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