Astoria Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Summary - September 23, 2026

The Astoria Parks and Recreation Advisory Board met at Astoria City Hall (1095 Duane Street) to approve the June minutes, hear public comment, receive board and staff updates, recognize a volunteer and employee, and review the proposed Shively Park disc golf course and the quarterly Parks Department report. Board members present were Norma Hernandez, Britta Herwig, Rachel Pearson, Nathan Pinkstaff, Lou Marconeri, Howard Rub, Sergio Carrera, Taylor Bay, and Kevin Staples; Erin Moore was absent. A date discrepancy should be noted: the agenda, minutes, and transcript identify the meeting as Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at 6:45 AM, while the provided meeting timestamp is 2026-09-23T14:45:00+00:00. This summary uses the requested date.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the June 24, 2026, draft meeting minutes by unanimous vote; motion by Nathan Pinkstaff, second by Britta Herwig.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comment was offered in person or received by email.

Discussion Items

• President Hernandez - What Do You Hear: President Hernandez relayed positive community feedback on the Astoria Column Centennial rededication, the condition of the Cathedral Tree Trail, and the department's responsive social media engagement. Board members also noted continued public interest in the proposed Shively Park disc golf course and appreciated staff responses to online comments.
• Volunteer and Employee Recognition: Staff recognized volunteer Orickk Evans for assisting with the Coastal Summer Clash Pickleball Tournament at Lindstrom Park, and fitness instructor Kilee Crow as Employee of the Month for her popular classes at the Astoria Aquatic Center.
• Astoria Community Foundation Updates: Ms. Herwig reported the foundation did not meet over the summer. President Hernandez thanked the foundation for supporting a youth swimming outing for Latinx children and for its support of swimming scholarships through Consejo Hispano.
• Proposed Shively Park Disc Golf Course:
  • Staff presented an 18-20 hole conceptual layout around the undeveloped, wooded perimeter of Shively Park, starting and ending near Evergreen Fields. An abridged 14-15 hole round would be possible by starting at Shively.
  • Earlier options were reviewed: Alderbrook Lagoon was ruled out because of proximity to a walking/biking path, and temporary practice baskets at Evergreen Fields demonstrated local interest.
  • The course would use 10 donated baskets from the county fairgrounds; a Portland-based disc golf group verbally committed to donating nine additional baskets. The primary cost would be staff labor, with local volunteer support available. Ongoing maintenance was estimated at about two labor hours per week.
  • Nearby course data: Fort Stevens had 274 unique players in a month; comparable Washington courses charge $10 per round. The Shively course would be free and was estimated to draw about 100 unique players per month.
  • Community feedback: a staff social media post received about 400 likes, was shared more than 200 times, and comments were roughly 70-80% supportive. Staff noted this was not a scientific poll. Concerns included Shively's quiet character, pedestrian safety, parking and traffic on Williamsport Road, maintenance, and impacts to historic elements.
  • Mitigations discussed: the course would sit largely outside existing use areas; road crossings are elevated with good sight lines; signage would direct players to park at Shively rather than Evergreen; staff met with adjacent property owner Mr. Bartolomeo, who was supportive; and staff would coordinate with the city historian and add interpretive/educational elements.
  • Board discussion covered wedding and event compatibility, walking and dog access, a possible demonstration or video showing disc golf's low impact, potential partnerships such as Fort George, a future kickoff event, trail surfaces, and financial feasibility. Board members generally supported continuing public engagement; no formal recommendation was made.

Staff Reports

• APRD Quarterly Update (April-June 2026): Staff reported finishing the fiscal year well ahead of revenue goals - at least approaching, if not exceeding, $1 million - with expenses below target. A financial software transition was limiting precise current tracking. The York Interpretive Panel unveiling at the Astoria Column drew more than 60 attendees. Upcoming Movies in the Park include Zootopia 2 on July 31 at Lindstrom Park and Night at the Museum on August 14.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the June 24, 2026, draft minutes unanimously.
• Recognized volunteer Orickk Evans and Employee of the Month Kilee Crow.
• Expressed general board support for continuing the Shively Park disc golf public engagement process; staff will hold an August 19 open house at Shively Hall and return for a recommendation after public feedback is reviewed.
• No meeting is scheduled in August; source materials list the next board meeting as September 23, 2026.
• The meeting adjourned at 7:42 AM according to the source minutes.