Park Board

Park Board Meeting Agenda Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at 5:30 PM Council Chambers Page 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. ADOPTION OF AGENDA 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Minutes from date 2-5 Park Board - 28 May 2025 5. CONSENT AGENDA a. Project Tracker 6-7 6. OLD BUSINESS a. Advertising Signage at Citizens Field 8-9 Memo: Advertising Signage at Citizens Field 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Comprehensive Park Planning – Process Update 10 Memo: Comprehensive Park Planning – Process Update 8. COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS 9. ADJOURNMENT  Park Board Meeting Minutes 5:30 PM - Wednesday, May 28, 2025 Council Chambers The Park Board of the City of New Richmond was called to order on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at 5:30 PM, in the Council Chambers, with the following members present: PRESENT: Craig Kittel, Dave Newman, Anythony Howe, Krista Miller(virtual), Megan Klisczc, Jon Hailey, Mayor Jim Zajkowski ABSENT: OTHERS Noah Wiedenfeld, Jeff Dionisopoulos, Jamie Larson PRESENT: CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA Jon Hailey made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Anthony Howe seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Jon Hailey made a motion approve the minutes from April 23, 2025 Dave Newman seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. CONSENT AGENDA Dave Newman made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Jon Hailey seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. OLD BUSINESS BIDS: WILL'S PLAYGROUND FENCE Jeff Dionisopoulous updated the Park Board members on the fence replacement project at Will’s Playground. Following the Board’s April 23 meeting and authorization to solicit bids, City staff evaluated replacement options by reaching out to fencing contractors and conducting a cost analysis for completing the work in-house. Three formal bids were received, with the lowest submitted by Cyclone Fence in the amount of $16,152. For comparison, staff also estimated the cost of purchasing materials directly from Menards, which totaled $21,515.10. Discussion carried. Park Board Meeting May 28, 2025 Anthony Howe made a motion to recommend to City Council awarding the fence replacement project at Will’s Playground to Cyclone Fence in the amount of $16,152. Jon Hailey seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. HATFIELD LAKE FISHING PIER UPDATE Jeff Dionisopoulos shared that the City was not awarded grant funding for the Hatfield Lake fishing pier replacement. Dionisopoulous asked the Park Board whether they wished to continue prioritizing the project in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and pursue future grant opportunities, or consider tabling it for the time being. After discussion, the Park Board agreed to keep the project in the CIP and supported continued efforts to seek future grant funding. Craig Kittel made a motion to keep the Hatfield Lake fishing pier replacement project in the Capital Improvement Plan and to continue pursuing future grant opportunities. Anthony Howe seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. DISC GOLF BERM PLANTINGS Jeff Dionisopoulos provided an update on the Whispering Hills Disc Golf Course berm project. After confirming with GHD that planting native grasses would not require formal engineering, staff worked with Park Board Member Anthony Howe to identify appropriate species. Staff presented several planting options, which were reviewed and discussed by the Park Board. Staff expressed their gratitude to Park Board Member Anthony Howe for his assistance in identifying appropriate native species. Based on the input provided, staff will proceed with next steps. Craig Kittel made a motion to authorize staff to further research the cost and installation of the native grasses discussed for the Whispering Hills Disc Golf Course berm project and report back with recommendations. Jon Hailey seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. TRAIL MAINTENANCE Noah Wiedenfeld reported on trail maintenance planning. Jeff Dionisopoulos provided an update to confirm that the City remains on track with the previously outlined approach. This item had been brought forward at the January 2025 Park Board meeting, and the memo shared at that time was referenced for context. Members briefly discussed the update, with no changes to the current plan proposed. Final details regarding the selected maintenance method and timing will be determined by Public Works staff. No action needed, this was for informational purposes only. ADVERTISING SIGNAGE AT CITIZENS FIELD Noah Wiedenfeld provided an update on the topic of advertising at Citizens Field, which was previously discussed at the January 2025 Park Board meeting. The purpose of revisiting the item was to determine whether there was interest in reintroducing sponsorship opportunities for the 2026 season. Wiedenfeld reviewed the history of past agreements related to scoreboard and outfield signage. Members discussed concerns related to donor fatigue, particularly in light of several ongoing community initiatives and capital projects. There was also discussion regarding who would be responsible for soliciting future sponsorships, with consensus that City staff would not take on that role. No formal action was taken at this time. Park Board Meeting May 28, 2025 NEW BUSINESS ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON AND VICE-CHAIRPERSON Jon Hailey made a motion to nominate Craig Kittel as Chairperson of the Park Board and Jon Hailey as Vice-Chairperson of the Park Board. Dave Newman seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. ORDINANCE 623 - PARK BOARD Noah Wiedenfeld reported on the adoption of Ordinance 623, which was approved unanimously by the City Council on May 12, 2025. This ordinance was developed following an overview presented at the April 28 City Council work session, where staff provided background on the Park Board and the Parkland Trust Fund. The purpose of the ordinance is to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the Park Board, align its structure with other advisory