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Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee
Wednesday, December 20th, 2023 at 5:30pm
City Hall Commission Chambers
MINUTES
Present: John Burt, Roberta King, Sarah De La Rosa, Hillery Ross-Furse, Anthony Olshansky, Jequan
Brown, David Ruck, Sidney Long, Leann Heywood, Aaron Bodbyl-Mast, Lynette Marks, Mayor Ken
Johnson
Absent: None
I. Introductions (Olshansky, Brown)
a. Olshansky and Brown were absent from November’s inaugural meeting. They gave
introductions about themselves and the rest of the Committee reintroduced
themselves.
II. Selection of Vice Chair
a. Motion by Ruck, second by Ross-Furse to select Roberta King as the Vice Chair.
Motion Passes
III. Charter Parks discussion
IV. Presentation - Master Plan Survey Data
a. Survey data was shared by Staff Liaison Kyle Karczewski regarding the 9 Community
Parks that were included on the survey. The remaining Neighborhood Parks results will
be presented at the next committee meeting. Due to time constraints, it was suggested
to split the Neighborhood Park presentations into multiple meetings. Karczewski
explained to the committee that the presentation was just to show the preliminary
results, and we would request a more formal presentation from the Community
Engagement team. Mayor Johnson requested that the information on the graphs be put
in descending order.
V. Recap of capital conversation
a. Possible additions from survey data
b. Kruse Steps
VI. Finalize Individual Parks Master Plans selections
a. Motion by Olshansky, second by King to pursue individual Master Plans for the following
four parks: Campbell Field, Kruse Park, Richards Park and McGraft Park (with special
consideration by request of Bodbyl-Mast to include the lagoon-area on the North side of
McGraft Park Rd.). The committee voted unanimously to pass.
Motion Passes
VII. Programs Update and Outlooks – if time
a. Karczewski gave an update to the committee about the current and future programs the
Recreation department has been putting on. The seniors’ program (Shoreline City
WAVES) was mentioned as well as the Park Parties, & events. In the future, the
department intends to start a youth soccer league as well as assist with the local Little
League.
b. He also mentioned that in connection with our Department of Equity & Inclusion we
would be purchasing a Track Chair. These are currently in use at State Parks around the
area, and the department is excited to get one running in our community. They have the
ability to travel on rough terrain or sand, and they can even be submerged up to 8
inches in the water.
VIII. Any other business
a. Ruck inquired about staff’s marketing efforts for Parks & Recreation activities and
information sharing. Karczewski explained that Parks & Recreation shares the same
social media as the general City accounts and one days hopes to have their own
designated platforms. Ruck mentioned that he would be willing to assist with the
marketing and promotion and asked to add this on as an agenda item for a future
meeting.
b. It was discussed that minutes from the November meeting were not included or
approved at this meeting. In the future, the committee and Mayor Johnson request that
detailed minutes are taken from the meetings and included/approved at the following
meeting.
i. Bobdyl-Mast also requested to have agendas and minutes uploaded to the
Documents section of the City of Muskegon website. They were being uploaded
to the Connect Muskegon page previously. Staff intends to meet with the IT
Department and Clerk’s Office to ensure documents are uploaded to the correct
locations.
Adjourned at 7:24pm