Highlighting the Craig City Council meeting on Oct. 24 was Parks & Recreation Director Ryan Dennison, who gave a presentation on intended improvements for downtown Craig’s Alice Pleasant Park.

Dennison shared that the upgrades have been in development since last May. He said that “a lot of improvements going on downtown” recently spurred desire to upgrade the park in kind.

“We knew some updates needed to be done (at the park) as well, with infrastructure, electricity, safety issues and accessibility,” Dennison told the council members.

He said the goal was to create a design that would “maximize functionality that supported programmable space for community residents and downtown businesses.”

The park has seen increased activity over the past year, as evidenced by a large number of reservations for use, according to Dennison.

He said current redevelopment efforts have been directed by public outreach work involving the Downtown Business Association, the next-door brewery and community members. The Parks & Recreation Advisory Board was also regularly consulted. Dennison said his aim is to keep project costs within reason while hitting the highlights of what the staff, council and community have requested or suggested.

According to Dennison, community input ranged from general enthusiasm and suggestions for improvements to questions about whether the renovation was necessary. Dennison stressed the value of “good communication” with the community surrounding this project.

As for why he believes the its a worthwhile effort, Dennison praised Alice Pleasant Park as “a nice little half-acre park with a great urban canopy of trees.” He further elaborated on its value as “a little hub of the downtown.”

Dennison shared that improvements to the park could include a shelter that could be used for picnic or entertainment purposes, increased electrical service, better accessibility, upgraded landscaping and additional picnic seating and benches.

A grant was also submitted by City staffers earlier this fall to the Gates Family Foundation requesting $300,000 for Alice Pleasant Park improvements. According to Dennison, a representative will complete a site visit next month and the City should hear on grant approval in December.

Recognizing local support for the project, Dennison shared that the Kiwanis Club of Craig has also committed $10,000 to the park’s improvement.

Dennison concluded that “it’s really exciting to see where this (project) can go.”

Following Dennison’s update, council members Randy Looper and Tom Kleinschnitz further inquired about the park’s possible amenities, such as the specifics of a possible sound system for the shelter and the merits of stick-built vs. pre-fabricated bathroom facilities.

Council member Chris Nichols asked whether the new design would leave enough space for community members to set up their own seating, move around and mingle during downtown events and festivals.

Dennison responded in the affirmative. He told council members how the design process involved an exercise for a farmers market-type layout in order to map out how many tents could comfortably fit on the site. He also pointed to preference for perimeter pathways, leaving space for open areas of lush grass in the park.

Nichols commended Dennison for his previous work on other park projects for the City, stating that given “the job you did in Woodbury (Park), I’m very confident this will be another mark to how great our park system is.”

Dennison responded that he takes pleasure in working within the community to translate his vision for the parks into reality, allowing them to reach their full potential for the benefit of residents.

“Every community we travel to, I hit up the parks. I go check them out,” Dennison said. “It’s a draw. It’s a big deal (for the community). It’s a big deal for families coming in. And it’s a good thing.”

Nichols concurred, adding that “it goes to a quality of life. People want these amenities (and) our parks are one of our crown jewels.”

Mayor Derek Duran recalled that “four-to-five years ago, there were events (at Alice Pleasant Park), but they weren’t to the magnitude they are now.”

He went on to say that “(Craig’s) downtown is starting to become the place to be for these events. The DBA and all the businesses down there that do this are doing a great job and the public is also attending and supporting them. A lot of people are showing up and there is a demand for (the park’s improvement) at this point, in my opinion.”

Dennison pledged to return to the council in December to provide an update on the Gates Family Foundation grant approval and any other developments as the park project progresses.