Parks and Recreation Commission reviews summer events and upcoming projects in July meeting

The July 9, 2025, Parks and Recreation Commission meeting in Richland commenced with a warm welcome to attendees, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Chair Mason led the meeting, which included attendance confirmation from all commissioners present.

The agenda for the evening was approved unanimously after a motion by Commissioner Watrous and a second by Commissioner Christ. The minutes from the previous meetings on June 12 and the June workshop were also approved without opposition.

Next, the council liaison report was noted as absent, as Mayor Pro Tem Kent could not attend. The meeting then transitioned to the recreation report presented by Miss Piper, who highlighted the success of summer activities, including swimming lessons and the recent Cool Desert Nights event, which saw high attendance. She mentioned the upcoming See Through Slam event, scheduled to cause road closures from Friday evening through Sunday. Piper also announced the retirement of a key staff member, Stan, and indicated that the position would be posted soon.

Following this, Parks and Public Facilities Director Waite provided updates on park operations during the busy Fourth of July weekend. He reported successful management of park cleanliness and noted the addition of more trash receptacles. However, he mentioned incidents of vandalism at Columbia Point Marina Park, which would require repairs.

Waite also discussed ongoing budget preparations and highlighted several projects, including resurfacing at Columbia Playfield and updates on the tennis courts at Leslie Groves Park. He indicated that construction on the tennis courts would likely span two seasons due to weather constraints, with a closure expected during the winter months.

The meeting concluded with a call for public comments, which yielded no responses, leading to the closure of that segment at 6:08 PM. Overall, the meeting addressed key operational updates and future planning for Richland's parks and recreation initiatives.