Developer proposes donation of 250 trees at Buddy Williams Park; board asks staff for cost and maintenance plan

City staff briefed the Manville Park Board on Feb. 26 about Buddy Williams Park, a roughly 20-acre parcel the city recently acquired inside the Meridiana development, and a developer proposal to plant 250 trees there as a community donation.

Dan Johnson, who said he works for the city, described the parcel near Barbara Bennett School and said Meridiana's developer representative prepared an exhibit to start the discussion. Staff said two possible approaches were discussed: handing out saplings to residents or planting 250 trees on site; the developer is proposing an on-site donation. Johnson said the developer has planted thousands of trees elsewhere in the development and is offering this contribution back to the community.

Board members asked about species and spacing; members cautioned against pines and discussed options including native shade trees and limited orchards or fruit trees to create family-oriented activities. One member suggested a plaque or dedication tied to July 4 to mark the 250th anniversary. Johnson said irrigation and long-term operations-and-maintenance (O&M) costs would need to be estimated and that while the trees would be donated, the city must budget for water and ongoing care. Staff recommended returning with cost estimates and logistics before making a formal recommendation to City Council.

Why it matters: the developer donation could accelerate improvements to a park that currently lacks planning, but it carries O&M costs and questions about species selection and remedial clearing. The board asked staff to study irrigation and budget implications and bring more detailed recommendations to a future meeting.