Parks Commission reviews capital improvements project plans, budget, director’s report
By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news
A $25 million draft plan for maintenance, enhancements and a couple big ticket projects over the next six years of Ashland Parks and Recreation is now awaiting critique from the public, as explained by Ashland Parks and Recreation Director Rocky Houston during the APRC business meeting Wednesday.
“That’s sort of our best case scenario wishlist. … We’re trying to plan for extending the useful life of what we have, replacing our existing assets when they meet the end of their useful life and enhancements to meet our recreational needs through planning, development, acquiring property and our new equipment to do that,” Houston said of the plan.
The plan was created through APRC staff reviewing both needs of facilities and long-term goals identified by commissioners such as the Parks, Trails and Open Space map. Houston broke it down by time frame and purpose of projects.
Part of the plan will correspond to the upcoming biennium, while other projects are part of long range forecasts stretching six years into the future and may be subject to change as new information or sudden maintenance needs shift APRC’s budget, Houston said.
The plan includes six types of projects: preventative maintenance, major maintenance, park enhancements, planning, land acquisitions, vehicles and equipment. Identified projects included the Hunter Park rehabilitation project, the Butler-Perozzi Fountain in Lithia Park, completing an ongoing update through parks to a new irrigation system, a reroute of the Siskiyou mountain trail, the East Main Park project and improvements to increase Americans with Disabilities Act access in parks.
Hunter Park pool accounts for more than half the total Capital Improvement Program draft budget, with “major maintenance” penciled in at $12 million. The second-largest item on the list is $2.15 million for “park enhancements” at the still-in-the-works East Main Park.
But the majority of CIP projects will be either preventative or major maintenance. Staff will continue to work through identifying the most important maintenance projects and ensuring best use of dollars.
“Focus here primarily where we’re trying to put our dollars, almost 65% on major maintenance and restoring those assets we have,” Houston said.
Sources of revenue for the plan include grants, donations, recreation programs and the city’s Food & Beverage tax, he said.
In a press release issued by the city Friday morning, residents are invited to review and provide feedback up to Dec. 15 on the plan, which is available in entirety online. To send in a comment, email Director Houston with “APRC CIP” in the subject line. Comments can also be given in person at the Dec. 4, 2024, APRC regular business meeting or sent by mail to 340 S. Pioneer Street, Ashland OR 97520 but must be postmarked by Dec. 15, 2024, according to the release.
“We will track and log all those comments and review that information to then draft the final capital improvement plan,” Houston said Wednesday.
Applicants sought for Trails Committee
In other APRC business Wednesday, commissioners unanimously approved the bylaws for the newly formed Trails Committee. The committee overseeing trails was previously an ad hoc or short term committee and will now be a permanent body composed of different types of trail users.
In a press release from the city Thursday evening, the committee is seeking members who can represent the cycling, hiking and accessibility user groups with two additional at-large members. Applications can be submitted online and will be accepted up to Dec. 15, according to the release.
During the Wednesday meeting, Houston stated at large members could be trail runners, dog walkers or anyone else who wants to participate.
“The idea is to have a broad, inclusive group that is thinking about all of our trail types and trail users as we move forward to set any proposed policies or actions related to trails,” he said.
Houston shared cause for optimism and concern in his director’s report.
“A little palace of ice is being constructed as we speak,” he said of the annual ice rink in Lithia Park.
The seasonal recreation offering is expected to open soon with rental skates available.
“I think it’s an $8 investment for a sore bum. But come out and help us test out the ice and make sure it’s as soft as it was last year,” he said.
Parks restrooms are now closed at 5 p.m. to coincide with an earlier setting sun. While this may be an inconvenience to some visitors, Houston said maintenance staff and volunteers for parks have told him they have appreciated a noticeable decline in vandalism.
Vandalism and break-ins remain a problem for APRC despite efforts over the preceding year to combat the issue. Recent problems include “three break-ins in the last 30 days,” Houston said, including the theft of machinery and clipping wires to cameras in the Japanese Garden.
“I guess we’re going to have to go back and find a new mousetrap. … It’s frustrating and unnerving when some of us, like little old me, is there all alone, it’s all dark, come out and can’t see anything,” he said.
SOS Security came out the previous day to help APRC explore further security improvements.
Monday afternoon the Ashland Senior Center will host its annual Thanksgiving dinner served to seniors by members of Ashland Fire & Rescue.
APRC Senior Analyst Brandon Terry also presented an overview of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024 and the first quarter fiscal year 2025. Some programs such as the pool did not see as much revenue as last year overall but most revenue funds and recreation programs saw substantial increases. For example, he said, in the previous year, facility rentals netted the commission $5,000 while this year APRC has already earned $10,000.
“Really kind of good news all the way around for the revenue,” he said.
The data in Terry’s report to the commission was included with meeting materials.
Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at morganr@ashland.news.
