me. Um so I as you know we're putting the new playground in. Um that park only has about 15 parking spots. It's it's small and it is technically a pocket park just like Valiant and Westside. Um it is in close proximity to Forest Null. Um which you know that is residential. And so I just wanted to start the discussion with the committee to see if maybe they would like to make that a resident only so that the residents who paying for the upgrades in the new pavilions and the I mean not new playground um that that could just be another residentonly rental park. Is that consistent to like you said with uh Parkside

a Valiant and Westside are both resident only? What is how many I don't know if anybody has the data on this but how often that park is rented by a non-resident versus a resident would it take away from money from the you know parks you know from Fenton City? That'd be a question for Dan.

I mean it's kind of probably half and half right now. Um, we do get a lot of outside residents wanting to rent it for weddings. Uh, last year, I don't have any data because it was pretty much shut down because of construction on the main main uh, pavilion. Um, but I'd say throughout the year there's probably about maybe 20 rentals that come through there. Um, but a lot of it's for weddings and uh, and you know, small events. wedding uh brides or shoot baby showers, stuff of that sort, something small. Um but it is very similar to Westside and Valiant as far as the size and parking availability.

So really we'd only be out like 750 bucks if it's 10 times getting rented by non-residents. So is a concern more that now that we have this fabulous playground that's going in that suddenly this park is becoming more attractive whereas before like Dan said it would be maybe weddings or little showers and now you're going to have an explosion of birthday parties and the other and the other issue is and and a lot of the parking and what happens is they all start parking down Gregory Lane. There's a firehouse on that road. they they block all the way down, you know, one side or sometimes both sides. And if church is going on,

you know, you just really get a because there's only so many spots and two of them are handicapped. So, and we are looking to do upgrades to the uh old police station parking lot this year to allow for additional parking, but inside the park itself, it is very very limited on parking. That's what I'm gonna That was my next question. Okay. I I don't have a preference. Would this impact the Boy Scouts using the pavilion? No. No. They use it during the week. Uh most rentals we have are on the weekends.

Board approved that and they've waited. They don't pay fees. or they do assist us project. It seems like a nominal fee like to absorb that it wouldn't be a big deal to have it be only residents. All right. Someone like to make a motion. Yeah. Someone like to make a motion. Who has Budwe? I make a motion residents only. Second.

All right. All in favor of the recommendation and the changes to the uh appropriate policy and is the right hand say I oppose. Nay.

Okay. Pass. See if I can get this one right now. Tree advisor. Oh, no. They're not down there yet. Discussion regarding alternative meeting date for September 26th. So we have a calendar of the meeting dates in front of us here. September 7th is that I guess that's the holiday this year and uh not familiar with the calendar for Fenton. What dates around that would be most appropriate? Um, Wednesday, September 2nd, Tuesday, September 8th, or Wednesday, September 9th.

Okay. I'm kind of I guess I'm kind of partial to the second myself. Keeps it away from that holiday. I I like the second, too, because that would be for be before the holiday weekend. Any other thoughts on that? objections to make a motion to that effect then. I'll make a motion for Wednesday, September 2nd. I'll second. All right. All in favor of September 2nd is the meeting date for September meeting. Raise your right hand say I. I post.

None. All right. Thank you very much. And discussion regarding the park projects and the capital improvement plan. I've just I put together the 2026 um capital plan uh for parks projects um related to any basically items that would be um input brought in by this committee. Um you can see that we're kind of off to the races already on some of these projects for this year. Out to bid already is concrete work for many of the parks. the um probably the one thing that'll be noticed by by some um I don't know Thomas has been down in Oldtown recently. There's been a lot of work done in the Oldtown Plaza area. Many trees have been removed. Many ash trees have been removed. Uh we're working along the bank of the of Fenton Creek and we just met this morning with Mon Native as far as what we can do for replantings for that riparian buffer area that's not invasive. Um, the Beavers have actually done some really nice work down there, too. Um, unpaid, but they're only doing it on the gooey side of the the river. They don't appear to want to work for the city of Fenton. Um, but we did put out now hiring sign. Um, if you haven't seen the area that the Beavers are working on, it is very impressive. Very impressive. Um, we are uh also I met this morning again with Mon Native um to discuss kind of the 2026 2027 plan as far as invasives and all of our other parks. And I'll be submitting that plan to you guys next month just so you can see where the areas that we'll be working on. And again, it it tries to address most if not all of the parks. Um, as you might have seen kind of towards the end of the year with Riverside, we did have um or was that Valiant? I apologize.

