OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting - September 2, 2026

Common Council & Committees — Wednesday, September 2, 2026
BodyManitowoc, Wisconsin
SessionCommon Council & Committees
DateWednesday, September 2, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 53:26

Transcript — Verbatim
0:05

Somebody's coming here.

0:10

Coming in class.

0:11

So we'll just kind of apologize.

0:13

We have playing football tonight again.

0:16

We have picture gate and photographers decided to bring one photographer instead of two.

0:28

Oh, sorry.

0:32

Wow.

0:33

Oh my goodness.

0:35

Yeah, what's funny?

0:46

All right.

0:47

That being said, I am prepared.

0:48

So better you than me.

0:53

Alright, Mike's on.

0:55

Looks like we have full-on attendance.

0:57

So we're gonna call to order the September Parks and Recreation Committee meeting.

1:03

Everybody is here, so no other roll call is needed for that.

1:08

And we'll move on then to public comment.

1:11

Does anybody here have anything to say that's uh germane to the business of the parks and recreation committee?

1:16

That's not speaking of something on the agenda.

1:21

Do we have anybody online?

1:24

Nope.

1:25

Alright, go once, going twice.

1:28

And public comment is closed.

1:32

Alright, so then we have a presentation on the schedule.

1:36

Or on the docket, I should say.

1:38

Uh 26-0679, September 2026 updates on parked projects.

2:03

Alright, um, so I like to show these once in a while.

2:06

I guess we haven't had a whole lot of meetings, but it's nice to share some of the things we've been doing.

2:11

So uh parking rec project updates.

2:14

So we're gonna start out with two projects that weren't necessarily um uh capitalists or anything, but uh two projects that are parks through they kind of led um our our our our uh parks crew in these uh projects that we've that's been on our list for a while, so it was nice to see them being done.

2:32

So one of them was just the staining of the exterior of looking park um caving one and caving two.

2:38

Dave and the crew went there and we move colors of stain on and they look brand.

2:43

Um Dave Prides himself and everyone else in our in our group um on the interior, keeping it clean, keeping it um ready to rent.

2:52

Um now the type kind of just matches the inside, so it's a really nice project.

2:56

I know it doesn't get a lot of attention in these types of things, but but you know, for properties um and we do it during you know a very busy summer season.

3:06

So trying to fit these small things in our um another one is some uh accessibility update that helps us in part.

3:13

He's just finished this week, so we um they and they've worked with uh DBW crews to use this concrete installation, so pathway to the uh playground is something that showed up on our accessibility audits where um some of our playgrounds don't have accessible access paths, so having that concrete path creates um access to the playground, and then we did the same thing with the dog park.

3:39

We have two alternate entrances at the dog park.

3:42

Now you know these entrances are fully testful, you can get in the dog park and let the dog doll people involved.

3:49

So with that, we also widen the access path all the way through the park.

3:53

That just allows better uh maintenance access.

3:56

We're not creating big blocks with our garbage stuff.

3:58

So just quickly two projects that um are parts through the during the summer during the busy time we were able to get these things to check off the other list.

4:08

So here's red error access project.

4:13

We talked about this.

4:14

We're still waiting on railing, other than half the project is basically done.

4:18

Um our new stuff, the the next thing we're going with is the shelter operate for the bathroom builder.

4:25

Uh we talked about this here at this committee.

4:27

Uh we do have some initial plans, so basically the addition of a couple of restrooms dolls.

4:36

There's not a lot of room in here.

4:37

Um, but we were able to add a couple more things, more restrooms all in each of the simple windows and then uh we are adding a concession area that will be allowed to be rented out similar to what we have at like um Lincoln Park by the tennis parts.

5:00

We have the concession area, the Westfield concession area, just a small area that uh can be rented, can be utilized.

5:03

We can use it to run concessions if we wanted to.

5:06

Um have all the things of resin's uh all the stuff necessary for us to run uh concessions.

5:12

With that is an extended overhang over the uh the new pad that's being poured out um in front of this building, so it just allows more covered seating, uh, a better area for the public to use uh rentable things.

5:28

So renderings of what it may look like.

5:32

Um just from the front, the extension shown here, and then the side would extend uh the roof line all the way through a new metal rope, which is a little cleaner.

5:47

Um gutters, which will help information undecided area for um postal wetland navy area.

5:59

So we completed this.

6:00

We had a grand opening, um really well attended.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation█████████████████████████████████████████████65%
Procedural███████10%
Community Engagement██████9%
Budget Equity Analysis██████8%
Public Engagement███4%
Engineering And Infrastructure██3%
Affordable Housing█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting - September 2, 2026

The Parks and Recreation Committee met on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting covered updates on park projects, a discussion on the 2027 capital budget, a request from the Miracle League of the Lakeshore and Goodwill North Central Wisconsin for funding to resurface the Miracles Park ball diamond, approval of special event and fee waiver reports, and a decision on future meeting dates. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes from the May 11, 2026, and July 13, 2026, Committee on Aging meetings, and the June 25, 2026, Parks and Recreation Committee meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made.

Presentations: September 2026 Updates on Park Projects

  • Brock, Parks and Recreation staff, presented updates on several completed and ongoing projects:
    • Staining of the exterior of Lookout Park pavilions (completed during summer).
    • Accessibility improvements at various parks, including concrete paths to playgrounds and dog park entrances.
    • Red Arrow Park access project: construction nearly complete, awaiting railing installation; scheduled to be ready for the September 11 ceremony.
    • Red Arrow Park shelter and bathroom addition: plans include restrooms, a concession area, and an extended overhang. Renderings were shown.
    • Aviary and boardwalk at the natural area: grand opening held, with native plantings and sediment ponds.
    • Skate park upgrades: remaining wood ramps replaced with concrete, plus a new chip-led cheese feature.
    • Sub-creating stream restoration: in-stream work complete, with bank grading and native plantings; final invoices pending.
  • Discussion on Red Arrow boat ramp: a renovation was deemed too expensive due to water level changes; a portable beach mat option is being considered, but funding will be prioritized for the concession building first.
  • Alderperson raised the possibility of renaming JC Lane to Red Arrow Lane or similar, to improve navigation. Staff noted two addresses on the lane and will research history before proceeding.
  • Alderperson suggested adding more obvious signage on 10th Street directing to Red Arrow beach access.

