Golden Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Regular Meeting – April 16, 2026

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) met in regular session at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 911 10th Street, Golden, CO. Present were Forbes Cone, Catherine Hansen-Stamp, Michele Minihane, Kermit Shields, and Laurel Starr; Pete Erslev and Sandy Hazzard were absent. Staff attending included Parks and Recreation Director Jeremy Sweat, new Deputy Director of Recreation & Golf Megann Lohman, and Recreation Supervisor Rheana Rogers. The board unanimously approved the agenda and February minutes, heard public comment on Hockeystop Park, reviewed Lions Park playground concepts, planned site visits, and received staff updates. The meeting adjourned at 7:09 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved the April 16 agenda (motion by Kermit Shields, second by Laurel Starr).
• Unanimously approved the February 19, 2026, regular meeting minutes (motion by Michele Minihane, second by Forbes Cone).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tanja Rauch-Williams, a Golden resident and roller hockey community member, provided written and in-person public comment requesting that the city prioritize evaluating and funding improvements to the skating rink facility at Hockeystop Park, including lighting, drinking fountains, hockey goals, and other amenities. She stated demand has grown significantly, that Hockeystop is centrally located in South Golden where neighborhood parks are fewer, and that the nearest comparable outdoor rink is 21 miles away in Littleton. Lighting was her highest priority because it would extend evening and winter use; she also collected signatures from hockey users. She thanked city staff for recently installing more heavy-duty goals. Board members asked questions about the new goals, prior master plan references, and site conditions.

Discussion Items

• Deputy Director of Recreation & Golf Introduction: Megann Lohman introduced herself as the newly hired Deputy Director of Recreation and Golf, noting her first day was the previous Monday and her background in recreation with another Front Range city. PRAB members welcomed her and expressed interest in working with her.
• Lions Park Playground Concept Review: Rheana Rogers presented the project history, results of 2025 community engagement, and three concept designs developed within the project budget. Commonly heard feedback included a desire for shade, tree preservation, turf preservation, a nature theme, natural colors, retention of the existing East Pavilion and stone picnic tables, improved irrigation/drainage, accessibility, and a staff-activated programming space. Common to all concepts: open lawn preservation, tree protection, irrigation and drainage upgrades, additional portable restrooms and benches, new bike racks, and removal of the sand volleyball court. Concept 1 keeps the playground in its current footprint and adds a recirculating, hand-pump water feature; Concept 2 shifts the playground slightly, adds a new West Pavilion, accessible paths, and an outdoor classroom; Concept 3 relocates the playground into the hillside for nature-play and topographical play features, provides an outdoor classroom and native gardens in the old playground area, and is the only concept that may require removing a Siberian elm (the city forester did not object and would support replacement). All three concepts are roughly equal in cost; water feature maintenance costs are not included in the project budget and are a staff concern. The engagement plan is an online survey April 24–May 11, two in-person playground pop-ups, and a community open house May 5 at the Golden Community Center in conjunction with the Clear Creek Trail open house. Several PRAB members voiced strong support for Concept 3 because of its nature-play components, closer proximity to the community center, safety benefits, and outdoor classroom, while one member indicated Concept 2 was also attractive. Board members appreciated the engagement process and noted the water feature could be considered for future projects if not selected.
• 2026 Study Session Site Visits Discussion: PRAB discussed scheduling tours of city amenities, including completing last year’s unfinished visits to the RV Park and the Golden Community Center. Minutes indicate the board also requested a visit to Splash; staff noted Splash has no visible changes but will undergo a facility assessment before possible renovations. Tony Grampsas Sports Complex was suggested once its parking lot improvements are complete, though some board members noted they had already toured it during pickleball court construction. Staff agreed to send a scheduling poll to identify a date that works for members.

Boards and Commissions Interface Items

• Laurel Starr reported that the Arts and Culture Commission (AAC) met with representatives of the Native American Advisory Board, including Steve LePoint, and praised collaborations with the Golden History Museum and city forestry. She noted Golden will host the upcoming Indigenous Connections Summit (sold out), that repatriations of ancestral remains have occurred, and that a partnership allows Native Americans to harvest willow from Clear Creek for ceremonial use.
• Kermit Shields reported that Code Enforcement Officer Jamie Siegel spoke at a Friends of the Front Porch meeting about creek management and other issues, and that the Front Porch staff are providing strong programming.

Director’s Report

• Chair and Vice-Chair elections are upcoming in May; no new board seats are open.
• The Kiwanis Parfet Park signage request is being held while the city develops a consistent interpretive signage plan with the museum and communications department, with an aim to complete the standards this year.
• Fossil Trace pump station design is at 90%; the final budget goes to City Council next month, with financing and construction anticipated in the fall.
• The recreation software RFP closed April 16 at 5 p.m.; staff will review submissions and keep the board updated.
• Tony Grampsas Sports Complex received its state summer camp license; camp enrollment increased from 109 children last year to 153 registered so far this summer. The parking lot reconstruction is underway with the park remaining open, using alternate access for users.
• The city has announced Stage 1 drought; a public meeting was held April 7. Staff discussed drought response and low creek flows, including the possibility of creek closures to protect fish habitat. The cardboard boat race is scheduled for Saturday with 29-degree weather.
• The Emerald Ash Borer reimbursement program has had 30 applicants and has allocated one-third of its funding. The City Tree Sale was extended through April 22.
• The city is proceeding with a citywide facility condition assessment and hopes to have a consultant on board by the end of May.
• No new updates were reported on East Zone Amenities, open space, the South Neighborhood property, or creek-related capital work. The 8th–10th Street Connection sidewalk project is planned for 2027–2028 and is fully designed; potential coordination with sidewalk work near Lions Park may occur.
• Jeremy Sweat confirmed the Noxious Weed Management Plan will be reviewed by City Council in its capacity as the Noxious Weed Advisory Board on May 12.

Board Member Comments

• Catherine Hansen-Stamp praised the Garden Roundtable hosted by the Front Porch, saying attendance and engagement were strong, and complimented staff member Povy. She said city drought messaging should include more education about Golden’s water sources and water rights, and planned to provide staff with information on a suggested water expert speaker. She welcomed Megann Lohman and Ethan, a Colorado School of Mines student observing the meeting.
• Kermit Shields complimented the sidewalk work at the east end of Lions Park, asked about leash signage in parks, and welcomed Megann Lohman.
• Laurel Starr welcomed Megann Lohman and thanked staff for their work.
• Michele Minihane welcomed Megann Lohman and thanked Rheana Rogers for the Lions Park update and engagement plan.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda and February minutes approved unanimously.
• Megann Lohman was introduced as the new Deputy Director of Recreation & Golf.
• PRAB provided advisory support for the Lions Park playground concepts, with multiple members favoring Concept 3; staff will take the three concepts to public engagement before selecting a preferred concept and returning at 30% design.
• Staff will poll PRAB members to schedule site visits to the RV Park and Golden Community Center (and, per minutes, Splash).
• Staff confirmed the Noxious Weed Management Plan will be considered by City Council on May 12.
• The meeting adjourned at 7:09 p.m.