One. Alright. Welcome. Since it is 06:30, we'll get rolling here, on 11/12/2025, the Dilworth Park Board. And as we have no no guests, we will get rolling on with the agenda. First item is the swearing in of our new park board member. I gotta move out of the way. Alright, Terry. I'll have you repeat after me. Go. Let me go. Stop. There you go. So I didn't spit your hands. I, I, Sarah Ehlers. You solemnly swear. You solemnly swear. Or affirm. Or affirm.
That I will support. That I will support. The constitution of The United States. The constitution of The United States. And the constitution of the state of Minnesota. And the constitution of the state of Minnesota. And that I will discharge faithfully. And that I will discharge faithfully. The duties of the office of Park Board. The duties of the office of Park Board. In the county of Clay. In the county of Clay. The Alright. And we'll spend a second. Terry, I'll have you introduce yourself and kinda how you got here for everybody else. I'm Terry. I moved to Dilworth a year and a half ago. I work with Andrew,
and he said, hey. You live in Dilworth. Beyond the park board. There it is. So that's how that all went down. Okay. Thank you, Terry. Next item, on the agenda is roll call. We'll start out with Tim. We'll work our way around. And if you just speak your name, first name, last name into the mic. Tim Tolleson. Lyle Carrento. Jerica Lyon. Andrew Randall. Nate Dicks. Terry Ehlers. Amber Bora from city council. And Payton Mester with the city of Dover. Alright. Moving along. Have we all had a chance to look through the agenda for tonight? And if so,
I will obtain a motion to approve the agenda. This is Nate. I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. This is Lyle. I'll second the motion. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Next item is the approval of the minutes. Give you guys all a second to look through the minutes from the Park Board meeting on September 10. And if we don't have any changes to the minutes, I will entertain a motion to approve the minutes from September 10. This is Jerica. I'll make a motion to approve the minutes. This is Tim. I'll second.
All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. So moving along here, first item up for discussion tonight is the holiday tree lighting event on December 2. And just a reminder, so we don't have people talking over each other, just raise your hand. I'll call on you so the mic picks it up. Very cool. Thank you, mister chair and park board members. We're actually just a Tish under three weeks now from our tree lighting event. It's run upon us rather rapidly. And, yeah, not too far away from starting to get that extended forecast to see how things
are going to unfold. So we're really looking forward to it. This will be the fourth year that we've held this event. And each year, it seems to go over incredibly well. You know, participation is, I think, in subsequent years was good, really good, and probably a little bit drop off, last year, but still was really well attended, I felt, and well organized, which I think that's the most important thing when you're hosting these events. But you can see up here on the screen all of the different festivities and
events that will be going on that evening. There are a few other things too that we'll talk through in just a moment. But you can, yeah, just some highlight photos from previous year's events. And for the most part, things will remain traditionally the same here. And this is what Angela had sent over to me. I'm not sure if she covered all this with everybody, but we do have some assigned responsibilities. You can assign others, as necessary to pitch in and help out through here. Jim McLaughlin was listed as our,
I guess, honoree and tree lighter, I guess, you would call it, or tree flicker. I don't know what you would designate that person. The switch flipper. Yep. There you go. But, yeah, Jim's been in he's been on the local days committee for going back to the early nineties, eighties, something like it forever, practically. And so I think and knowing Jim, he's gonna be incredibly or he's incredibly excited to be taking part in this event and takes very seriously. And he's always bringing support even out at this event from equipment and everything like
that. So thank you to Jim. And so, yeah, you can see everything that we have going on. The most important thing that stress this is I think for us, this has kinda become the par board's most important event. And the event that you have the strongest presence at along with the one that we are part time one because the Paul's in the Park event that we talk about here in a little bit. It's almost kind of self running type thing with vendors and such. But, yeah, you know, just on the front end, always thanking you for your participation and helping out and to all those that work
alongside Angela and communicate with her on, you know, logistics and planning the event. And yeah. So some of the same activities. The wagon rides, we had to, pivot because there is a new person providing those this year. And it was funny everyone that we would get noted. Well, why don't you check with this person? What was the one that was using the other one that retired? So I know Angela was able to procure somebody though to come in, and we'll go along the same route that it has in previous years.
