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Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 5:30pm
City Hall Commission Chambers
MINUTES
Present: John Burt, Aaron Bodbyl-Mast, Leann Heywood, Sarah De La Rosa, Lynnette Marks, Hillery
Ross-Furse, Anthony Olshanky, Roberta King, Mayor Ken Johnson, David Ruck, Sidney Long
Present: Kyle Karczewski, Teairra Clark
Absent: Jequan Brown
Meeting called to order 5:33 pm
I. Approval of 12-20-23 meeting minutes
a. Motioned by De La Rosa and supported by Roberta King, to approve 11-15-23 & 12-20-
23 meeting minutes, with the removal of the following
i. last section of the last sentence of section V, letter e, part i
ii. removal of section V, letter g, part ii
Approved by unanimous consent
II. OMA – Mayor Johnson explains the Open Meetings Act and refreshes the group on what is and
is not allowed. Do not reply all or do an email chain. Send emails to just Kyle or to the chair of
the committee. A quorum counts as 7 or more committee members.
III. Beach Safety Overview
a. Director Karczewski explains current beach safety and new opportunities.
b. Life guards – Director Karczewski provided his history with lifeguards and why there are
shortages nation wide for this position.
c. Heywood provided history of Muskegon Lifeguards.
d. Olshansky speaks on Grand Haven State Park and Holland State Park’s green, yellow, red
and now double red flag system. Tickets can now be issued for someone entering the
water on a double red flag day. No lifeguards at any Michigan state park beach that he is
aware
IV. Neighborhood Park Feedback
Director Karczewski read through the survey feedback and gave the top responses for each
park and how those would fit into a parks capital improvements plan, that information is
below…
a. Make the words vertical to be able to better read before its ready for the public for
recreation activities graph and the something new to the park graph.
b. Make the Charts in descending order for recreation activities graph and the something
new to the park graph
c. The group would like this data in a spreadsheet.
d. Beukema Playfield – Repave Parking Lot, Wi-Fi, Walking Path, Bathroom Improvements
e. Kyle will be going to commission for proposal recommendations in mid-February.
f. Kruse Park – only doing the beach access right now and a park plan. The beach access is
separate from the boardwalk rehab and that will be something will also be looked into.
g. McCrea Park – Upgrade the bathroom, restoring the baseball field, playground, Wi-Fi,
i. How much would Wi-Fi cost? Kyle will bring back that number.
h. Reese Park – Parking lot re-pavement, new splash pad,
i. YMCA and Boys and girls club & Parks & Recreation would appreciate a pavilion
even though it was not listed on the survey
ii. What a splash pad would look like there?
i. Smith Ryerson – interior improvements, creek access improvements (internal not
capital), security cameras,
i. Will get a cost on security cameras
ii. Olshansky – is there lighting? Not a whole lot of eyes on that park. That may be
why people don’t feel safe.
iii. Bodbyl-Mast – solar gates may be an option. They automatically open and close.
j. McGraft Park – rehab
k. Pere Marquette – tricky because current DLZ concept is 1.8 million which covers the
boardwalk, repaving the parking lot, 90 additional parking spot, traffic flow issues and
the kite shack to the stop sign repavement.
i. Olshansky – transportation alternatives – the bike path does not go all the way
to the silversides. Only goes to the bathhouse. Working with the trolley or bus
system to the beach.
l. Seyferth – upgrade bathrooms and do something with skate park remains
i. The skate park will not be coming back to the park. Bodbyl-Mast asks about a
walking path.
m. Aamodt Park – bathroom (doesn’t support infrastructure), and needs new curbing
n. Beachwood Park – repatch parking lot,
i. De La Rosa – stairs need improvement for sledding
o. Green Acres – Open discussion about current state
p. Hackley Park – Electrical upgrades
q. Harbour Towne Beach – improve safety
r. Joe Clifford Park – working on lease agreement (ends in 2025) before making an
investment in the park and adding a new playground and new benches and redo
splashpad
s. Lighton Park – amenity/picnicking upgrades
i. Bobdyl-Mast says to look at how we can work Lighton with all the new
greenspace on Terrace
t. Margaret drake Elliot – new playground will be installed in the spring
u. Marsh Field – playground to be possibly replaced in the next 5-year masterplan
v. Nims Park – just maintaining – Per survey needs a trash can
w. Richards Park – park plan, established parking, pit toilet
i. Marks asks would that be a better place for a permanent pit toilet rather than a
porta Jon. Long mentions about the accessibility of the park because it’s so odd.
Olshansky mentions the boat launch as another get point for a pit toilet.
x. Sheldon Park – New bathroom, new playground (purchased), parking lot paving
y. St. Joseph – new playground (purchased)
z. Future Park planning – public water access, outdoor ice-skating rink, nature preserve
V. Demographics & Open Feedback Portion of Survey
a. Did not get to – the committee will read at their leisure
Motion by Olhansky to adjourn, seconded by Marks
Adjourned at 7:37 PM
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