Yes. No. Riverside where the invasives were cut down along the fence line. Um many of those taken along that fence area um and have been sprayed hopefully to keep that at bay. Um we do have some areas that we will be addressing in Valiant. They just haven't made it to that. Um again, that's a combination of multiple contractors. are working on this through um Elite um the tree service company and um the native companies that we that we've contracted with. Um we are still working on the design for phase one and phase two of the annex. The holdup has been when we uh put an application in for the new playground at Bud Wild uh for St. county to review. They required us to go to MSD for approval who then linked it to the project in the annex who then threw the book at us to tell us that we have to meet certain w water quality uh requirements. So that has put a halt not just on the playground but also on bud um and the annex and the design for that. Um, again, that was part of a conversation this morning of working with our native areas and what we can do outside of just a mitted soil um to meet that or to have to build a a large retainage or detention basin on the park um at the park. Um so just to understand that what has held up that park um as far as the playground the playground equipment has been sitting at the public works department since then when October

October correct

and the holdup has been just getting our necessary permitting through St. county and then the loop the deal with MSD. Um, as Dan mentioned, we are looking at we're getting quantities put together to get out for bid for a new asphalt pour up at Gregory to get that parking lot redone. Part of that is going to be a concrete connection uh because we're looking to do the curbs and concrete and do a concrete connection over to the new playground to provide for provide for additional off- streetet parking for that playground um in that area. Um, and then of course just another variety of I'm kind of going through these pretty quickly. Um, and then one item the board has asked staff to start working on, we're still collecting information, but we have a couple of bids out right now is for remodeling of our all of the bathrooms throughout the parks um, both interior and exterior. So hopefully some of those projects will be getting off the ground pretty soon. Oh, and the other is that they're also requesting bids for a new bathroom in Pent City Park, similar to the one that we just purchased and and constructed up in Fabic that would be closer over into the pickle ball and um that area, especially I think with the tournaments and stuff that we have with the kiddos. It would be nice to have a a bathroom over in that area. It's just such an open area to put a large, you know, obstacle in the view is kind of can be a little unsightly, but

I guess if it's a nice looking one like that's over by the sand volleyball, that wouldn't be bad. Yeah. Um, it's what we're looking at is similar to the new one that was just I haven't been up the hill constructed. It's it's attractive and it would just be a two unisex. It wouldn't be a large It would just be for two unisex. um facilities. So, it just be a little double the size of the one in what um I noticed on here you've got new bandstand cover and shades. I'm guessing that's for when we do the Fenton music nights. Is it to be able to block the sun later in the evening? Is that because I noticed they were up all winter. Yes. So, did they get damaged or

No, they are wanting something that is full protection so that if it's raining, the equipment doesn't get wet. Okay, that makes sense. So, and those types of structures you can take them down, but they're it's it's very difficult to take them down and have them put back up. Okay. But no, that is for to provide for full protection. That's something the board requested. Just out of curiosity, will they take are they going to try to repurpose what is currently there to a different location? We can look into seeing that. I mean, it would just be having the posts installed. I don't know if there was We can

It's something we can definitely address. I'll have Dan meet with the contractor when we get the the al alternative options if that's something that could be repurposed. Um, another item that the board did, and I know Robin will probably go over some of this, is we are going to have a certified playground inspector come in. We're going to hire for a third party. It's um, Ideal Play State. They'll be coming in and doing an inspection of all of our play structures. Part of what they'll do in that is look at the longevity of the existing structures. We do have them scheduled over the next few years for replacement, our capital plan, but it'll give us a better idea of what the true um, longevity of them um, of the playgrounds are. Um, one item that we would like to discuss with them is replacement of the one in the rear of um, is if that structure could be reutilized. Um, as it is a smaller structure, maybe somewhere else in the city depending on its longevity and and that's something they can absolutely take a look at. Give a recommendation. Right. Any other questions for Nikki? Comments? All right. Well, let's move right along then. We got uh tree advisory board items. No old items for discussion under old business. New business selection of a park location for Arbor Day servant, April 11th. Been in Fenton Park uh two or three times I guess. Have we been to one of the other ones as part of the tree advisory board? Wasn't able to make it to all of them. Uh we did try that one year and my understanding is it was better to keep it in one location where we had been trying to go to multiple locations.