So with that said, again, up on the screen, sort of list everything that's going to be taking place that evening. I don't know if there's any final notes or thoughts that you have or anything that we can pass along to Angela or anyone else. And just sort of a general note, we have been relying upon sponsors in the past, and we do have a small sponsor this year. I shouldn't say small. It's not fair for me to say. But Midco is providing a sponsorship handing out or not handing out, but donating some
handouts that we will be giving out to people. I can't remember what's right. I think it's, it's a yo yo? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. There it is. Yeah. That's correct. So that's kind of cool for them to make that donation. Though from the first year event, from cutting back on the, I think, the wagon rides cost a little different now and not having the reindeer that just sat there. That that that saved on cost quite a bit. And also from our own budget, not that we don't really have to worry about that too much, but the the lights themselves, we had that as kind of part of the whole package deal budget.
I've sort of removed that from the budget now as it's an understood thing. Whether we continue this event, say, two or three years from now, it gets stale, we wanna do something else, I think those that tree being lit out there is gonna be a mainstay for the community. So we have a contract Pretty sure you'll get phone calls if it's not. Correct. And roughly so, it's weird. We get a we get a lot of praise about that, of everything. You know, it's crazy how, impressive people find that. So yeah. And we signed, I think, a three year contract with them to continue that on out there. It's surprised how early they put them on too.
It was They are not messing around. It was like in September. Yeah. I was gonna say, like, six weeks ago, I saw them out there putting lights on. I was like, geez. And I can see why I think that company does all the ones that you see around the metro area. So, you know, heck of business they got there. So really excited about it. So, looking at this is Lyle. So looking at that list and following up on a question earlier, you're looking for the gingerbread costume? Yes. Did you take it? No. I remember helping you get out of part of it because you're obviously all hot and everything from bringing it, but And we were freezing.
But no. I remember being down by the little warming house, and you're starting to take it off. But I don't remember anything after that because they started taking off things. So I even remember the Make that parvo scavenger hunt. Yeah. But we'll figure it out. I don't know what else to really add to that. The back room maybe. I don't know. Yeah. I think we've checked a lot of places. So we'll we'll figure it out though, and we'll get another one if we can find it. Good. Good. Maybe a different character. No. No? No? The addition of the tree. Yeah. I was looking on the I'm excited to see that.
Andrew's wife has that to let us borrow, so he might as well wear it. So generous. Yes. Thank you. He didn't volunteer. I didn't I didn't volunteer myself on that one. You're right. No. They didn't want something for school Oh. A couple months ago. And I think we have a photo shoot. I don't know what you call it. A booth or not a booth, but, thing head thing that, Smelly working on that, I believe. Yeah. Yes. Yep. You went out to the fall festival. Yep. They had candy corn, I think, where you could stick your head in and take a picture.
So same shape, but it's gonna be your Christmas tree. They can stick their head in and take a picture. Mhmm. And there's just an addition if there's snow. We were gonna do snow painting, like, in water spray bottles. Yeah. But, game day decision. Yeah. Yeah. Mhmm. So are they gonna do the I'm just looking at the picture here. We're gonna do the individual, like, packs for s'mores instead of just supplies strung all over tables? Yes. Okay. And that is that is what it's gonna look like Okay. Wherever it is. Yeah. So the fire department is getting the supplies.
