Lion?s Park plan OK?d
Ice rink and whitewater plans joined with riverfront restoration
By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer
In support of what Mayor Susan McBryant called a grassroots effort, the Hailey City Council this week approved adopting a master plan for improvements to Lion?s Park. The plan was presented by Hailey Parks and Lands Board volunteer Becki Keefer.
McBryant said creation of the plan for the city park, located in the county, was a community effort that could serve the greater community, not just Hailey.
?It was worked out through countless hours of discussion,? McBryant said, stressing the importance of having such planning tools as the city grows.
The culmination of efforts by the park board combines plans for a Hailey Ice Park, a Wood River Whitewater Park in the Big Wood River and a nature trail and wetlands restoration project being promoted by the Wood River Land Trust.
The park is already home to a softball field, an improvement made in the 1980s.
The goals of the plan include repair and improvement of the river corridor, improvement of non-motorized public access and to create more recreational opportunities, Keefer said.
McBryant said the plans could evolve over time and, like a budget, is subject to change. When the council voted unanimously in favor of the improvements, members of the public attending the meeting applauded.
The whitewater park would include five drops, 12 to 18 inches high, for kayakers to negotiate.
Fundraising efforts for the Hailey Ice Park have received enough support that the initial groundbreaking be soon.
?I think we should honor Martha Burke and let her make the motion,? said Councilman Don Keirn, recognizing Burke?s enthusiasm for the project.
?One of my strongest desires is to see this council and future councils nurture and care for the (recreational and natural) resources of Hailey,? she said. ?This is amazing. It is not only an initial concept plan I can embrace. I want to get additional fundraising.?
The plan calls for 86 parking spaces the council viewed as sufficient for the use of the park since the various recreational activities will take place at different times of the day and the year.
?I think it is a great concept,? said Councilman Rick Davis. ?I can remember when that park was a dump, and, believe me, this is an improvement.?
Davis hoped that neighbors could come to an acceptable conclusion about how to mitigate any impacts lighting and noise might have on neighbors.
The next step for the Parks and Lands Board is to try to get the plan accepted by the County Commissioners. In a related matter, the council was informed by Aspen Drive resident Steve Crosser and Stef Frenzl with the Wood River Land Trust that the State Land Board is planning to sell a parcel of land in the same riparian area. They hoped that the city would put the parcel on its list of properties it would like to acquire and protect.
Frenzl said the Wood River Land Trust would be interested in helping the city negotiate for the riverfront property as it continues its efforts to protect and improve riparian and recreational resources along the river for the public.
