By Lisa Carolin
The Chelsea Parks Commission welcomed new Chelsea City Manager Elle Cole to its March 3, 2026 meeting.
Terris Ahrens, executive director of the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce, spoke to the Parks Commission about the chamber having taken over the Sculpture Walk in Chelsea in 2021 and looking for a permanent home for the latest sculpture commissioned by the Chamber – SirBert. Ahrens proposed making TimberTown its permanent home, a recommendation approved by the Parks Commission.
Members also heard from Fred Rose, who with his son Christian, will soon be opening a skateboard shop in Chelsea next to T-Mobile that will also on-demand t-shirt printing. Rose was inspired to open the shop after seeing the skateboard facility at Holmes Family Park.
The Parks Commission also approved a recommendation for Chelsea City Council for the hours at Holmes Family Park to be 7 a.m.-10 p.m., based on the location and visibility of the park and the fact that one of the primary user groups of the park will be teens. Commissioner Kevin Butler added that these amended hours will still comply with the city noise ordinance.
Also discussed were priorities for the commission including interactive signs at Letts Creek as well as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) equipment for Veteran’s Park with the city’s portion of the project estimated to be about $65,0000. The Parks Commission applied for a $25,000 grant through the Chelsea Community Foundation. Cole added that this is a unique opportunity and brings a completely new theme to the city’s parks.
Shawn Personke, chairman of the Parks Commission, announced that Sarah Munoz will head the new Park Volunteer Group – as part of the Chelsea Area Friends for Recreation – and will be setting up work days at each of the parks. She is tentatively planning an event that is both a celebration of Earth Day and clean-up day at TimberTown.
The Parks Commission meets next on April 7 at 9 a.m. in City Council Chambers.
