Parks staff outline 2024 priorities: Windjammer renovations, trails, master plan and pickleball complex

Parks and recreation staff reviewed the department's updated priority list for 2024 and beyond, a planning framework that staff said is aligned with council priorities.

Staff listed near‑term projects for 2024, including renovations to Windjammer Park's ball fields, splash‑park improvements and initial amphitheater planning. They said the city has appropriated $8,000 toward a parks and recreation master plan and is interviewing firms for design work on several projects, including pickleball courts and an arts plan. Staff described 'coming attractions' for 2025–26 such as accreditation work tied to the master plan, department budget restructuring and the development of a reservation and permitting system.

Longer‑term priorities in the "into the future" column include a community recreation center, a performing arts center, marina dredging and a possible regional sports complex. Staff said these are high‑cost items that will require staged planning and funding and noted opportunities to pair projects (for example, a regional sports complex with an indoor recreation facility) to increase economic impact.

The board discussed sequencing and access concerns, especially for park activation and connections between neighborhoods, and asked for more detailed cost and design information to guide council decisions. Staff said they will share previous park, open‑space and recreation plans to inform the master‑plan process and will involve the advisory board as a primary stakeholder in the RFP process.