Laserfiche WebLink
Item No. 24 <br />memorandum <br />TO: Mayor & City Council <br />FROM: John Godwin, City Manager <br />SUBJECT: DOWNTOWN SPRAY PARK <br />DATE: Februaryl6, 2015 <br />BACKGROUND: Last May I presented a plan to assist First United Methodist Church's plans <br />to convert their front (west) parking lot into a greatly improved public space with landscaping, a <br />truck park, paved parking, and a spray park that would be open to the public. In addition, the <br />city would add a public restroom to the site, to be paid for through donations and fund - raisings. <br />(Fund- raising was recently completed, capped off by a $10,000 donation from the Rotary Clubs.) <br />STATUS OF ISSUE: The church's park plan has undergone significant value engineering to get <br />costs down closer to available resources. At this point I believe the city should assist by paying <br />for one -half of the costs associated with the actual spray park. The park will be open to the <br />public, yet operating and maintenance costs will be borne by the church. All work would occur <br />in an existing recreation easement approved by the city council in 2014. The spray park and <br />other improvements will be a great asset to downtown Paris and are consistent with our <br />downtown planning. Spray parks were also identified in the 2013 -14 park plan as a high need, <br />so this is entirely consistent with our parks priorities and plans. <br />BUDGET: Funds will come from unbudgeted, but available, reserves. <br />RECOMMENDATION: Authorize expenditures in an amount not to exceed $90,000 for the <br />spray park. <br />