08-13-2025 Parks and Recreation Commission Packet (1)

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DRAFTParks and Recreation Commission Minutes July 9, 2025 --------- Page 2 of 9 Moved by Commissioner Goodwin and seconded by Commissioner Fermoyle to approve the Torchlight Theatre Outdoor Performance at Woodland Trails Regional Park as presented from July 31 to August 3, 2025. Motion carried 7-0. 7.2 Neighborhood Playground Survey Mr. Shelby presented his report. Chair Anderson shared that adding Orono Park to the survey should be considered. Mr. Stremcha said the key point of this survey is the focus on neighborhood parks, not regional or destination ones with larger amenities. Chair Anderson said if the feedback from the survey showed that most of the people are using Orono it would show the Commissioners they aren’t using the other parks. Mr. Shelby said he thinks it is already assumed that people are using Orono Park more than other parks and it might dilute the responses to the survey. Commissioner Niziolek said having the Orono Park information would be valuable because if the users state that they are going to Orono six days a week but only one of the other parks one day a week it could help the commission consider whether it is valuable to invest in the smaller parks. Commission Stewart asked if it would be helpful to give those taking the survey the option to write in the park they go to. The other commissioners said they would like to keep the survey questions related to parks within the region. Commissioner Goodwin said that in her experience it is important to ask the questions in a way that gets the answers sought after and these questions keep the focus on these three parks. She is concerned with the language in the introduction using the word “improvements” versus “changes” because they may have to remove some of these parks, playgrounds, and amenities. She is concerned that being too upbeat about the changes will not convey the fact that they may need to remove features. Chair Anderson and Commissioner Varty both said that if they include Orono it will show that Orono is being used the most and make it clearer that the other parks aren’t being used. Mr. Shelby said that if they include Orono Park in the survey they would have to look at changing the title of the survey since it would include different types of parks. Commissioner Loidolt said he thinks that adding a regional park does skew the information if they are just trying to filter the responses to neighborhood parks. He agreed with Commissioner Goodwin that they need to be honest with the residents that part of the reason they are doing this is because they don’t have the money to maintain all these parks. The commissioners agreed that they need to be more open and honest about the fact that some of these parks may have amenities removed. Commissioner Varty said it is important to let people know that the funds are limited. Mr. Stremcha suggested using language regarding the sustainability of these parks with limited funds. Councilmember Grupa said that these parks are important to the communities that live there. He said that stating they are going to eliminate one of them will be tough. He said that he would like to see improvements to all three. Commissioner Goodwin said they are at a crossroads where they can’t maintain all these playground structures and they must plan for the future. Commissioner Goodwin shared that she thinks the culture has changed where people are not just sending their kids out to play in the neighborhood they live in. She thinks they need to invite people into the decision-making process and be honest with them about not having the finances to upgrade and Page 4 of 44