Okay. And our little committee is going to assemble those at some point. Did we agree on the twenty fifth? I don't know. I just emailed late this afternoon asking that. K. So thought that would be easier. I have never been around the campfires out there or but seems like a disaster. Couple. Yeah. If you do have any, you know, fire pits or anything that you wouldn't mind bringing that evening. And we'll go by your house and pick them up too. Like, if you just put them just let us know and maintenance can come by and
pick it up if you leave in your driveway and bring it back the next day. That's what I do. I have my little solo stove that I bring out there. So if you have anything like that, just let us know. We can bring it over there or you can bring it yourself. I got one. Yeah. Okay. So we have four or five out there last year? Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Decent amount. It works perfect. I think it just adds to the whole Mhmm. Feel of it. That's that was a good addition we did. Do you know is maintenance gonna put the lights up out there again? Ones that we strung across? You know, I'll double check. I assume they would be again.
I thought that was a good touch too. I actually that it had just kinda lighted up a little bit. Little bit. Yep. I thought that was nice. Yeah. Oh, and there's also not on there. The letters to Santa. I was If you saw the picture of the box right here, it lights up. Guess we need a table or something, but, Melanie was getting, like, some cool letterhead Oh, okay. Letter paper I don't know. And stuff so that they can write their letters. We talked through the whole thing of, like, writing to Santa after you've seen Santa. So, who's on Santa? Amber? Yep.
Yep. Just encourage them to, oh, Santa forgets. Yeah. So you should go write your letter. Well, he I mean, he'll do he'll even ask him if we want him to. So he's like, if you would want Santa to remind them, he'll do it. Oh, yeah. He's she's willing to. Yes. Send me a follow-up email. Yeah. I see that. I'm assuming it's the same Santa we've had. Santa Santa. Yes. There's only one Santa. Right. Same Santa we've had. Yeah. Right. Is there anything else the subcommittee needs from us, or are we pretty well lock and molded? Track down the gingerbread costume.
Well, old machine. Sounds good. Thank you, everybody. Yeah. It's really cool. All right. Moving on. Next item on the discussion is the Dilworth comprehensive plan update. Thank you, mister chair. And so every several years, it's not a definitive time when you have to do this, but the city of Dilworth has what is called a comprehensive plan, a and that's kind of a standard document you see across any communities. A comprehensive plan is a statement of future
goals, objective, transportation level views that the city will carry forward into the future, sets out our future land use, like how we see the community growing. When our policymakers, planning commissioners, and our city council, most specifically, may are making decisions, especially on the land use front or transportation front, they are looking at our comprehensive plan as a guiding document, and it should somewhat resemble what you adopt in a comprehensive plan.
So for instance, a new area of town will have, you know, you have zoning within a town. Well, before you do the zoning, you have, like, what's called a future land use map. That future land use map sets how we feel a certain part of town is going to develop and then that kind of sets the zoning at a later time. You don't just go out willy nilly approve and adopt things as they come across your desk. So high level, that's what a comp plan is. Within the comprehensive plan, there's a set of it's divided into multiple different elements.
I mentioned like transportation, there's a housing section, a land use section. One of the sections that is discussed within the comprehensive plan is strictly on parks and recreation, that's a which is they're all very vital components of the plan. Within that plan, we have a set of goals and policies that and they're more high level type things. We don't get down to the granular. We wanna see a swing set in Woodbridge Park type stuff. These are just more general overarching themes from a parks and recreation
standpoint here. And so in front of you, I think Angela made hard copies of just the parks and rec section for you to kinda thumb through right there. And, again, it's more just sort of in generality, type things. And when and and just as an aside, one thing that's not reflected up here on the screen right now, And and and I can get zoomed in to this if I need to a little bit, that I think has a parks and recreation component that it's held within our transportation or infrastructure sections. Can't really remember which ones.
But, we talk about the Heartland Trail Mhmm. Which is an important, future infrastructure project. For those that don't know, the Heartland Trail is in existence right now just to the east of here. I think it goes into far into Becker County now a little bit. But we're the only region in the entire state that doesn't have an actual regional trail. It's kind of interesting. And so the idea is the Heartland Trail will reach all the way from I don't know. I can't remember where Walker or wherever it is,
all the way to the Red River, all the way through here. The City Of Dilworth, the City Of Moorhead, MetroCog, we've all been cooperatively working together on this plan, not specifically to go out and construct it, but how this thing has been funded through the years. It's usually these things get state funded, but they usually this thing's been working from east to west. We have a lot more resources here metro wide, and so I really advocated for us to start going after this so we can connect up with it.
