Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board Meeting - April 20, 2026

The Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board of the City of Waukesha met on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the Council Chambers at City Hall (1900 Aviation Drive). The meeting lasted approximately one hour, concluding after a series of reports and a unanimous decision on a playground project. Seven members were present (Rico Camacho, Steve Johnson, Sarah Roth, Jack Wells, Erica Yoss, Jennifer Wallner, Eric Huemmer); John Schmitz was absent.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (March 30, 2026): Motion by Eric Huemmer, seconded by Steve Johnson to approve the draft minutes. The motion passed unanimously (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public addressed the board. The public comment period ended at 6:00 PM as noted in the agenda.

Discussion Items

• Greenway Terrace Park Playground Design and Equipment Purchase (2026 Approved CIP): The board reviewed the proposed design and equipment for the oldest playground in the system, originally built prior to 2000 (28 years old). The project budget is approximately $300,000. A public input meeting on March 24, 2026, featuring three design options from Northland Recreation, resulted in a community preference for an Eric Carle (The Very Hungry Caterpillar) themed playground. Special features include a two-to-five-year-old structure with a fruit bridge, a sculpted caterpillar, a five-to-twelve structure with a caterpillar arched bridge and monkey bars, translucent butterfly wings for seating, sensory panels for infants, an inclusive swing seat, and a revolution spinner accommodating up to 10 children. Board member Jack Wells raised concerns about potential fall risks from a climber with rings, but staff noted safety surfacing (poured-in-place rubber) would mitigate serious injury and that the climber could be substituted if desired. The design includes a find-and-seek activity with medallions. The timeline aims for a community build on July 24, 2026, with equipment removal by end of June and full completion by mid-August 2026. The surfacing contract will be handled separately by the engineering department.

Director and Staff Report

• Park and Recreation System Master Plan: The comprehensive plan (formerly Park and Open Space Plan) is being updated for the first time since 2007. Consultant Damon Farber conducted three days of tours covering approximately half of the city's parks, focusing on three categories: undeveloped sites (e.g., Cardinal Ridge), partially developed sites (e.g., Meadow View), and sites needing significant renovation (e.g., Saratoga Complex, Lowell Park). Recent flooding highlighted challenges with river-adjacent parkland.
• Other Projects: Engineering is preparing bids for Greenway Terrace playground concrete ribbon and Prairie Park improvements (tennis court reconstruction, LED lighting, replacing the oldest sports lighting in the system). A RAISE grant ($1 million+ for design) has been finalized for two pedestrian/bicycle bridges over the bypass. The Saratoga Lake dam/dredging study continues. The formal gardens are undergoing renovation with new drainage, conduit for future lighting and sound, and permeable pave paths; completion is expected soon. Horob Pool zero-depth features will be replaced in fall 2026, with equipment already in cold storage.
• Staffing and Operations: A new plumber (Grant) joined the buildings crew. Two arborist positions are open, and seasonal hiring is underway. Shelters and bubblers are being opened by May 1. Recent flooding has undone some fall cleanup; grounds crews are in triage mode.
• Recreation Programs: Baseball/softball/t-ball registration ended with 46 teams. Fifteen youth sports organizations are renting fields. The Trailbreaker event had 500+ runners. The Remember Our Fallen Memorial (August 19–23, 2026) is being planned. Volunteer Week saw 1,944 volunteers contributing 34,733 hours in 2025. Before/after school program secured a $3,000 Screen-Free Week grant from Aurora, and a 5K fun run is set for May 9. A financial assistance walk raised $8,000 for scholarships. A six-figure sponsor for Mendiola is being pursued (Generac approached). Pools are set to open June 6; lifeguard classes are underway with high staff turnover expected.
• Registration: Activity guides were mailed two weeks earlier than prior years. Resident registration day saw 100 in-person registrations, up from 62 last summer, and generated $157,000 in revenue versus $11,000 last summer.
• Keyless and Camera Installations: Completed at Rivers Crossing and Pebble Valley; Bethesda delayed due to flooding; Horob scheduled for this week.
• Annual Meeting: Next month will include board elections.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous approval (7-0) of the Greenway Terrace Park Playground design and equipment purchase, with a motion by Jennifer Wallner and second by Alderman Wells. The playground is expected to be installed by mid-August 2026 following a community build on July 24.