FY2015 MPR Commission Annual ReportIAN, -
MERIDIAN PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
ANNUAL REPORT
FISCAL YEAR 2015
(10/l/14-9/30/15)
A. All -Commission
1) Champion the update of the Parks & Recreation Master Plan.
The Parks and Recreation Master Plan was an on-going collaborative
effort for the Commission. The Commission participated in a
workshop and received presentations/updates throughout the year
from GreenPlay consultants, the Design Concepts consultant, Breckon
Land Design consultants, and MPR staff. In addition, we attended
Focus Groups held in January 2015 and two public Park Concept
Meetings scheduled on July 9 for the 77 -Acre South Meridian Regional
Park and July 30, 2015 for the 47 -Acre West Meridian Regional Park.
The feedback as to the needs and desires from the stakeholders was
invaluable and is representative in the Master Plan.
2) Participate in and support the planning and construction of a Meridian
YMCA facility.
This is ongoing, as the YMCA facility is still seeking financial support
to see this project to fruition. Commissioners attended workshops
and planning sessions that helped provide input to what the facility
would be. The Commission received presentations and updates
throughout the year from Treasure Valley YMCA's leadership team and
MPR staff. Commissioners provided valuable feedback.
During the Commission's Annual Facilities Tour held in September
2015, one of the sites visited was the Hillsdale property. We reviewed
concepts provided by Bruce Taylor at our October 8, 2015
Commission meeting.
3) Open the Storey Dog Park to the public in 2015.
This park opening was by far the most fun to attend. Who can be
grumpy or sad with a bunch of furry animals around? This project is
an excellent representation of the amazing work the Parks and
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Recreation Department does. The Storey Bark Park officially opened
on August 12, 2015, which was on schedule and is well -used by our
patrons.
4) Develop a connected pathway system across the City of Meridian, with
the Five Mile Creek as the top priority.
A design consultant was contracted to provide survey work for the
design, construction, and easement documents for the Five Mile Creek
Pathway, Segment H2, which will run between Badley and Fairview
Avenues. Permission was granted by all subject properties and the
irrigation district to perform the survey work and geotechnical
investigations. Construction documents are being reviewed and will
be finalized by mid-December. MPR staff has sent out a letter of
easement request with the exhibits created by the consultant for
easement negotiations.
This goal is on-going, and we continue to discuss ways to connect
pathways. Jay Gibbons does an excellent job of prioritizing the
actions needed to see this long-term project become a reality.
The Commission attended a Spring Pathways Tour on bicycles on April
8, 2015. We viewed the following pathway sites which spanned
between four to five total miles:
1. Five Mile Creek Pathway, Segment H1 - From Pine to Badley.
2. Proposed Five Mile Creek Pathway, Segment H2 - From Badley
to Fairview
3. Jackson Drain Connection - Connects the Bud Porter and
Fothergill Pathways to Fairview Road at Fairview Lakes
4. H.R. Bud Porter Pathway - Runs along the Five Mile Creek
between Meridian and Linder Roads
5. Five Mile Creek Pathway Segment E - Between Linder and Ten
Mile, off of Ustick in the Bridgetower Subdivision
6. McNelis Pathway Segment - Between Ten Mile and Black Cat, off
of Ustick
We have met with surrounding commissions to look for ways to
enhance the pathway system, which has helped us focus in on the
connections that are available to us now rather than later. We hope in
working with other agencies that our "spaghetti -like" pathway system
will have a major route that enhances connection between other
pathways outside of Meridian.
5) Engage other task forces, commissions, entities, and agencies through
workshops and other outreach for partnership opportunities.
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The Commission received the following presentations:
1. Margaret Aldape Park - by Jacob Simpson, Eagle Scout -
November 12, 2014
2. Rail With Trail Crossings Study - by Project Engineering
Consultants - November 12, 2014
3. Darkness to Light, Stewards of Children - by Tracy
Basterrechea - March 11, 2015
4. Kleiner Community Garden Update - by Juli Bokenkamp - May
13, 2015
5. Boys & Girls Club Gym - by Colleen Braga - July 8, 2015
6. Art in the Park - by Hillary Bodnar - July 8, 2015
Additionally, the partnership between West Ada School District and
the YMCA in the creation of the park next to Hillsdale Elementary is an
excellent example of partnership opportunities.
6) Pursue improved tools and opportunities to communicate with citizens
and stakeholders.
Citizens and stakeholders are always welcome at our Commission
meetings, and we value their input. Communication was a key priority
in the development of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. It is from
those meetings that we see where priorities and resources should be.
The z -card map, the Facebook page, the City website, and other social
media sources help promote the amenities our City has to offer.
7) Pursue opportunities to foster greater Commission involvement in
community events.
The Community Liaison Committee put together a calendar of events
for Commissioner volunteer opportunities. Commissioners attended
many community events, including Christmas in Meridian, 2014
Holiday Classic Volleyball Tournament, Ignite Youth, CableONE Movie
Night, the 2015 Disc Golf Fall Classic tournament, etc. It is nice to
hear from the participants and attendees how much they enjoy these
events.
