Fitchburg Parks Commission – July 9, 2026

The Fitchburg Parks Commission met on July 9, 2026, from approximately 6:03 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Chair Christopher Steinon called the meeting to order. Commissioners present were Aaron Farrell Adamani, Christopher Piguero, Sue Easterday, Todd Brunner, and Joel Maldonado; Heidi Reynolds joined later after resolving IT issues. The commission approved June minutes and the agenda, discussed Highfield Reserve park concepts, approved Resolution R-8926 on the Hostahochi Park rental policy, and reviewed the 2027 park fee schedule.

Consent Calendar

• The commission approved the June minutes unanimously.
• The commission approved the meeting agenda as written unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Several Highfield Reserve residents spoke in support of the proposed park concepts. Megan Tabit, a resident facing Tipperary Park, expressed strong support for native prairie instead of additional lawn, citing benefits for fireflies, butterflies, and monarch caterpillars.
• Christine Fry, also facing Tipperary Park, strongly supported the ADA-compliant walkway from Notre Dame Drive to the multi-use path and the native planting plan. She objected to the prairie being called “whimsical.”
• Brian Fry supported the plan because visitors parking on Notre Dame need an accessible route to homes on Wexford Way; he also said native species should require less care and supported restoring prairie for future generations.
• An additional resident said the proposed cut-through path is the only ADA connection from the street to Wexford Way homes and called the park plan a selling point for the neighborhood.
• During the fee schedule discussion, resident Patrick Cheney asked for clearer fee schedule labels, suggested reducing tennis court fees to match pickleball rates, and proposed a lower $5 honor-system fee for court lights instead of $20.

Discussion Items

Highfield Reserve Park Concepts

• Dan Dave and Matt Saltzbury, representatives of Veridian Homes, presented concept plans for two centrally located parks in the Highfield Reserve neighborhood, southwest of McGaw Park. The development is in approximately phase five or six. The developer proposed building Tipperary Park and Faye Park and using park development fees as an offset, the same approach used for Castlewall Park and Crescent Crossing Park.
• Tipperary Park would have a central prairie planting with mowed paths, lawn areas at each end for unprogrammed play, a concrete ADA-accessible cut-through under 5 percent grade, bench pads, and about a dozen fire-resistant shade trees. Faye Park, a triangular parcel, would include native plantings, mowed paths, a cut-through path toward Cobbler Road, bench pads, shade trees, and a sloped lawn area.
• Commissioners asked about the angled sidewalk, ADA grade, bench orientation, shade, and edible landscapes. The design team said the angle was needed for ADA grade, benches would be backless for two-sided use, and apple trees require heavy maintenance, so an edible landscape was not proposed at this stage.
• Commissioner Sue Easterday raised maintenance concerns about small prairies, mowed paths, plowing paved paths, herbicide use, and mower-spread weed seed, and recommended all-turf parks. Staff and other commissioners supported trying professionally maintained native plantings in smaller parks as consistent with Parks and Open Space Plan goals; the developer said an ecological restoration contractor would handle a two-to-three-year establishment period and six inches of topsoil would be restored.
• A motion to approve the concepts as presented was made, seconded, and passed without audible opposition. Next steps include an amendment to the SIA, formal construction plans, and bidding documents.

Resolution R-8926 – Hostahochi Park Rental Policy

• Staff explained that the rental policy had been deferred for legal and administrative review and that the revised draft incorporated the language Commissioner Christopher Piguero requested at a previous meeting while retaining the intent of the original staff proposal. Approval would refer the policy to the Common Council.
• Heidi Reynolds noted a typo in the first whereas clause and asked whether the rental rules would differ from other city facilities. Staff said the community center, senior center, and library policies were used as templates, but Hostahochi’s kitchen, learning rooms, and technology make a more detailed policy necessary.
• Discussion addressed the city’s right to cancel reservations. Commissioner Piguero gave an example from Madison Parks where a reservation was declined after staff learned more about the group. Sue Easterday and Heidi Reynolds asked for uniform application of the added language across all city facilities; Heidi suggested tabling the item until a uniform policy could be prepared.
• Sue Easterday said she would vote no because she wanted the original staff-drafted policy and the new red-line language considered separately. The motion to approve R-8926 carried on a voice vote with audible opposition.

2027 Park Fee Schedule

• This was a discussion item without a formal vote. Parks staff reviewed fee schedule changes that will go to council as part of the budget process. Proposed 2027 changes included $100 increases for cemetery plots, ball diamond preparation fee increases to reflect staff time and materials, inclusion of the pickleball tournament fee from the 2026 resolution, and a correction keeping the non-resident ultimate frisbee/lacrosse/cricket fee at $25 rather than $30.
• Commissioner Chris requested adding the previously approved 50 percent nonprofit fee reduction for former Healthy Neighborhood Initiative grantees to the 2027 schedule; staff agreed to include it.
• Commissioner Chris also compared Hostahochi rates with Madison level-six shelter rates, citing $235 half-day and $335 full-day Monday–Thursday and $445 half-day and $630 full-day Friday–Sunday, and recommended Hostahochi rates be equal to or lower than Madison’s. The commission generally supported aligning Hostahochi with that level.
• The commission reached consensus to reduce tennis court reservation fees from $15 resident/$30 non-resident to $10 resident/$15 non-resident to match pickleball, after staff noted the pickleball rates had already been reduced to that level for 2026. Staff said the recommendations would be compiled for council consideration.

Staff Reports, Announcements, and Upcoming Dates

• Eric, presenting staff reports, reported extensive cleanup from June storm damage involving parks, forestry, streets, and DPW staff; tree risk assessments were ongoing. The city reported zero fireworks-caused damage or vandalism in parks.
• Three new benches were installed at Southdale Park at locations that will not be affected by future development. The Urban Forestry Management Plan completed the final Wisconsin DNR grant payment process, and the city forester earned Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ).
• A Milwaukee Brewers-themed mural, coordinated with the Chamber of Commerce, will be painted on site at McKee Farms Park near the tennis courts; no formal commission action was needed. The city also started monthly Park Spotlight news releases and continues rapid graffiti cleanup at Hostahochi.
• The Popsicles in the Park event at Jamestown Hico Park was rescheduled from July 9 to July 25 due to the storm and was successful, with many organizations participating.
• Upcoming dates: Kids Crossing public involvement meeting July 13 at 6 p.m.; Chicory Meadows Athletic Courts ribbon cutting July 21 at 4 p.m.; next Parks Commission meeting August 6.

Key Outcomes

• June minutes and agenda approved unanimously.
• Tipperary Park and Faye Park concepts approved; developer will proceed to SIA amendment and construction documents.
• Resolution R-8926 approved and referred to Common Council, despite audible no votes.
• Fee schedule recommendations to be forwarded to council: cemetery increases, ball diamond prep increases, pickleball tournament fee, ultimate frisbee correction, Hostahochi rates aligned with Madison level six, tennis fees reduced to $10/$15, and nonprofit reduction for former Healthy Neighborhood Initiative grantees.
• Next actions and dates: Kids Crossing public input meeting July 13; Chicory Meadows ribbon cutting July 21; next meeting August 6.