So this past year, we took part in or still ongoing, I guess. It just recently is or is wrapping up right now, participating in a Heartland Trail routing analysis, determining we may have talked about this before or you've seen it or heard about it, just kind of aligning where this trail would go. And so for our little segment here, would come in across 15th Avenue. Let's say we're starting from the Red River for 15th Avenue, connecting along where future 14th Street would be down to the rail district, an overpass eventually down to 12th Avenue,
then head into Glendon that way. In the meantime in the intermediary before 14th Street gets constructed, it'll it'll come down 34th Street sort of as a temporary access point. So anyways, I just thought that was an important thing to mention. I mean, to digress that long there on, what the Heartland Trail is, but I think that's a whole other component that we may I may have him reference in here because when we're we allude to it in goal three about a connected trail and Greenway network, but we don't specifically call it the Heartland Trail because it's in another section there.
But, anyway, so, yeah, up on the screen here, we have the various four goals that we really try to accomplish here as a city. One, providing, you know, top notch and accessible parks, you know, expanding the recreational opportunities. And I think that can take on many shapes and form. And just tonight, talking through our event that we're having here in three weeks, Paulson Park, that we'll recap here in a little bit. I think that might be something,
that I would like to have reflected in here, you know, that we're and and I guess you could say it's kind of in here to support diverse recreation programming for all ages. But one of the things that we do as a park board is really promote the parks. That's kinda what we do. And I think that needs to be a stated goal or an objective, I guess, I should say, about under expanding recreational opportunities there. And then I kind of alluded to the trail and greenway network, making sure there is connectivity
because trails and networks are more than just recreational facilities. They're modes of transportation for a lot of people, and we often neglect that. And then environmental and community benefits, always making sure we're incorporating natural features into our parks, doing things with intentionality to preserve the environment to the best of our abilities. And again, we do a great job of volunteerism and civic partnerships and park stewardship. That's sort of what this group here does.
So with that said, I've rambled on here a little bit. And, again, there's a few other pages within there. I do have the one thing I didn't wanna know, we have about our existing parks and open spaces. We have one page listed on there. Really just takes an inventory of each of our parks, what's in it. That's from our website, I think, right now where MetroCog drew that from. The maintenance crews actually going out and doing a re inventory of things that needs to be updated because I'm sure you you have your assigned parts. You're saying, well, this doesn't even exist there anymore or something's in a park now that no that
wasn't listed here at the time. So that's something that we will be getting updated for the final draft. This is still just in draft form. As far as the timeline goes with all of this, the city count I'm sorry. The, planning commission will be holding a final public hearing on this document, the first meeting in December, which is December 3, whatever the first Wednesday is in December, and then it goes to the city council for approval after that. But we're really excited about the, progress that's been made on the plan thus far and happy to answer any questions.
Lyle? Yeah, Peyton. On the existing parks and open space, you've got Birch Tree twice and Keystone's totally not even on there. Correct. I just didn't know if you guys knew that or not. We've noted that already. Yeah. Tell them. The other thing I under Elm Tree Park, if those are things to add, that's fine. But none of that actually exists there right now. And one stone fireplace is not needed. We don't need a fireplace in Elm Tree Park. Yeah. I think that's just showing what was there before that from our website, and that's what Mike and them are going out and getting updated.
They just took it from our website. It's just out of date. That's all it really is. But thank you for noting that because they will, they may miss some things too. Yep. Yeah. No. I just wanna okay. And on I know one of the pages here too, a few things that, they note, you know, the need for year round recreational access on that page. Mhmm. You're you're there. The needs and opportunities. Yep. Yep. And so I know that's one thing we're talking about. So what becomes really interesting about these documents is it gives us a chance to
reflect back. The last one that we adopted was in '18, I believe it was, or somewhere in that time frame. And it's fun to go back and look at that document to see how many things we've actually accomplished in there. Some of them are pie in the sky type of things that may take fifty years to get to. But there's a lot of things that, you know, oh my gosh. We have made a ton of progress as a city. And, but but on that page, yeah, we talked about the indoor recreational opportunities, which I think we touched on a little bit last meeting with our new community center project.
