Council recommends master plan for Hop Porter Park

The Hailey City Council has directed that a revised master plan be drawn up for Hop Porter Park to create more open space there.

At its Monday night meeting, the council directed the Hop Porter plan to create a feeling of open space and grassy area. The plan is to include two pavilions instead of one, bathrooms near the back, or northern area, of the park, vehicular access on the north side of the park, but no parking area, and no skateboard park, which was previously included in the master plan.

"The most pressing in my mind is looking at the layout of Hop Porter Park," said Mayor Brad Siemer, generating a lot of discussion from the council and public.

Public comment centered on the importance of avoiding over-development of the park; most speakers were against building a skateboard park.

Resident Frank Halverson told the council he thought skateboarders and the play structure with small children would be an unsafe combination. Resident Penfield Stroh warned the council against overdeveloping and crowding the park area with a skateboard park.

Council members agreed.

"I’d like to see a skateboard park in Hailey, but Hop Porter isn’t the appropriate place," said Councilwoman Jennifer Hazard Davis.

The north end of the park will be reviewed for construction of the bathrooms in order to keep more open space in the park.

"I’d like to see the bathrooms at the north end so the actual park area isn’t like a narrow green runway," said resident Marcia Kent.

The council was careful not to plan the park catering to the Northern Rockies Folk Festival, and agreed to allow one major event per month at each park in the city.

Stroh asked the council to distribute special events throughout all the city’s parks.

"I’d like Hop Porter not to become a destination resort," she said.

The council maintained the current $500 fee for for-profit events held at the park without much discussion.

"Other businesses pay rent in this area--I support the fee," said Hazard Davis.

The council also voted to amend the municipal code to establish operating hours for parks. The council did not set any hours, but discussed the possibility of a 10 p.m. curfew.

Public comment supported a curfew.

"That play structure is a magnet for adolescents who are often intoxicated," said resident Brad Daniel James.

"I didn’t work there for a day for adolescents to have a place to drink," he added, referring to his volunteer work there.

Hailey Police Chief Jack Stoneback countered that most youth aren’t intoxicated, just hanging out and having a good time.