Discussion Items: 2027 Budget and Request of the Mayor

  • The Mayor and Brock outlined priorities for the 2027 capital budget:
    • Schuette Park: major project for the remainder of the decade, with community conversations to come.
    • Silver Creek Park: envisioned as a winter destination with sledding hills, ice skating rinks, and concessions.
    • Smaller items: tractors, beach grooming machine, and partnerships with the marine band.
  • Alder Meckleberg raised concerns about the pickleball courts at Citizens Park, where a tile surface is not well-liked. Staff explained the constraints of the underlying water reservoir. Alder Meckleberg suggested moving the courts; staff noted plans for a beach volleyball court there and a potential south-side dedicated pickleball court.
  • Alder Dunbar suggested conducting park usage surveys to better match equipment to neighborhood demographics, and implementing a formalized process for aldermen to provide input on park needs. Staff noted a previous comprehensive park plan but agreed updated surveys would be useful.
  • Alder Recklberg proposed improvements at Union Park (small soccer field, updated equipment), Red Arrow Park (basketball court), and near the Blue Rail (small playground). Staff confirmed interest in beach-type playground equipment at Red Arrow.
  • No action was taken on the budget discussion; it was noted for file.

Discussion and Action Item: Miracle League of the Lakeshore and Goodwill North Central Wisconsin Request

  • Laura from Miracle League of the Lakeshore presented the request: the Miracles Park ball diamond surface, installed 12 years ago, needs replacement. Two options were considered: pour-in-place rubber (estimated $164,000, lasting 12-15 years, better for wheelchairs) and rolled surface (similar to existing, lasting about 12 years).
  • Laura explained that the original field was funded entirely through donations ($475,000). The new project is seeking a partnership with the city, similar to the recent skate park funding model.
  • Alder Recklberg, who has a son in the program, expressed support for pour-in-place surface and moved to include $100,000 in the 2027 capital budget for this project. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
  • The Mayor noted the item will be placed on the non-consent agenda of the Common Council for further discussion and to aid fundraising efforts.

Special Event and Fee Waiver Reports

  • The committee approved the special event and fee waiver reports for the period August 13-26, 2026, by unanimous consent.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion passed: To include $100,000 in the 2027 capital budget for the Miracles Park ball diamond resurfacing project (unanimous).
  • Consent agenda approved (unanimous).
  • Special event and fee waiver reports approved (unanimous).
  • Future meeting schedule: The committee agreed to meet on the first Wednesday of each month at 5:30 PM, starting in October 2026, replacing the previous fourth Monday schedule. No formal vote was taken, but consensus was reached.

Meeting Transcript

Somebody's coming here. Coming in class. So we'll just kind of apologize. We have playing football tonight again. We have picture gate and photographers decided to bring one photographer instead of two. Oh, sorry. Wow. Oh my goodness. Yeah, what's funny? All right. That being said, I am prepared. So better you than me. Alright, Mike's on. Looks like we have full-on attendance. So we're gonna call to order the September Parks and Recreation Committee meeting. Everybody is here, so no other roll call is needed for that. And we'll move on then to public comment. Does anybody here have anything to say that's uh germane to the business of the parks and recreation committee? That's not speaking of something on the agenda. Do we have anybody online? Nope. Alright, go once, going twice. And public comment is closed. Alright, so then we have a presentation on the schedule. Or on the docket, I should say. Uh 26-0679, September 2026 updates on parked projects. Alright, um, so I like to show these once in a while. I guess we haven't had a whole lot of meetings, but it's nice to share some of the things we've been doing. So uh parking rec project updates. So we're gonna start out with two projects that weren't necessarily um uh capitalists or anything, but uh two projects that are parks through they kind of led um our our our our uh parks crew in these uh projects that we've that's been on our list for a while, so it was nice to see them being done. So one of them was just the staining of the exterior of looking park um caving one and caving two. Dave and the crew went there and we move colors of stain on and they look brand. Um Dave Prides himself and everyone else in our in our group um on the interior, keeping it clean, keeping it um ready to rent. Um now the type kind of just matches the inside, so it's a really nice project. I know it doesn't get a lot of attention in these types of things, but but you know, for properties um and we do it during you know a very busy summer season. So trying to fit these small things in our um another one is some uh accessibility update that helps us in part. He's just finished this week, so we um they and they've worked with uh DBW crews to use this concrete installation, so pathway to the uh playground is something that showed up on our accessibility audits where um some of our playgrounds don't have accessible access paths, so having that concrete path creates um access to the playground, and then we did the same thing with the dog park. We have two alternate entrances at the dog park. Now you know these entrances are fully testful, you can get in the dog park and let the dog doll people involved. So with that, we also widen the access path all the way through the park. That just allows better uh maintenance access. We're not creating big blocks with our garbage stuff. So just quickly two projects that um are parts through the during the summer during the busy time we were able to get these things to check off the other list. So here's red error access project. We talked about this. We're still waiting on railing, other than half the project is basically done. Um our new stuff, the the next thing we're going with is the shelter operate for the bathroom builder. Uh we talked about this here at this committee. Uh we do have some initial plans, so basically the addition of a couple of restrooms dolls. There's not a lot of room in here.

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