That's something that we'll be discussing probably in our an upcoming meeting somewhere along the way about what we would like to see in there, you know, an interest in a dog park. And just for a little context and background, that was actually brought to the park board years ago, and it was determined it kinda fizzled at that point, to be honest with you. The park board did not want a dog park in town, but attitudes, moods, and beliefs change with changing demographics and on,
part board. So if that's something that, you know, we want to iterate, that's something that we do have people submit. Oftentimes. I think that's where they got that from. Just something, you know, people would like to see here in town. It's more about just strategy of determining where the best place to have something like that. That's the trickiest part about it all. Mhmm. And then, obviously, updating our infrastructure there. So with that said, is there any other questions or anything that you would like to know or see or have them input
into the comprehensive plan? Lyle? No. I I, I know just from our recent since we started Paws in the park Mhmm. Even just reutilizing the ice skating rink in the summer. I mean, granted that's not year round or or anything, but people liked having that. And when you stand there I know you and me were standing there, the people letting their dogs just running because, you know, it was blocked off and they were having fun. I think that is something worthy of, us as a park board to look into with all this stuff coming up.
And then one option, obviously, would be in the Central Community Park up there Kitty Corner for me when they developed that. But, you know, that's kind of a ways down the road. So people want something now. So, I I think that should kinda go from the back burner to the front burner. And, you know, maybe over winter time, we'd have, you know, time to look at stuff. But it was always well received just something as simple as what we exist. What we currently have existing is just take the ice skating ring and, you know, maybe have that your,
you know, spring, summer, fall. You know? Anyway, that was just my thought. Thank you. Peyton? Thank you. Just to respond to that. So I've gotten that idea. I can't remember where I read about it or but but that, you know, several communities will convert their ice skating ring areas into dog parks during the summertime. It's not the best ground already. It works out well in that sense. We'd have to make a few improvements to make that happen. The only hesitation reservation, if we did, I'm not opposed to going down that route is,
with that literally just being a few feet away from a residential home or homes, I guess, it's kind of in the middle of the residential neighborhood right there, is, just we'd probably look to do some kind of public hearing and, you know, get people's input and gather feedback and make that determination at that time if that's something that you would, recommend. But, yeah, that's definitely a considerate. That's been the biggest hesitation for me and Yeah. Just pulling the trigger on it. You know? I would like to make that a more open process, I guess, if we have to get there.
Yeah. Nate, yeah. I just kinda think in the same way if Peyton's going about being next to residents. I just look at, like, where Morehead's Doug Park is at. I mean, that's, like, out there among everything. So kinda like the idea of even when we do the Central Park plan coming up, there's still gonna be residents around that as well too. So I think it's just kind of a To be strategic about it. Very yeah. Very strategic about where it can be put. Mhmm. And then also having the space. And, obviously, we have some parks that have lots of green space,
but then giving up that green space. Yeah. So Well, we could always do look into that property on the other side of the hardwood supplies that's been up for sale for quite a few decades. It's nice and green. It's next to the quick trip. You can put your dog there and go in the quick trip. Come back, pick your dog up, and go home. You know? But, but I think that's designated as commercial. The quick trip could pitch it, then we're There you go. It could be their dog park. But so, you know, maybe something along the peripheral, I guess, is what I'm really getting to then.
There might be a possibility of, putting something like that. The other thing is, in our existing parks like Nate mentioned, it's kinda out there. It's not really too close. I I mean, yeah, it is close to the the elderly home there, the nursing home, but Oaktree Park Mhmm. You know, it's kinda dead ends there. And then there's it would be one way to keep people from driving through there from Walmart and, you know, how we have a problem with that. But maybe kinda something on that periphery, you know, might not be good for rose bushes, but it might be good for dogs to run around and have a good time.
