Parks staff report event successes; mowing delayed to protect monarch butterflies and Sunbury Memorial saw three burials

Parks staff provided a monthly update to the Parks Committee that highlighted recent events and maintenance changes across city parks.

Staff said Freedom Park hosted the CORSA 10‑year anniversary rocket launch on the same weekend as Sunbury Sizzle; both events were described as successful. The Sunbury Sizzle debrief will occur the day after the meeting. Staff also reported the Labor Day Flea Market had sold all vendor spaces and drew a steady flow of visitors throughout the day.

On maintenance, staff said mowing around the inner banks of the city reservoirs has been delayed to aid the life cycle of monarch butterflies, which staff described as endangered. “Mowing around the inner banks has been delayed to help, aid in the life cycle of the monarch butterflies since they're endangered,” a parks staff member said.

Staff reported three burials at Sunbury Memorial Park in the past month. For J. R. Smith Park, staff reiterated that final plans are due in October and provided the design-cost information discussed with the committee.

Committee members thanked staff for organizing the field trip to Old Orchard Park and for the operational updates. The committee adjourned after a motion, which a roll call showed approved with affirmative votes from Mister Skipper, Mister Goss and Mister Martin.