The Newcastle Community Activities Commission on March 12 launched a parks overview series with a presentation on four neighborhood parks and their amenities, and staff and commissioners discussed potential volunteer activities for Earth Month.

Events and Recreation Coordinator Amy, who presented the overview, said the city "has nearly 40 acres of developed parks across the city" and noted two parks are under development: "Hillside Park, at the Heemstra development and then Newcastle Historic Park at the Lebweinah development." For the March presentation Amy covered China Creek Park, Belly Bunion Park, Gleneagles and Trolley Park.

Park-by-park details
- China Creek Park: described as a neighborhood park with about 5.5 acres, a "taut play structure," swings, a picnic table, open space with walking trails and an informal trailhead; used for Arbor Day 2023 and a 2023 pumpkins-in-the-park site.
- Belly Bunion Park: a mini park (approximately 0.81 acres) with a play structure, swings and an ADA parking space; it provides trailhead access to Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park and was a 2024 pumpkins-in-the-park location.
- Gleneagles: a 1.1-acre mini park with a gazebo (many Newcastle gazebos have electricity), benches, open landscape, walking paths and recent irrigation and landscape rehabilitation by public works; it hosted a 2024 Arbor Day tree planting.
- Trolley Park: about 0.53 acres with a taut play structure, benches and landscape/open space; the presentation noted most parks have mutt mitt stations and trash receptacles that are regularly monitored.

Earth Month and volunteer opportunities
Amy said staff are planning a weed-warrior-style volunteer event likely focused on Lakebourne Park, where dense ivy and invasive plants are present. She said access to some locations in the city cemetery may be constrained by maintenance work and fence repairs. Commissioners asked about opportunities for Earth Day activities at neighborhood parks and discussed ideas such as tulip-themed trail scavenger hunts, painted-rock tulips, and Popsicles-in-the-Park to encourage visits and awareness.

Why it matters
The commission framed the parks inventory as foundational to future outreach and potential capital or programming work; commissioners said greater public familiarity with small, tucked-away neighborhood parks could support volunteer engagement and future improvements.

Ending
Amy said she will continue the overview with additional parks at future CAC meetings and asked commissioners for ideas to promote trail and park use. No formal actions or appropriations were made at this meeting.