I don't know. I guess that's a future discussion. Yeah. And I think that'd be a good thing we could discuss again this one through when we got a little more Mhmm. Free time and Yeah. Kind of when we're planning for the year ahead when we're in the middle of nothing. So Mhmm. This aging park infrastructure stuff, this wording, I don't know. I mean, which parks haven't we updated? Yeah. I felt like we kinda went around and were, like, maybe just a couple pieces of equipment here and there, but I don't I think most of that has been taken down, especially going back to the list that they've that's published in here too.
I think a lot of that equipment's been taken out, and we've replaced it. I mean, even since I've been on And maybe we can look to reword that in the sense that we've done a great job. The last one we have is the Lutheran church one that we'll kinda get to at a later time. But, beyond that, I think now we've pretty well gone through every part. With that said, day one, something goes in, it's starting to age at that point. Right? That's true. And so it's just always having that collectively on our mind about how to enhance the park experience and things do deteriorate Mhmm.
Sometimes faster than we want it to and just being on the, like, better term cutting edge of, the park and recreational component there and how we can make it a more, you know, positive experience for everybody. Yeah. The the the wording just kinda makes it sound like we have old stuff sitting out there that we haven't done. It does. And there it is funny that, you know, not funny, but they you know, there's another comment. I think it's even referenced in there about, playground equipment out in Keystone Park. I'm saying park loosely,
but the determination was made, and that was brought to the planning commission, I think park board too at the time. You know, the trade off for not doing a park dedication out there was providing a walking path, which has its recreational components about it too. But, you know, again, things evolve over time. I don't know if either any of you were on the park board at that time when these decisions were made. So, you know, there might be something at a later time, another one that we would identify for maybe a smaller structure or anything like that.
I think Nate had his hand up first, sir. Just a, I guess, question, Peyton. Do we have, like, a maybe, like, a tracking mechanism of, like, when equipment was put in at various parks that we can k. That'd be when we kinda come down to thinking ahead, maybe just having some, like, earmarked ideas, like, this equipment's getting to be x number of years old, maybe something to Yeah. Look at on the horizon for I probably need to go back through again and update it. I did a couple years ago, two or three years ago, and, we started the process.
I think it was my first summer I was here at Whistle Stop Park. So we're going back eleven, ten, eleven years Okay. Now. And but in that time, we've done a really good job of updating our equipment. Jerica? So it's getting away a little bit from this, but also off what Peyton was saying. When is when do we know our budget? Is it, like, at the end of the year? I mean, I Technically. I just think that we, yeah, we need to maybe kinda figure out what direction we wanna go. And, like, I didn't really think of Keystone very much until I read this,
and then I thought, that's right. There's a whole different demographic out there than what initially was there. Right? Like, there there was initially a few houses. Now there's I mean, it's big out there, and there really is nothing so many. Other than the walking paths. Right? Like, so, yeah, that's a huge bonus that I think we should, you know, the end of the year, beginning of the year when we're talking about what we wanna do Agreed. Bring that back up because, I mean, they have A lot of people They don't really have any yeah. There is a large part of Dilworth out there,
and, I mean, the community center will bridge some gaps out there too, but not enough, I don't think. Anything else on this discussion point? Alright. Next item is the follow-up recap of the Paws in the Park event. Yeah. Quickly here for the Park Board, just recapping our event, which seems like it was ages ago, which was back on September 11, I think, is when we had our Paws in the Park event, so a couple months now. But this is our first meeting since then. And just wanted to if there's anything we needed to make note of,
there may not be anything to make note of. This was by far our best attended Paul's in the park event, so really cool. People always want something to do with the pups, so that was a good thing that we were able to offer. The farmers market inclusion, I think, worked out tremendously as well. Having that coinciding with the event brought a few more people out there, and I think they were happy to see those, extra individuals out there as well. But I think everything went really splendid that day.
