By Lisa Carolin
Look for kiosks put up by the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce around the city, and you’ll find flyers about events and activities that include parks and recreation.
That was one of the topics at the Dec. 5 meeting of the Chelsea Parks Commission. City information kiosks are also located at the dog park and TimberTown, with a new kiosk to be installed at Pierce Park in early 2024.
A newly formed TimberTown steering committee will lead the TimberTown Reimagined (TTR) project through its final phases. It is being led by Jeff Hardcastle, the Parks Commission, and the Chelsea Area Friends for Recreation. The “re-build” date for a new play structure and the Pathway to Renewal will be from Aug. 6-13, 2024. Several components of the TTR project have been completed already, including some infrastructure and the pickleball courts cement work and fencing.
Parks Commission Chair Shawn Personke said the recent focus groups held for the Main Street Park were fascinating and included looking at the big picture such as upkeep and maintenance, sewer lines, parking, noise, and lighting, as well as ideas and concepts for the park amenities and activities.
Parks Commission member Sharon Castle will represent the commission when the Main Street Park’s design consultant, Viradis, updates the city stakeholders on Dec.14.
Parks Commission members approved the 2024 meeting schedule for the first Tuesday of every month except July, which will be on the second Tuesday, July 9.
A budget work session for the Parks Commission is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 19 at 9 a.m. Some of the projects to be addressed are community center programming, Pierce Park landscaping, and a Veterans Park drinking foundation.
The Parks Commission’s next regularly scheduled meeting is on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, at 9 a.m.