boards and commissions in Wisconsin, and improve transparency and oversight related to the Parkland Trust Fund. Some Park Board members questioned the reason for the change, and Noah explained that the intent was to bring greater clarity and consistency between the Park Board and other City boards. He also noted that, as an advisory body, the Park Board does not have operational authority over revenues or expenditures, such as those generated from the Hatfield Park Campground. This item was presented for informational purposes only, and no action was required. DRIVEWAY RESTORATION - FORMER LANDFILL Noah Wiedenfeld reported on the upcoming restoration of the gravel driveway at the former landfill site, which is necessary to maintain access for required testing and monitoring. The driveway had previously been removed without proper authorization in an effort to improve the appearance of the area for the new Whispering Hills Disc Golf Course. Two quotes were obtained for the restoration work, and the City Council voted on May 12, 2025, to award the low bid of $13,390 to Nutzmann & Sons Trucking & Excavating, with funding from the Parkland Trust Fund. Members discussed the lack of prior approval for the removal of the driveway and shared concerns about the process, noting frustration that the Park Board was only informed after Council had already approved the project and its funding. This item was presented for informational purposes only, and no action was required. CITY PARK COMPREHENSIVE PLAN & PARK CHAMPION DISCUSSION Jeff Dionisopoulos presented an update on the City Park Comprehensive Plan and the Park Champion assignments. Staff reintroduced both items with the intention of beginning a broader conversation and gathering initial input from the Park Board. Discussion followed, with members noting that the Comprehensive Plan is in need of significant updates and that the Park Champion list also requires revision. No formal action was taken at this time. It was agreed that staff would bring both items back to a future meeting with more detail for further discussion. COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS Jeff Dionisopoulos provided an update on the Mary Park signage project, explaining that following a trial installation of the new overhead sign, staff identified a few minor adjustments that need to be made. Those revisions are currently underway, and staff anticipate the project will be completed within the next month or so. Park Board Meeting May 28, 2025 ADJOURNMENT Jon Hailey made a motion to adjourn at 7:00pm. Anthony Howe seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. Park Board Meeting May 28, 2025  2024 CIP Projects 2025 CIP Projects PROJECT DESCRIPTION LOCATION PROJECT DESCRIPTION LOCATION Trail Enhancements (Wood Sather Nature Center Amenities Casey Park Chips, Rope, Signage) Historic Signage Citizens Field Park Amenities - Phase 2 Fox Run Park Pave Trail Freedom Park Winter Trail Grooming Golf Course Winter Trail Grooming Golf Course Stock Bluegill Hatfield Lake Playground Equipment Greaton Park Fishing Pier Replacement Hatfield Park Controlled Burn Doar Prairie Fishing Pier (from Hatfield) Hemenway Park Stock Bluegill Hatfield Lake Playground Replacement TBD Concrete Replacement Hatfield Lake Trail Construction Oakes Ruins Skate Park Bench Hatfield Lake Buckthorn Removal TBD Trail Maintenance TBD Pave Landing Hatfield Lake Amenities MaRita Park Trail (Minnesota Avenue) MaRita Park Restore Entrance Signage Mary Park Water Fountain Mary Park Will's Playground Signage Mary Park Convert Turf Grass to Native Vegetation Mill Pond Restore Softball Infield Monette Park Playground Equipment North Side Park Fencing Oakes Ruins Willow River Water Trail Signage Sather Nature Center Convert Turf Grass to Native Vegetation Victoria Park Shelter Whispering Hills Signage (Remaining 50%) Whispering Hills Practice Basket Whispering Hills  MEMO Prepared for: Park Board Staff Contact: Noah Wiedenfeld Meeting: Park Board - 30 Jul 2025 Subject: Advertising Signage at Citizens Field BACKGROUND INFORMATION: This item was previously brought to the Park Board in January for discussion only. In 2015, the scoreboard at Citizens Field was installed with support from local business sponsorships in exchange for advertising space. All of those agreements have since expired, and no advertising revenue has been collected in the past five years. Mayor Jim Zajkowski has asked that this item be brought back for further discussion. Page 2 of 2  MEMO Prepared for: Park Board Staff Contact: Jeff Dionisopoulos Meeting: Park Board - 30 Jul 2025 Subject: Comprehensive Park Planning – Process Update BACKGROUND INFORMATION: As part of our continued commitment to thoughtful park planning, City staff have begun taking steps to review and update the City’s Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. This living document helps guide how we maintain, improve, and invest in New Richmond’s parks and trail system, both now and into the future. To make the process more manageable and meaningful, the City’s parks have been grouped into two categories:  Passive Parks, which are green space or nature-based areas with limited built infrastructure  Active Parks, which include amenities such as playgrounds, sports courts, ballfields, and shelters This distinction will help ensure each space is evaluated based on its intended purpose and usage. City staff are currently reviewing several passive parks each week to evaluate what remains relevant in the existing Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan and what may need to be updated. These reviews will be brought to the Park Board for discussion, with one completed example shared at the upcoming meeting to help illustrate the process. To support this effort, each active park has been assigned to a Park Board member to “champion.” Members are encouraged to visit their parks, consider potential improvements and needed upgrades/maintenance and bring forward ideas that reflect community needs. This collaborative process will help ensure our parks remain safe, inclusive, and well-loved spaces for all. City staff will present this process and next steps in more detail at the upcoming meeting.