Is there anything else we need to be doing or make note of for our event? Just a couple of notes I made. I think I Angela emailed me, like, right after it. In the dog park area, we had those little dishes that we're going through quite a bit of. So we put a have a larger water tank there next time. Oh, okay. So that way we're not walking back and forth every five minutes. And then I think Amber brought this to my attention, but we didn't have any trash cans out. Right. Not many. Yeah. But do we spray those out a little bit better?
And the last item I had is Michelle from four h reached out after the event. We were talking a little bit. She has a lot of contacts with, some dog trainers, things that way. Before we do the event next year, do we see if she's got some ideas? Just as she had some contacts and was just going off on stuff. I'm like, yep. We'll keep you in mind. Sure. We'll just kinda help and plan out that way because I know the court of your races, I thought, were received well, but just the kind of is there something else that we're missing there too to help get people out?
I like that idea of having a dog trainer or seeing at least what she has to offer. She maybe she wants to come talk to us one night as a guest or something. Yeah. And she at least the conversation I had with you only about five minutes with her, she seemed very open to anything. So I was just took her name down. I'm like, well, just made myself a little note to figure that find out where that was. But yeah. Yeah. I thought it would hurt. I mean, so, you see a lot of the same people at all of our events. You know, the community events, the same people were, you know, they come out, the same groups.
But I saw a lot of new faces, like, of yeah. Some unexpected definitely people I know personally, but there was a lot of new faces and whether that was because of something new with the corgi races or because they were there for the farmer's market, I thought it went well. It's my first time there. It's a different event. Right? Yep. And it appeals to a different demographic. Absolutely. I like I like the idea of combining them because it does draw in a different set of people and then that word gets out. So so I think it went really good and a few changes you mentioned there,
I think, will be just to add more to it. So I think we're on the right path. I was gonna say, I keep asking every time we do an event. You say it was best turnout ever. I keep asking. It's not usually like this? Maybe you're bringing the good luck. That's what it is. Hi, Ariel. The past couple of hits have been great. Yeah. I think the location is probably where it should be. Personally, just with the water, everything else, I don't know where else we'd put it park wise. Yeah. It was it was the first year we did it at Constitution. Yeah. Over at the community center. Yeah. Before the community center. Yeah.
Who knows? Maybe now that the fire station's done. Over there. No. Any further discussion on the Paws in the Park event? If not, we'll move on to the existing park reports. We'll start out with Tim and kinda work our way around. For Walnut Park, I know I brought up last time that we had our broken equipment, and then we were having it replaced. I was a little surprised on that though because I guess I thought it was gonna be something similar to what we had. The last thing was a big blue plane that could fit two small children in it. It was nice and big.
Now what was replaced is a small little pretend bike that they go back and forth on that's actually really small. So I don't know if there needs to be anything else out there. It just feels like it's a downgrade from what we had. Otherwise, graffiti was cleaned up. It looks like the the aging book library was removed as well, so that's not there anymore. There is a tilled up spot along the edge. Is that,
a community member who does that, or is that used for anything, or could that be, like, a pollinator garden, or it's just tilled up, and I don't know who did it or why it's even there. I never did find out when I was running Walnut. Okay. I went I went around and actually asked neighbors that were in their backyard, and they didn't know. It was just kinda always been there. So Okay. I'm not, you know, it it I asked Lynn too, and she thought it was where they were trying to reseed where they had taken out weeds Mhmm. Till it up and then planted it,
but the seed never took. Okay. It is tucked in underneath quite a few trees. So I have a tendency to lean to where it was weeds got dug up and then it got replanted and never grew. Okay. I I just didn't know if there was a plan for it or if it was a community member who did it or why it's there. It's a good edge of the park too and it's right up against the, I know, I think, one or two of the people who live back there. Maybe I can ask them too. I haven't had a chance to ask them yet. And also, the the when I investigated,
that's the answers I got back. And Okay. Okay. It was just, wondering what it was. Otherwise, everything else the grass has been cut really well. Everything is working order. Everything is clean, so it looks really good out there right now. Alright. Well Yeah. I have Elmtree, and, it's doing good. It's steady. The only question I have with Elmtree, because they're even there now, is working with, maintenance. And like you said, you gotta watch what you spray or whatever, is to try to get the thistles under control in the flower beds. I mean, myself, I did five weedings with my wife.
