Golden Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Regular Meeting – August 20, 2026

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) held its regular meeting on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. (agenda time; meeting start noted as 6:02 p.m. in minutes from previous meeting). The meeting covered the Lions Park Playground redesign, updates from other boards and commissions, and the director's report.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Agenda: Approved unanimously after an amendment to strike the Master Plan Progress Updates item, as staff was not ready to present.
• Approval of July 16, 2026, Minutes: Approved with a modification. Board member Catherine Hansen‑Stamp requested a brief statement be added to the minutes regarding a discussion about Open Space Master Plan (OSMP) Phase 2 and 3 priorities that occurred during the July meeting. The board agreed to include a sentence in the minutes and to place the full text of her comments in the board member comments section of these minutes. The motion carried unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comment was received during the meeting. No written public comment was submitted.

Discussion Items

• Lions Park Playground Project Presentation (60 minutes): Consultant Aisha Menendez of DHM Design presented the latest schematic design. The playground will be relocated up the hill, south of the Community Center, to preserve trees and incorporate a native garden, outdoor classroom, and new picnic pavilion. The $2.067 million budget includes a 20% contingency and no splash pad – the community’s preferred alternative after trade‑offs were presented. Two play areas (ages 2–5 and 5–12) will feature concrete slides, a fortress climber, swings, and a stepper cluster. Surfacing will be poured‑in‑place rubber and engineered wood fiber. Staff noted the project is 3–4 weeks behind schedule but still targeting a November bid release and construction start in late 2026 or early 2027. The City’s GOCO Community Impact Grant concept paper was selected to advance to the full application phase; GOCO praised the project as a potential showcase. Board members asked about maintenance (concrete slide waxing, wood fiber topping), social trails, accessibility, and the decision to forgo a water feature in favor of more play equipment.
• Boards and Commissions Interface Items:
  • Laurel Starr (Art Commission) reported that 29 submissions were received for the Lions Park art piece. The commission ranked the top three and will request more detailed proposals from those artists. The art is intended for the native garden area and should be calm, interactive, and appealing to neurodivergent children.
  • Sandy Hazzard (Special Events Committee) noted that summer events have stressed park turf, especially at Parfet Park, due to drought and heavy use. The committee is working on a new mission statement and expects to share final numbers from major events later.
• Director’s Report (Jeremy Sweat):
  • Staffing: Joe Zaba promoted to Recreation Coordinator for Athletics.
  • Lifeguards and an off‑duty firefighter used CPR and an AED to revive a cardiac‑arrest victim at the Golden Community Center.
  • The Front Porch partnered with police for a fraud‑protection lunch; summer programs concluded.
  • Creek management: Vegetation restoration areas installed along Clear Creek to combat compaction and bank erosion.
  • No updates available on the East Zone Amenity Plan or Open Space Master Plan.
  • A discussion on creek ambassadors and ticketing followed: enforcement has increased, but citations have not decreased; a proactive marketing campaign for responsible recreation will launch this fall.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes Approved with a minor amendment to capture the July discussion on OSMP priorities.
• Lions Park Playground Design: Board received the presentation as informational; no vote was required. Staff will continue to refine the design and pursue grant funding (GOCO and Colorado Gives Foundation).
• Art Integration: The Art Commission will seek more information from the top three artists to finalize a piece for the park’s native garden.
• Next Meeting: The Master Plan Progress Updates, originally on the agenda, will be moved to a future meeting.