HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark Board Minutes 05.13.26PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES
FOSTER COMMUNITY CENTER
Wednesday May 13th, 2026
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Nate Scramlin, Isaac Francisco, Joan Lenhard, Tirstan Walters,
Ravynne Gilmore, Christopher Greene-Szmadzinski
BOARD MEMBERS EXCUSED: Mike Dombrowski, Kimberly Whitfield
CALL TO ORDER: 6:33 P.M. Foster Community Center
I. ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA
Added E and F to updates Greene-Szmadzinski moved to accept the agenda with
additions, Walters seconded, passed unanimously
II. BOARD MEETING MINUTES
A. April 8th, 2026 Walters moved to accept as corrected, Francisco seconded, passed
unanimously
III. NEW BUSINESS
A. Wentworth Park – There was a proposal for erecting a building at this park to convert steam
to water. This plan has been delayed as the BWL is looking for other locations for this site.
B. Fenner Docks – Gabriel Biber presented some information about Fenner. The new All
Outdoor preschool that will be starting this summer. Tuesday June 16th there will be an event 6:30-8
is a formal annual meeting and is open to the public. On June 30th there will be the grand opening
for the new Fenner Nature School playground at the Sycamore Creek. They received a $115K Grant
from the Consumers Foundation to do ecological restoration. The docks at Fenner are part of an
egress exit at the Nature Center and are slated to be repaired and the decks replaced. There is not a
firm timeline on the deck repair and this will be sent for engineering design.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
A.
V. UPDATES
A. Community Center Study – Over 600 survey results and the Director will be giving more
information about this study to the board in the future. There will be some information
provided about the desire by the community for community centers and what opportunities
are important to the public.
B. Marshall Basketball Courts – Levit Stark will be constructing these and they are slated to
complete these this Summer.
C. Moores Park Pool- There has been a construction delay related to code and this will not be
opened in June. There is not a firm opening date yet but there will be more information on
this soon.
D. Personnel Update – Looking for lifeguards. The supervisor for the gardens has been hired
and there has been some delays in planting flowers this year due to staffing constraints and
weather. The leisure services manager position has been posted.
E. Dunnebacke Park – The director received a complaint about way the garden project site
looks currently and does not look like it is currently actively being gardened. The Old
Oakland Neighborhood Organization is currently looking at different options for this site.
F. Reuter Park Fountain- The study on the repairs has been completed. The estimate for the
repairs is now at 1.5 Million.
VI. CORRESPONDENCE
A. St. Joseph Park
B. Steve Bell – Fireworks in the Park
C. FOLHC – 19TH Annual Geranuim May 16th at 10am
VII. INFORMATION
VIII. REMARKS BY BOARD MEMBERS
Christopher Greene-Szmadzinski did not receive an agenda and the director committed to making sure that
staff will provide the agenda to the board several days prior to the meeting.
Ravynne Gilmore would like to show appreciation to the board for the work on completing the projects.
Isaac Francisco would like to send a word of appreciation to Ana Henriques for her continued volunteering
work based in St Joe Park. He also appreciates the input from the Westside Neighborhood Organization and
other community groups to inform future decisions regarding St Joe Park
Isaac Francisco also gave a word of appreciation to the Mid Michigan Mountain Bike Association for their
recent volunteering work in trash pickup and trail maintenance in the area around Fine Park
Tirstan Walters wanted to thank the staff and volunteers for the Sparkle Sprint and talked about the great
opening of Strike Out Baseball. He asked the director about the current baseball programming.
Joan Lenhard let us know that there will be an expansion of the Blue Star Memorial Garden portion of
Francis Park. They will also be placing a tree in Francis Park. There were also some litter and maintenance
issues at Scott Sunken Garden.
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.
Don Dean provided a photo of the gate at Bankroft that needs some repairs.
Lenhard moved to close the meeting, Walters supported, passed unanimously at 8:07