Priority Recommendations

Parks & Public Works Committee Agenda Item Report

FROM:

Scott Herbert – Public Works Superintendent

MEETING DATE:

December 23, 2025

SUBJECT:

Priority Recommendations

DESCRIPTION: The PPW Committee continues refining priorities to recommend to City Council for consideration as they approach their annual Strategic Planning Session. BUDGET ACTION REQUIRED: N/A COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REVIEW: N/A LEGAL REVIEW: N/A SAMPLE MOTION: Discussion only.

PPW Committee Planning Recommendations Project

2024/2025 Status

Category

Projects in Progress: 2025/2026 Active Village Square

Maple Street

Mount Baldy Infrastructure and Revegetation

Invasive Species Assessment

Saugatuck Natural Area

Active

Active

Active

Active

2024 Comment

Large

Basketball Court Resurfacing: can the surface include art?

Extra Large

Pedestrian/cyclist safety

Large

Restrooms and step repair planned/underway. What about invasives, parking lot, and radar building?

Small

The focus is on community education. Website development is underway. Kalamazoo River invasives and wooly adelgid have been past focus but there are many more.

Small

Ryan is finishing updates to the Management Document. PPW involvement?

11-2025 Comment

MI DNR Trust Fund Grant received. Should we pursue artistic court floors? Other ideas? Planned sidewalk is ending at apartments near North St.; what is cost to extend to North St.? Restrooms and step repair underway. Invasives/revegetation proposals received. Pavilion still needs work. City Council 2025/2026 priority. Received proposal from ODC for comprehensive citywide assessment in 2026. Awaiting other proposals. ODC proposal to remove invasives and assess trails was approved by City Council on 12/8. Will need to implement trail recommendations in 2026.

1 32

PPW Committee Planning Recommendations Project

2024/2025 Status

Category

2024 Comment

Signage

Active

Large

Park Street

Active

Extra Large

PPW had this as a focus; still need us?

Blue Star Trail

Active

Extra Large

Reaffirm commitment

Elizabeth Street

Inactive

Large

Not a priority

Downtown Fire Pit

Inactive

Large

Streetscaping

Inactive

Large

Improve sidewalks, landscaping, and signage. Butler Street consideration with lead water line replacement

New Infrastructure

Community Supported Projects Wicks Park

Inactive

Large

Restroom improvements

Coughlin Park

Inactive

Extra Large

n/a

11-2025 Comment PPW Committee volunteers to identify signage needs for our parks. This continues to be a priority Still stalled by tribal concerns. Planning priority in 2026 with construction targeted for 2027. Project proposed by CVB; awaiting Council decision. No role for PPW Committee? Should Butler Street planning begin in 2026? Restroom concerns validated by 2025 Master Plan Survey New restroom should be investigated; high priority for Master Survey respondents

2 33

PPW Committee Planning Recommendations Project

Add more benches and picnic tables

2024/2025 Status n/a

Category

Small

2024 Comment

11-2025 Comment

n/a

PPW Committee will make recommendations for locations and placement

PPW Committee Recommendations

Large

Need to address infrastructure and invasives

Active

Small

Encourage “Pocket Prairie” development in parks and by homeowners; first planting at Peterson Preserve.

Inactive

Large

Assess streetlights. Start with Lights Out like Douglas?

Peterson Preserve

Inactive

Park Infrastructure Maintenance

n/a

Native Plantings

Dark Sky Initiative

Water level controls located on private property remain a concern. Invasives will be included in Invasives Assessment. Inventory all park structures and estimate remaining lifespan to anticipate future replacement costs. Volunteers will continue adding plantings to Peterson Preserve. Estimates have been received for 2 additional planting zones. Donations will be sought to defray costs. Good effort in 2025; will attempt again in 2026. Support for dark skies was

3 34

PPW Committee Planning Recommendations Project

2024/2025 Status

Category

2024 Comment

11-2025 Comment substantial in 2025 Master Survey

Sustainable Inactive Large Community Long-Term (Dream Big) Projects

Engage with MI Green Communities Initiative

Community Rec Center

Inactive

Extra Large

Is there a desire for a community rec center?

Property Acquisitions

Inactive

Extra Large

Can we acquire the Peterson Mill Property when available?

Public Art Partnership

Inactive

Large

Encourage more art in public spaces, some could be rotating. Partner with SCA?

Oval Beach Infrastructure Miscellaneous Add Staff to Support Parks and Park Projects Oval Beach

Inactive Inactive

Small

Playground Spinner needs placement – Oval Beach possible?

PPW Committee recommends. School District has acquired land adjacent to Douglas Community Church that may include this project. Peterson Mill acquisition is recommended PPW Committee suggests creating an artist’s group be formed that could recommend sites and art Replace current concession/facilities. This is big – will need to be Council priority Hired Michelle in 2025. Additional staff are still required. No Playground Spinner for Oval Beach

4 35

PPW Committee Planning Recommendations Project

Comprehensive Park Review Bicycle Racks and Fix-It Station(s) Kayak Launches Street End Leases Cook Park

2024/2025 Status Inactive Inactive Inactive

Category

2024 Comment

Small/Medium Inventory parks – what’s good and what could be improved Small Friends of the Blue Star Trail involvement possible Medium Identify areas for public kayak launch (canoes and paddleboards too)

11-2025 Comment See Long-Term Planning Still makes sense to do this. CVB addressed racks; FixIt Station still needed Will be included in Kalamazoo River Greenway project Need to understand lease agreements Determine park boundaries available for use by city residents

5 36