Crestwood, Missouri Park Board Meeting - August 19, 2026

The Crestwood Park Board met at the Aldermanic Chambers of the Crestwood Government Center (1 Detjen Drive) on August 19, 2026. The meeting included approval of the June 2026 minutes, an aldermanic report, a staff report from the Director of Parks and Recreation, and a detailed discussion of the proposed outdoor pickleball and family games facility. Note: The agenda lists the meeting date as Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at 7:00 PM, which conflicts with the meeting metadata date of 2026-08-19 16:00:00+00:00; this summary uses the metadata date per the instructions.

Consent Calendar

• The June 2026 Park Board minutes were approved with no edits or changes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made.

Discussion Items

Aldermanic Report

• Aldermanic Representative John Sebben reported that two special aldermanic meetings had been held over the past two months due to the reduced summer schedule. Alderperson Mike Ballis had resigned for health reasons; Kitty Nangle Lohrum was sworn in as his Ward 2 replacement and will serve until at least April 2027, when a special election will complete the final year of Ballis's term. Special elections are no longer held in August or November for cost reasons.
• A new city administrator was hired: the former interim city administrator from Kirkwood, a longtime Kirkwood Public Works employee. Sebben expressed full confidence in him.
• The July 28 Board of Aldermen meeting approved the park fee schedule without issue.
• Parks staff were thanked for their work on Christmas in Crestwood.

Staff Report - Director Eilien Ramirez

• Community Center Construction: Ramirez reported the contractor has stayed on track; ten workers were needed to straighten the metal roofing. Completion is expected around the end of April or beginning of May. She praised the contractor for resolving issues without argument and noted the architect and contractor have a strong working relationship.
• Pickleball Equipment & Grant: New equipment will be installed around the first of the year. A grant application, approved at the previous meeting, was submitted the day of this meeting. She expressed hope that communities that have never received a grant would not apply this year, because their applications would earn all the points.
• Kiddie Pool: Approximately $20,000 was spent repairing a leak this year, but the pool is leaking elsewhere. The pool has reached the end of its lifespan. The park is being double-billed by Missouri American Water: a new water line was run into the park in February, and although the old meter was reportedly removed, charges have continued. Ramirez compiled a spreadsheet documenting the overcharges, and the new city administrator will address the matter with the utility.
• Trail Project: Seven consultant proposals were received and four were interviewed; the board is now negotiating price, so no consultant was named yet. The project will include public input and a presentation to the Board of Aldermen. It will return to the Park Board in October or December 2026.
• Nature Area at White Cliff: An intern who lives in Crestwood created the landscaping plan as an internship, so the city was not charged. The area was cleared, mulched, and a walking path was built using boulders from the White Cliff project. Volunteers will handle watering; the area should be fully established by this time next year.
• Crestwood Park: The overgrown section along the creek has been cleared and should look completely different by this time next year.
• Staffing: The department is down another staff member and will be hiring soon.

New Business: Pickleball and Family Games Facilities

• Director Ramirez explained that the original plan to keep half of the community center for indoor pickleball was abandoned when the cost exceeded $5.5 million.
• The revised plan places outdoor pickleball courts and family games (cornhole/bags) at the site, with new restrooms. One restroom will serve the courts and the amphitheater, including for Sunday and after-hours rentals.
• Family games equipment will be stored at The Cliffs; players will check it out there because equipment will not be left outside.
• Board members discussed membership benefits: members will be able to reserve pickleball courts similar to tennis courts. The reservation policy will be brought to the Park Board for approval first.
• The pickleball courts will be angled so the sun is not in players' eyes.
• Open pickleball play will shift to the new community center, which was not originally planned, so the city will not lose year-round outdoor pickleball entirely. The outdoor facility will be lower maintenance and lower cost to the city.
• Food trucks and beer sales by Crestwood residents (on a percentage basis) were discussed as revenue sources, but the city cannot yet guarantee crowds. One board member noted a food truck model where vendors pay roughly $1,400, with an additional