She was with four of them, so there's two of us. Former con former council member was he'd come across the street, and he would do some weeding if he could too. And then the neighbor next door, she goes, yeah. They blew in. They took hold. So looking at over winter, obviously, now we'd like for next spring or something if, we can find some good effective thistle control. That would be really nice. That's the biggest problem out there right now. And from asking those neighbors that I talked to, that's their issue too is the thistle. So but as far as,
what equipment is there, it's in good shape. It's working. People like the park. It's it's a reading park, and they do like it for that. They like to just kinda kick back and relax. And, it's nice for, families that have children in strollers. They'll stroll up on there, let them run around on the grass for a while. So it is serving the function of what they want. So it's doing good. Alright. Jerica? I have Constitution and Oak Tree. Both good. Alright. I guess I it's been a couple weeks since I've been out to my parks. I didn't see anything that I noted whilst I was there.
Nate? Without Cottonwood a couple weeks ago. Nothing everything seemed to be in good order up there. I swung by, Ash Tree a couple weeks ago. There was I just caught it out of my eye. I just kinda drove around, and one of the swings had become disconnected. But I got ahold of the Angela and Peyton, and they had, maintenance go out and get that fixed. Just, you know, just obviously trying to keep, an eye on it since it is still got a city park sign out out there even though we're still in debate on who's actually charged for that one.
But, yeah. So other than that, nothing, I'm sure I'll now, Cottonwoods is probably full of leaves and ready for let's get all sucked up in the spring. But outside of that, it now seems like the equipment was all good to go. So alright. Amber? I stopped by mine on the way here, and everything looked good. I didn't notice anything. So, hopefully, it's still like that in a couple weeks when we ever been till there. I'll go check on it one more time before then, but, yep, there was not even a speck of garbage, so I was surprised. It usually blows enough. I know. It blows in there, so somebody either cleaned it up or the wind blew it away.
Sounds good. Council liaison report. I don't really have anything that's pressing. There is a meeting tomorrow night, right, at here about the community center. So anybody who's interested, it's at 05:30. We do we know if there's a presentation? Just a come and go type thing that we can answer any question. Pretty informal. And the only other thing I was thinking, we had talked a while back about maybe putting a new table or a couple more benches by the Blue Park at Woodbridge because they took out that big table and then replaced it with one bench. So I don't know if that's something we wanna think about come spring,
putting in another bench or another table over in that area or another sitting spot. You know, I was sitting on it one time. Some other parents came, and we're all kinda like, do we all three just sit on this bench? So it might be nice to put something else over there. Definitely. I think that might be a kind of a good item in January, March when we're starting to plan Yep. For the following year. Something to think about for sure. Alright. With that being said, you got anything else, Peyton? Yes. I just wanna make note on for just for Terry here,
the for the existing park reports and assignments, we have one park that's unaccounted for now with the departure of our previous park with Lynn leaving. So Apple Orchard Park, is our lone remaining park without a representative. And just as an FYI, what how this works, you just have an assigned park you go and check up on. If there's something wrong with the park or needs addressing, contact us before. You don't have to wait two months to come say that something's broken. So just let us know if we need something to be addressed.
So if you wouldn't mind taking the Apple Orchard part, that would be tremendous. Yeah. I don't know where it is, but I'll figure it out. So it is at between 7th And 8th Avenue Northeast, just off the 7th Street. Okay. So go to 7th Street, hook a right down out of those streets, and there you are. Okay. Yeah. We can help you out finding that too if we need be. I'll figure it out. Alright. Any other items? That's all I have. Alright. With that being said, we will call the end of this meeting of the Dilworth Park Board.
We are adjourned until January 14.