Um we were able to go today we did order 15 um apologize red buds and then 10 dog woods um for placement. Okay. But it's just picking a park. I feel like it makes sense to keep it at the big park since that is the biggest one, Fenton City Park. Um, and the most utilized by the entire community. Have been a lot of trees removed from there that were invasive or are

Oh, yeah. I noticed that by the sign at was it east entrance and then also by Hitzert Pavilion there's been stuff removed. Those big giant bushes. And I just feel like that's an easy one and I've not seen that because that's in my board. All right. Well, that all sounds good to me. Want to make a motion? I make a motion to have this year Harbor Day observation task force um at Fenton City Park.

Okay, I'll second that. All in favor of Arbor Day celebration replacements in Fenton Park on the 11th of April, raise the right hand say I. I. Opposed. All right. Very fine. Brings us to uh I guess we kind of covered some staff uh comments, but is there anything additional to add there? Announcements and the like. Oh, park reports. Oh, man. Okay. Park reports. My bad. Budweis and the annex. I didn't go into the park. I chickenened out when I seen

I was up there last week. I mean up at the annex. I was up there week and a half ago and they've been doing the little the little soil things and the they've got them all marked out. They're can see progress up there.

Mhm. Okay. Marramac Greenway. That's myself. I didn't make it. Well, I went up there, but hadn't been plowed. I noticed when uh whoever came around to plow the driveway, they got off to the side a little bit. So, it's pretty messy getting uh in and out, but I'm sure as it warms up, it'll be available by the end of the week. But everything looked fine back in December and January. Riverside and Valiant. Well, Riverside Park, the basketball court looks white right now. It's covered in snow, but other than that, looks good. Uh, you can't get to the parking lot. It's also covered in snow, but it'll melt eventually. Uh, Valiant Park, last time I was in it was probably two weeks ago, and it looked good and the bathrooms look good. And well, it's not, they're locked right now. And uh, but you still can't drive in there either because it's covered in snow, so it's okay.

Okay. Uh let's see. West side. Uh I was there over the weekend. You can get there though. Uh but it's in good shape. Everything looks really good. People are out there. It was cold. Kids were playing on the play set. People were walking around the pond. Pond looks ponds never look better. God bless the cold. I mean the pond looks so great. I want warm weather, but the pond looks awesome. Okay. All right. Uh uh Fabic Nature Preserve.

Uh up at Fabic around Presler Lake, the benches, um there's erosion around them creating a tripping hazard. They need concrete needs reset. There's receding grass needed around the lakes. Up at the old homestead, the concrete walls have uh rusty bolts sticking out and there's sharp metal brackets attached to the walls and wires hanging out of the concrete walls. Um with the improvements to attract people up in that area that city may want to take care of that, clean it up. um clear cutting of trees on the bank of the upper lake. Um they mowed and seated the native grasses in the north pasture area along the drive in. And they've got a real nice mixture of grass of of native grass seeds and a lot of flowers in the mix. It's going to be a really nice site when it takes over and the lakes are looking good. That's it.

All right. Thank you very much. Benton City Park. Um I think they I think it opened this afternoon after snowfall. Um this tree work continues to go beyond Benson City Park and there's not much else to report. Yeah, we're up there at the dogs today because Greenway hadn't really opened up. Uh Heroes Memorial.

I'll I'll I'll be honest. both Heroes Memorial and Oldtown Plaza. I have not been out there since the cold spell. I've been hibernating. So, but prior to that, they they look good. They uh So, but as far as if there's been any snow damage, that I'm not positive on. So, all right. We'll probably all get a little bit better idea what they look like for next month's reports. announcements, updates from the city staff, all different.

Um, also I just want to also add if you haven't had a chance to get up there, Fab got all new fencing and it looks so nice. The the new fence around the old house, they took the green chain link down and put a and then the forestry machine's been up working like crazy up there. probably not in the cold, but um now in the lower lake you can or the upper lake, whatever you want to call it, you can walk almost you will be able to when it's finished, but you can walk almost 3/4 of the way around it now where you couldn't before. They've cleared out so much.

And um we didn't have a meeting last month so for parks. So I didn't have anything to report from the meeting. That's all. Okay. Anything more from Nookie? All right. Well, uh, next parks recreation committee tree advisory board meetings Monday, March 2nd. Need a motion to adjurnn. I make a motion to adjurnn. Second. I raise the right hand. All in favor say I. I. I. Good. Thank you very much, everybody.