Director Justin Huss told the Parks Commission at the June 19 meeting, “May was an exciting time for Parks,” with a mural created for the wall of the restrooms at Harmon Park and opening of downhill trails at Lake Leatherwood City Park.
Early heat added extra watering duties for staff and might have scared away a few campers, but revenue at LLCP is ahead of projections. Huss said two years ago, Parks made $3000 on Memorial Day weekend, and this year it brought in around $9000. He called the positive trend sustainable and stated Parks is $36,000 over projections this year.
Huss said Grand Opening of the downhill trails was well-attended with more than 100 riders taking shuttle rides over the first weekend, and once word gets out the numbers will increase.
Huss also mentioned that he, Pat Costner and Chris Fischer met with Steuart Walton of the Walton Family Foundation about a tree-planting initiative at LLCP. Inventorying and restoration projects were discussed because Walton has participated in these projects in other cities.
Huss said Walton simply wanted to reach out to parties who have had issues with the downhill trails project, and as a result there is the possibility of longstanding cooperation for restoration projects at LLCP and in town as well. He pointed out this was an interesting by-product of the effort to build the downhill trails which should become a long-term benefit to our area.
New commissioner Cameron Denouewer commented word on the streets has been nothing but positive about the new trails, and social media is also abuzz. “People are really jazzed about what is going on. Lots of OMGs,” he noted.
“I’m optimistic that the completion of this project, the potential partnerships and opportunities, will continue to encourage more people to be involved and participate in their parks,” Huss told commissioners. He predicted Parks will be increasingly more secure financially and “will have the financial resources to consistently offer programming, offer impactful conservation and restoration efforts, and continue to improve facilities throughout the system simultaneously without having to choose the cheapest option.”
Springs Committee calls it quits
Co-chair Jim Helwig announced members of the Springs Committee decided to suspend their activities. Three members are moving from the area and other members are just too busy. He said new folks might want to step forward at some point and transform the committee.
Helwig said the committee put itself in the place of speaking for nature, yet the more we get out and enjoy nature, the more we impact it. The primary goal of a future Springs Committee should be to lower the impact of human development by employing Low Impact Development strategies. He acknowledged the Planning Commission for studying how to incorporate LID into City Code.
Sign of the times
Multi-media artist Stephen Feilbach told commissioners when he is out in nature he sees things people would want to take a photo of or things they would want to take home. He presented a piece that had fallen off the back of the dam at LLCP, which to some folks would represent work done by the Civilian Conservation Corps. He then showed a replica of an LLCP sign that could have been made out of materials that had fallen in the park.
Feilbach’s point was there were opportunities for Parks to make use of things already there. All that is needed is an artist’s vision and touch. Huss commented he would have plenty of cedar pieces available next winter when he clears them out. He also liked Feilbach’s idea of paying homage to the CCC.
Commissioner Fergie Stewart wanted cooperation to fund these projects, claiming people would come to town to see these art pieces, thus moved to have Huss work with the Arts Council on funding a new sign for LLCP as Feilbach had demonstrated. Vote was 4-0 to approve the motion.
Update on allocations
Huss said city council had asked about the LLCP funds again, so he prepared a sheet showing “what came in, what went out, what we’re doing.” He said the figures included preparing a shop yard for maintenance at LLCP. He is planning for a shop building of about 60×25 feet, that would give staff a legitimate maintenance and storage space, an office and a break room. He said the shop would save them thousands of dollars in efficiency the first year because now tools and equipment might be stored in any of several locations. Even changing oil will be easier plus simply having the maintenance space will create unanticipated benefits as they re-position their activities.
Vote was unanimous to approve the re-allocations.
Commissioners decided to hold the July 16 meeting only if necessary.