Waterford City’s Recreation Commission on June 10 opened public input on potential improvements to Triangle Park and said staff will apply for a grant to help fund the project while scheduling additional public meetings to gather broader community feedback.

Staff called the item a project “kickoff,” asking commissioners and residents for ideas to include in the grant application and warning that public input is part of the grant scoring. The park parcel discussed is on La Galena Avenue near Summers and D Street and has been designated park property but has remained an undeveloped, open lot.

Residents and commissioners offered several ideas. Uriel Munguia, a resident, urged establishing a community garden, saying, “Community gardens are more than just green spaces. They are vibrant hubs that cultivate numerous benefits for our town.” Amanda Jordan, a resident, suggested a splash pad or garden “something more for the kids in the community,” citing local drownings along nearby waterways as a safety concern. Crystal De Vera, who said she lives on La Galena Avenue, asked for seating so parents can watch children play and noted vehicle traffic on the adjacent streets.

Commission members and staff discussed practical constraints and unanswered questions. A staff member said the city believes there is a water box and possibly a meter at the site but that staff would confirm water access before advancing specific designs. Commissioners and commenters raised maintenance and staffing concerns for any amenity, noted limited parking around the lot’s perimeter, and said restroom access and fencing would be needed if a splash pad were built. Staff also noted that public outreach beyond the meeting — including emails and additional committee sessions — will be part of the grant scoring process.

No formal decision or vote on a specific improvement was taken at the meeting. Staff described the discussion as the start of outreach; additional committee meetings and design work will be scheduled, and staff intends to pursue the grant application, which requires documented public input. The Recreation Commission did not adopt a plan or commit funding during the session.

Next steps, as described in the meeting, include staff confirmation of on‑site utilities, scheduling of follow‑up public meetings to gather broader input for the grant application, and ongoing outreach to nearby residents. Members of the public were invited to email the staff contact listed in the meeting packet with additional suggestions.