Other noteworthy accomplishments (if applicable):
1) The Commissioners held a Team -Building Barbecue in June 2015 at
Storey Park. Participants ate together, played games, and took a tour
of the construction progress at the new Storey Bark Park.
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B. Recreation & Special Events Committee
1) Promote and continue a disc golf tournament in October 2015.
This event is in its infancy, and the Committee appreciates the other
Commissioners who attended to help support it on October 10, 2015
in Kleiner Park. If we can create a winter disc golf course (in the
works, thanks to Colin Moss and the rest of the Department), we
believe this event will grow in popularity.
2) Continue to improve Christmas in Meridian, including the Winter Lights
Parade, the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, followed with the
Children's Winterland Festival.
We appreciate how Colin Moss and the Christmas in Meridian
Committee works extremely hard to plan and execute this amazing
event. Colin and his committee are very proactive in their thinking in
improving all aspects of the parade. This is one of our favorite events
of the entire year.
Commissioner Jo Greer serves on the Christmas in Meridian
Committee.
3) As a committee, support another City event.
We think we need to do a better job of this as a Commission as a
whole. While we attend a variety of events, there isn't one event, with
the exception of the Winter Lights Parade, that we attend together.
Other noteworthy accomplishments (if applicable):
1) A noteworthy accomplishment that really needs attention is in the
form of recognition for Colin Moss who plans and oversees a large
number of events. Colin is always seeking to improve events and is
excellent at seeking feedback to do just that. We appreciate all that
Colin does; he is simply amazing. Thank you, Colin, and thank you to
the entire MPR Department for always going above and beyond what is
expected.
C. Parks Amenities & Signage Committee
1) Implement the master amenities plan for all parks.
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Park identity is a high priority. The Committee is evaluating the parks
and is working on a process to determine how best to create a unique
identity for each. Some options to creating an identity are with the use
of structures and art, or the types of amenities in a park. We also look
forward to pulling in the Arts Commission to assist with collaboration.
2) Recommend the design, construction, and installation of two artificial
shade structures at existing parks.
Shade was a priority over the year for the Parks Amenities & Signage
Committee. All of the parks were reviewed for the need for shade.
After reviewing all parks, we discussed where shade was needed, what
kind was needed (trees vs. structure), and the priority of shade
placement. In working with MPR staff, there is now a plan in place to
look into different types of shade structures.
3) Provide input for the Parks & Recreation Master Plan Update.
We provided much needed feedback and comments while attending a
Mission/Vision/Values Workshop, Focus Groups, and receiving
presentations throughout the year from GreenPlay, Breckon Land
Design, Design Concepts, and MPR staff. We also reviewed the draft
MPR Master Plan.
4) Assist in the development of the master planning for Borup Park,
Aldape Park, and the South Meridian 77 -Acre Property.
Again, we were timely in providing our input from presentation
updates received over the course of the fiscal year. We also
participated in the two public meetings held in July 2015 regarding
the park concepts for the South Meridian 77 -Acre Property and the 47 -
Acre West Meridian Property (Borup).
5) Develop specific recommendations for adult amenities.
Adult amenities are being evaluated. The Committee is researching
what types of amenities are available and which parks to place them
in.
D. Community Liaison Committee
1) Complete a mobile website with the creation of QR codes.
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We worked with MPR staff and met with IT staff to discuss the
possibility of a mobile website. Committee members perused other
cities' mobile websites as examples. We also discussed potentially
creating a downloadable calendar for cell phones with ways of
filtering. This project was placed on hold until the City's new website
was rolled out (which was recently revamped).
The Committee looked into creating a QR code to embed into flyers
and publications and to take out on the road so people can easily
access the Facebook page. After further investigation, this project
was not pursued any further, because we felt QR codes have become
outdated.
2) Increase the MPR Commission's presence at more community events.
The City held several events where Commissioners have been in
attendance. Events included ribbon cuttings, Movie Nights, the Winter
Lights Parade, Park Concepts Public Meetings for the 77 -Acre and
Borup/Bottles Properties, the Community Block Party, the Park
Ambassador Program Appreciation Lunch, and the Disc Golf Fall
Classic.
3) Reprint more of the Parks & Pathways Z -Card maps and secure a new
printing sponsor.
The Committee has searched for a printing sponsor to reprint more of
the z -card maps and has had discussions with a local business. We
hope to secure a sponsor in FY2016. The maps need to be updated,
and staff may seek assistance from the City's GIS specialists to aid
with this project.
4) Put together an event that calls attention to the City's pathways.
During the Commission's Spring Pathways Tour in April, the
Commissioners rode on bicycles with the Mayor and MPR staff and
viewed several pathway segments. We would like to plan a similar
event in the future.
Other noteworthy accomplishments (if applicable):
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1) The MPR Department hosted several Storey Bark Park events to increase
community awareness and involvement.
MATT STOLL, PRESIDENT
CRE STEELE, VICE PRESIDENT
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