Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.10.25 Park Board MinutesPARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES FOSTER COMMUNITY CENTER Wednesday December 10th, 2025 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Mike Dombrowski, Nate Scramlin, Isaac Francisco, Rayvnne Gilmore, Christopher Greene-Szmadzinski BOARD MEMBERS EXCUSED: Kimberly Whitfield, Joan Lenhard, Tirstan Walters CALL TO ORDER: 6:33 P.M. Foster Community Center I. ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA Added E to new Business. Francisco Moved to accept the agenda as amended. Greene- Szmadzinski seconded. Passed Unanimously. II. BOARD MEETING MINUTES A. November 12th, 2025 Scramlin moved to accept the November 12th Minutes, Gilmore seconded. Passed Unanimously. III. NEW BUSINESS A. Michigan Waterways Stewards - Mike Stout from Michigan Waterways Stewards presented a summary of the successes this organization during 2025. Mike Stout recognized board member Mike Dombrowski for his help with coordinating volunteers and Parks Director Brett Kaschinske for his continued support of the mission to keep our waterways clean and clear. Mike Stout highlighted the work that volunteer groups from the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, MSU Crew Club, Sigma Chi, and Sigma Kappa have done recently. B. Dedicated Communal Green Space – Westside Neighborhood Association - Dawn Glossop asked the department to begin a conversation with the Westside Neighborhood Association about a dedicated Communal green space. C. Renaming Foster Park - There was a suggestion by a resident to clear up confusion between the playground on the grounds of Foster Community Center and Foster Park. There was a discussion about the policy and procedure around the names of parks and how to request a renaming. No action on this suggestion will be taken by the board at this time. D. Board Annual Report - Walters, Greene-Szmadzinski , and Francisco will meet on drafting the Board Annual Report and will submit this for review at our January 2026 meeting. E. Mod-Pod Discussion – The city recently acquired 50 Pods (small dwellings) that would provide housing for approximately 60-65 people. The Neighborhood Advisory Board and the HRCS Advisory Board were given a list of possible locations to place these that included Reasoner Park, Hunter Park, Debbie Stabenow Park, Comstock Park, and the site of the former El-Shabazz School. There will be several public comment periods. Information about the Mod-Pods was not given to the Parks Board prior to this meeting. Greene-Szmadzinski confirmed that the Neighborhood Advisory Board is currently reviewing this list and may be given other locations to consider as well. IV. OLD BUSINESS A. 5 – Year Plan – This is being moved to city council and this will be reviewed on the 15th. B. Kircher Park Memorial Request - We have not received an updated request yet. C. Ranney Park Additional Lighting – The Director received an email from Diego to let him know that they are looking into doing fundraising for this project and will inform the Director on any updates. V. UPDATES The Lansing Parks & Recreation Winter/Spring 2026 Guide is now available Applications for requests for trees from the city is ready and is up. These trees are available for residences that would like to put them in the front yard and several different sizes of trees are available. CIP Project ideas are due soon, the CIP vote is due in March. The Fish Ladder Project won a MParks park design award VI. CORRESPONDENCE 1. Courtesy Office Xmas Open House 6th Year of Service December 22nd @ 11:00am 2. Foster Park – Renaming 3. Portable Restroom Trailers 4. Proposal for New Green Space 5. Value Engineering LLC – VE Infrastructure Group VII. INFORMATION VIII. REMARKS BY BOARD MEMBERS Ravynne Gilmore wanted to talk about how we as a board are able to consider important and complex subjects. Ravynne believes that Lansing is able to provide an example of leadership when it comes to city planning. Mike Dombrowski wanted to talk about the Holiday Road Rally that will be on December 13th starting at the Foster Community Center which is a team based scavenger hunt. IX. STATEMENTS OF CITIZENS All meetings of the Park Board shall be open to the public. Those in attendance shall have the opportunity to speak on any issue related to parks and recreation services not otherwise on the agenda at the end of the meeting and may speak on any agenda issue during the meeting after park board members have had an opportunity to discuss the issue or prior to the board voting on the issue. The President may impose a time limit on public comments. Ted Wilson from a coalition who met on Sunday December 7th presented a Letter of Opposition of building Mod Pods in Hunter Park. Eileen Rorback from the Old Everett Neighborhood opposed placing the Mod Pods in Debbie Stabenow Park and had concerns with the process on the selection of the sites. Meeting is closed at 8:07.