Editor
The Milford City Council approved a master plan for Riverside Park during the May 17 meeting.
Charles Evans, chair of the Milford Parks and Recreation Commission, began discussion on the plan during the public input session. He views Riverside Park as Milford’s living room; the place where citizens come and gather. He has heard from many it would be nice to have a larger shelter for big family picnics and feels that a large shelter could possibly also be used as a stage to bring in the occasional entertainer.
While he spoke to council, Charles Evans said he wanted to clarify that neither he nor the Frontier Days event will benefit from the redevelopment.
Approving the master plan does not bind the city to anything, but rather serves as a guideline to what the city wants to do and how much it will cost, Charles Evans said.
“Milford parks are used on a daily basis,” Charles Evans said.
He added, “We should strive to make them better, not sit on our laurels.”
The Community Development committee asked council to approve the master plan at the May 19 meeting. Lisa Evans echoed what Charles Evans said earlier, that approving the plan does not commit the city to anything. The city cannot apply for grants without a plan.
Mayor Laurie Howland was among those expressing confusion and concern about approving the plan. While she is eager to develop the park, she was told a plan would come before council in a work session so that council could make sure the plan was financially feasible.
“My biggest fear is this never gets finished or built,” Howland said.
The master plan brought to council was a $750,000 plan, which is more than the city plans to spend. Lisa Evans told Howland that some features may be changed to make it less expensive, to which Howland asked why they would approve a plan they know needs changes.
“I want that park finished. I want that park finished so badly,” Howland said.
Lisa Evans pointed out that council has already paid about $10,000 to The Kleingers Group to get this plan created.
Vice-Mayor Amy Brewer, the only council member to vote no, feels that the plan is all over the place. She was uncomfortable adopting a plan that isn’t finished and has no set price.
Lisa Evans considered the vote as a vote for the features of the park, not a price.
In addition, council can decide how to prioritize the elements of the plan, said council member Justin Bonnell.
The first two priorities based on conversations with Parks and Recreation are the shelter and the walking path, both of which could possibly be paid for with grants. The grant that the city may receive for the shelter should pay for the entire cost. There will be a grant available in the fall that the city could use for the walking path, Lisa Evans said.
In addition, some local Boy Scouts have already asked about helping improve the park as an Eagle Scout project, Lisa Evans said.
Council member Sandy Russell voted to approve the plan, but would rather have waited until the new city manager, Michael Doss, came on board and was able to look at the plan and give his thoughts.
Ted Haskins pointed out that Doss can be involved with the plan going forward.
Anyone reading the minutes should not have been surprised by council being asked to approve the plan, nor should they think that approving the plan makes the city beholden to purchase anything, said Ed Brady, council member.
Upon further questions from Howland on what exactly council was voting for, Bonnell said that council is voting for the vision put forth in the master plan. All voted yes except for Brewer.
“I cannot wrap my head around this procedurally,” Brewer said. She feels this is too loose to vote on.
Howland voted yes because she was asked to vote on a picture, although she is still unsure of why they were asked to vote, because it sounded like the plan was a draft and council doesn’t vote on drafts.
“There’s a lot of unanswered questions,” Howland said.
Lisa Evans does not see this as a draft.
“I see it as, this is the vision that we want,” she said.
There may need to be some changes or additions, but council could not move forward without a plan in place.
“I feel like it’s a pretty definite plan,” Lisa Evans said.
She added, “I’m just really excited. I think it’s going to be a great city park.”
The biggest question on Howland’s mind is how much the city can afford. Council also has to decide if they want to turn the Milford on Main property into a park before they designate money to Riverside. Another financial concern is the upkeep, Howland said.
“How much of a design plan can our current staffing levels maintain,” Howland said.
She would also like to check and see if Riverside Park is part of a floodplain.
This master plan is not the first a city council has drawn up for Riverside Park. Previous ones have been created but council was never able to see them through, so Howland wants to make sure they can get through this one.